Local veterans are asking members of the community to join them in reaching out to children who have lost a parent during the war on terror.
American Legion Post No. 281 is inviting all citizens of Tyrone to help the environment while providing a tangible “thank you” to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the country. Through the “Soldiers for Soldiers” initiative, Post No. 281 is collecting empty inkjet cartridges and used cell phones to raise money for “American Legacy Scholarship” for the children of military personnel killed since September 11, 2001.
“Soldiers for Soldiers” was started by two active duty Air Force service members, Staff Sgt. Kenneth and Airman 1st Class Fallon O’Brien, when the husband and wife team started collecting empty inkjet cartridges and used cell phones both on and off their military base.
Each cartridge collected provides one dollar and each cellular phone $3 for The American Legion charities which also include the National Emergency Fund and Child Welfare Foundation. Over the next five years, 70 percent of Americans will have cell phones. On average, cellular phones are replaced every 12 to 18 months. Today, there are over 150 million cellular phones disposed of annually.
No purchase is required; only the collection of items that might otherwise be disposed.
“This is a win-win project for every American who wants to say ‘thank you’ in a tangible way to the veterans of our country and their families,” said Fred Zanghi Jr., Post No. 281 Commander. “It doesn’t cost a dime but has tremendous potential for raising funds to help those children who have lost a parent in the war on terror.
“As an unfortunate consequence of Operation Iraqi Freedom and America’s war on terror, many children of our active-duty military personnel are now members of single-parent families,” said Zanghi. “In most cases, this also means their chances to attend college have greatly diminished.
“Through this fundraising initiative with Soldiers for Soldiers, we’re asking all Tyrone residents to join us in helping these children of military personnel who died on active duty to receive the necessary funding for a college education,” Zanghi said.
Post No. 281 will serve as the central collection location.
“The American Legion will also work with businesses and civic organizations alike to serve as additional collection points in the community,” Zanghi added.
“If everyone in our community collected one inkjet cartridge and one cell phone, there is potential to raise a significant sum of money to ensure that these kids will have a chance at the schooling their parents would have provided if they were here to do it,” Zanghi said. “And every dollar contributed goes directly into the fund.”
For more information, visit the American Legion web site at www.legion.org and click on “Soldiers for Soldiers” or call Post No. 281 at 684-3342.
