Personal products needed for wounded servicemembers at Walter Reed

By: Quizzical
Published On: 3/3/2007 11:54:05 AM

There is an opportunity to do something for the troops at Walter Reed, instead of just reading about how politicians and bureaucrats are scurrying for cover.

An article ran in the Stars and Stripes on 12/1/2005 about the need for donations of personal products for wounded servicemembers at Walter Reed.  Here's the link:
http://www.estripes....

The article mentions that they need shoes, gloves, postage stamps, prepaid phone cards, razors, weightlifting gloves (for wheelchair use), and other items.  The article says don't send used items and don't send cash.

I called the Walter Reed Medical Family Assistance Center this morning, and the guy who answered said the article is still accurate.  The most needed items are high minute long distance telephone calling cards, and electric razors.  The telephone calling cards are needed because the patients want to call back to Iraq or Germany -- probably to talk to their buddies.  The electric razors are needed because many of them are on blood thinners and can't use safety razors. 

Comments



A little more info (Quizzical - 3/4/2007 10:14:45 PM)
I think when they are talking about high minute prepaid phone cards, they are talking about 500 or 1000 minutes.  That's a $30 or $60 item.

There's a website where you can donate calling cards to wounded soldiers, if you want:
https://thor.milexch...

But if you want to make sure they go to Walter Reed Family Assistance Center, best to send them directly or deliver them.  The Family Assistance Center is open 7 am to 7 pm, M-F, and 9-4 on weekends and holidays.

Wal-Mart and Target have high minute AT&T cards.

The reference to trousers that have snaps up the side seems to be to basketball "snap pants", which are warmup outfits that are designed to let the players take off the warmups without taking off their sneakers.  Sports Authority has them, to name one place. 

I've seen them described in other news stories as "breakaway pant" or "tear-away pants", and I'm not sure whether those refer to the same thing.

Electric shavers are pricey, so I can see why they would be short on those.  A low-end Remington or Norelco costs around $40-$50 at Wal-Mart or Target.

Similar donations are accepted for regional medical centers.  This girl scout has made an impressive effort out in the State of Washington:
http://www.geocities...



Fisher House (Quizzical - 3/10/2007 2:19:38 PM)
I had never heard of Fisher Houses prior to the recent Walter Reed scandal.  Now I seem to be reading about them everywhere, and my daughter's elementary school is even doing a charity drive for them.

Since 1990, Fisher Houses have been serving military families during times of medical crisis.  The Fisher House Foundation has built comfort homes near military hospitals, and has given them as gifts to the military services and Department of Veterans Affairs.  There is a Fisher House near Walter Reed.  Read more about Fisher Houses at www.fisherhouse.org.