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ASYMCA, USMC Base, Twentynine Palms,
California, Partnership Reference Letter
This year we are proud to announce our first ever "COPs for the
Troops Kids" program designed to help support the children of our
troops whose parent(s) are deployed and/or at a lower ranking pay scale
making the purchase of gifts for their children at Christmas time
difficult.
The
Need For This Program?
As anyone who has served in the military knows, depending on what part
of the country you live in, military pay for lower ranking enlisted men
and woman, typically E-1 thru E-3, is almost at the poverty line.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau statistics for 2007, the poverty
threshold for a family of three, with one adult working, one non working
spouse and one child (i.e. a solider deployed in Iraq with his spouse at
home raising a baby) is an annual income of $16,689.00. An enlisted
man or woman in the U.S. military at the rank of E-2 with two years of
service earns $18,118.80 a year, which is only $1,429.80 a year more
than what the federal government considers the line of poverty in
America. While there are housing and other special allowances that can
add to a married and/or deployed enlisted persons pay, the bottom line
is, with the high cost of gas, food and other expenses, it can be
difficult at best to give their children the Merry Christmas they
deserve. Add to that the fact that many of the children of our troops
experience Christmas missing a parent, or in some cases, both parents,
who are deployed, I think it's hard to argue that the
"COPs for the Troops Kids" program isn't a worthy cause.
How Can You Help?
Thank you to everyone who attended our
September 6, 2008 conference and brought an unwrapped Christmas gift for a boy or girl, valued
at between $10.00 to $20.00 each to the conference for collection.
Because of combined efforts of those who contributed from their heart to
this program,
we
were able to collect approximately $5,000.00 worth of toys that we will be donating to the
Armed Services YMCA
located at the U.S. Marine Corps base in Twentynine Palms, California.
ALL the toys collected at our conference will be distributed to the
children of our troops attending the annual base Christmas party in
December 2008. This
is a wonderful opportunity to help brighten the day of a very deserving
child whose brave parent(s) are helping to keep our nation safe.
For members of law enforcement, including volunteers, civilian and sworn
members who were not able to attend and/or contribute a gift at our
conference but would still like to participate in this tremendous
program, please contact the program director, Art Femister by e-mail at:
afemister@nacop.org or by
phone at 951-898-8551 to discuss the options available. An additional
toy gift drive is taking place within the Southern California region
during the first three weeks of December 2008 after which the toys collected
will be delivered to the ASYMCA at USMC 29 Palms base to be added to the initial
grouping we've already collected and distributed to the children of
deployed Marines and Sailors at the ASYMCA base Christmas party on
Saturday, December 20, 2008.
For law enforcement and recognized police volunteers organizations
outside of Southern California, please contact us to learn how you can
adopt a military base nearest to you in partnership with a base
ASYMCA to expedite the
delivery of your toy drive to the hands of our troops kids this
Christmas! |
