In response to the Sept. 11 terror attacks, Americans have responded with a generosity not seen in recent times. Firefighters and law enforcement officials have worked around the clock in both New York at the World Trade Center and in Northern Virginia at the Pentagon. Children from across the country have emptied their piggy banks and sold homemade crafts to raise money to send to disaster relief. Churches of all faiths have provided comfort and assistance to the families of the many victims. The Red Cross has received a record number of contributions as well as volunteer hours from citizens wanting to bring help and comfort.
But there are also several smaller, lesser-known organizations that have felt patriotism’s call.
One such organization is “Friends of the Americas, a non-profit public charity that has traditionally focused on providing humanitarian aid to needy people throughout Latin America. It works to “build support in Latin America for democratic values such as free elections, private property, free enterprise, freedom of the press and freedom of religion.” The organization also has a history of providing assistance to families of America’s military during times of war.
This week Friends of the Americas has launched a new project to help the children of U.S. military soldiers being called to action. The “Friends of the America’s Christmas Project” seeks to purchase and distribute special gifts, along with turkeys, hams and other holiday treats. The organization is already scheduling Christmas parties at military bases around the country in an effort to bring comfort to those children whose fathers have been sent overseas to fight America’s terrorist enemies.
Diane Jenkins, president of Friends, notes, “Many of our enlisted soldiers live on wages near the poverty level. Many even qualify for food stamps. Yet, they are willing to leave their families to fight for the security and freedom of our homeland. And for all of us who cannot go and fight, we will do all we possibly can to support our troops.”
According to the group’s website, Friends’ volunteer partners at military bases in the United States are providing the organization with lists indicating: 1) the number of families to be assisted; 2) the ages and gender of the children; 3) any family’s special need or request. “Among the special gifts to be presented will be video cameras to those who do not have one, so that those special memories can be preserved for the parent serving in the military.”
The organization has a long history of spreading Christmas cheer. During the past 17 years, Friends of the Americas has distributed more than 300,000 Christmas Boxes to orphans, refugees and disaster victims throughout Latin America.
“Thousands of American families have been part of that project, ” says Jenkins. “But, until this war is over and our soldiers come home again, ‘Friends Christmas Project’ will concentrate on assisting the children of our own military families for as many years as it takes.”
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