BY MARIS CALLAHAN
Most of us celebrate the Fourth of July with simple things: hamburgers fresh from the grill, laying by the pool appreciating the fact that you didn’t have to go into work today, lemonade spiked with vodka and fresh basil, icy popsicles and running through sprinklers.
Those luxuries might be simple for you and me, but for the brave men and women who are deployed overseas, simple pleasures are clean socks, toilet paper, soap and sunscreen. These are all things that most of us here in Chicago take for granted and Living Social is making it easy for all of us to help provide soldiers deployed overseas with small comforts of home.
LivingSocial, an online source for discovering valuable local experiences, provides discounts on everything from restaurants to travel to shopping. This week, in honor of the Fourth of July, LivingSocial is helping provide US troops with care packages that contain basic necessities.
For $25, your contribution will purchase $50 worth of supplies for USO Care Packages that at a minimum, include a personalized message of support, an AT&T prepaid international phone card to call friends and loved ones, snacks, playing cards, reading material, camo kits containing shampoo, conditioner, sun block, hand sanitizer, tooth paste, tooth brush, sunscreen and other items as needed or requested.
You can also opt to put your donation towards other USO efforts, including USO entertainment tours or other support programming, that helps recognize the sacrifices that troops and their families make for this country. The USO offers a variety of programs and services to support the morale, welfare, social and entertainment needs of troops and their families, free of charge.
By showing your appreciation and gratitude for the troops stationed overseas, you can do your part to honor our nation’s heroes even before the cookouts, parties and fireworks show start. Deal end on Saturday, July 7, 2012. For more information: livingsocial.com.
