MILITARY INFORMATION/ TROOP NOTES

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Apr 16, 2003

BREAKS FOR FAMILIES: Radio station 98.9 Magic FM, KKMG has "adopted" military families who have members who are or will be overseas for the war. Families will be taken out to pizza parties or the movies to allow them to think about something else, even if just for a while. For information, call the station at 593-2700.

Christian music station Q102.7 KBIQ is inviting military families with loved ones soon-to-be or serving overseas to go to kbiqradio.com and sign up for "Military Family Relief Days" including pizza parties, amusement park visits and other family getaways to get a break from war coverage. For information, call KBIQ at 531-5438.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT: People looking for ways to support the troops will have to find alternatives to writing letters and sending packages unless they are sending to a specific service member.

The Department of Defense is not accepting unsolicited mail to service members overseas. Only mail from family members and friends to a specific person will be sent to the troops.

The Defense Department has recommended other ways to show support for the military: virtual greeting cards or calling card donations to the troops.

CHECK OUT THESE WEB SITES:

www.defendamerica.mil/support_ troops.html

www.usocares.org/home.htm

www.army.mil/operations/iraq/faq.html

Also, Wal-Mart has computers set up in its stores where people can choose from 16 e-mail greetings to send to the troops.

FOOD DRIVE: Christian music station Q102.7 KBIQ has teamed up with Care & Share Food Bank for Care & Share's Spring Food Drive for military families.

The station will collect nonperishable food items at its studio, 7150 Campus Drive, just east of Interstate 25 and Woodmen Road.

Items such as peanut butter, powdered milk, canned fruit, vegetables and meat will be distributed to local military families who have an immediate family member serving overseas.

Other businesses or places of worship interested in hosting an emergency food drive can contact Scottie Bibb at 528-1247 or e-mail Scot

tie@careandshare.org.

SERVICES OFFERED: Omni Military Loans in the Gateway Shopping Center, 2350 S. Academy Blvd., has initiated a program offering the following services to families of deployed personnel:

Free family financial counseling to help families work through tough issues that often arise during deployment.

Standing invitation to family members to use available computers at the Omni office from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays, to use the Internet and communicate with personnel overseas. There will be no charge for the Internet access.

For information, call 393-9000 or go to www.yesom

ni.com.

HOME MAINTENANCE: Harmony Homes, a Colorado Springs-based builder, is supporting enlisted customers by offering a variety of free maintenance services to homeowners who are deployed.

The program is available to all who have bought a Harmony Home and is designed to ease the burden of families whose loved ones are deployed.

Services include snow removal, lawn mowing, changing furnace filters, changing smoke alarm batteries, service to underground sprinkler systems and advice on repairs not covered under warranty. Additionally, a weekly safety walk around the exterior of the residence is provided for unoccupied homes.

Military families who need information or help with the pending deployment can call Army Community Services at Fort Carson, 526- 4590.

CONTACT US: If you are affected by this deployment - as a service member, family member or friend - The Gazette wants to know your story. We also want your ideas for items to include in Troop Notes. Contact us by e-mail at citydesk@gazette.com or The Gazette, Attn. Troops Notes, City Desk, 30 S. Prospect St., Colorado Springs, CO 80903. Please include phone numbers where we can reach you.