Canadian Citizens Raise $1 Million in Support of Our Troops

A big HUA to supporters!! If you need to purchase Support Our Troops merchandise (military sanctioned),it's available through: www.cfpsa.com/supportourtroops or Sears outlets or RCAF or Families of Soliders in Afghanistan email: focsia@hotmail.com June 18, 2007 During the past year, Canadian citizens, through buying the Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency's (CFPSA) official "Support Our Troops" (SOT) t-shirts, caps, car magnets and other merchandise, have raised $1 million in support of the Canadian military community. These profits will be distributed in their entirety to Bases, Wings, and Units across Canada and will be used for morale and welfare programs for Canadian Forces (CF) members and their families. This could include, for example, family events, site-specific funding of Canadian Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) programs, or innovative activities that benefit CF members and their families. Canadians have contributed to this remarkable accomplishment by purchasing official CF-sanctioned Support Our Troops merchandise online at the CFPSA website (www.cfpsa.com/supportourtroops), at various CF outreach events and, for authorized patrons, at Canadian Forces Exchange System (CANEX) outlets located at Bases, Wings and Units nationwide. CANEX is a division of CFPSA and their SOT merchandise is one of the many ways that Canadians can demonstrate their support. Other options, including donating to various military funds, are listed on the CFPSA website. CANEX routinely reinvests a portion of its profits directly back to bases, wings, and units. "This year, CANEX contributes over $4 million to the CF community," says Gerry Mahon, president of CANEX. "One million dollars from the Support Our Troops merchandise sales, and over $3 million generated from regular operations. These funds will be used for local morale and welfare programs at Bases across the nation." CFPSA develops and delivers morale and welfare programs, activities and services to members of the CF and their families, in Canada and overseas. These activities include sports and recreation, health and fitness, family services, retail operations, financial services and, mess management. In addition, the CFPSA deploys approximately 60 civilian personnel per six-month rotation to Afghanistan to conduct morale and welfare programs.

Support Our Troops Through Sears

An Additional Way for Canadians

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Support the Troops

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Canadians wanting to support the troops now have another option. CANEX, a division of the Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency (CFPSA), has coordinated with Sears Canada to provide official "Support Our Troops" merchandise in Sears Canada retail stores across the country.

Official CFPSA Support Our Troops merchandise includes ball caps, t-shirts, car and fridge
magnets, cling vinyl window decals, bracelets, lapel pins, and more.

T-Shirts are only $12.99 and ball caps only $9.99.
Canadians can now purchase official Support Our Troops t-shirts and ball caps at Sears Canada, with two dollars from each purchase going back to morale and welfare programs for CF members and their families.

To purchase other Support Our Troops items, order online through CANEX at www.cfpsa.com/en/canex/. or through FOCSIA@hotmail.com (Families of Canadian Soldiers in Afghanistan)
"All proceeds from the sales of CFPSA "Support Our Troops" items are reinvested directly into morale and welfare programs for CF members and their families"

Come on.... SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!

CFPSA develops and delivers morale and welfare programs, activities and services to members of the CF and their families, in Canada and overseas. These activities include sports and recreation, health and fitness, family services, retail operations, financial services and, mess management. In addition, the CFPSA deploys approximately 60 civilian personnel per six-month rotation to Afghanistan to conduct morale and welfare programs.

I'd like to share some information about a group I hold dear to my heart - a group of wonderful friends- a new family - I have journeyed through these past 6 months with:

FAMILIES OF CANADIAN SOLDIERS IN AFGHANISTAN

"It is our mission to provide ongoing support to extended families and friends of Canadian Forces personnel who are currently deployed, awaiting deployment, or have returned from Afghanistan and/or other overseas missions. Through meetings, special events, and community awareness programs, our group is committed to increase support for our troops as well as our members."

Goals and Objectives

• Provide emotional support for all members of the group and individuals connected to Canadian Forces
• Build the morale of those deployed through participation in community events
• Promote awareness of the men and women serving in all branches of the military
• Provide information via round table discussions and guest speakers
• Respond to requests for support materials such as yellow ribbon pins, t-shirts, etc.
  
  Who We Are
  
  We are a welcoming community of families and friends of Canadian military serving in Afghanistan including those who have returned or have yet to be deployed. A few parents and family members first met in the summer of 2006 to share their feelings and concerns for their loved ones overseas. Through information sharing, monthly meetings, guest speakers, community events, and the media, the number of members has grown to include nearly 40 family groups. The name officially became “Families of Canadian Soldiers in Afghanistan” in September, 2006.
  
  What We Do
  
  Meetings are normally held on the last Saturday of each month and often include guest speakers on such topics as stress, reunions, special events, and information about the mission. Commencing February 24, 2007, these meetings will be held at the Wing 404 in Waterloo. Special events such as Red Friday Rallies, Parades, and Talk shows on radio and T.V. have also been organized to garner support for our troops. For further information about our organization, ordering support materials, or becoming a member, please contact us at focsia@hotmail.com.

MacKinnon Transport Supports Our Troops

Pictured here is one of our Canadian soldiers with the staff of MacKinnon Transport

A great big HUAAAA! for MacKinnon Transport in Guelph! Each Friday, the staff and drivers wear RED in support of our troops. A brother of a soldier currently serving in Afghanistan is kept busy with sales of troops merchandise - which has been overwhelming.

Thank you B. and thank you MacKinnon Transport - you're a true inspiration to all! HUA!!

If your company, school, office or neighbourhood is showing support for our troops, let us know. I'll post it here :)

Continued Support for Our Troops

People are seeking ways to show their support for the brave men and women who serve with the Canadian Forces (CF) both at home and abroad.

Gore Mutual Insurance in Cambridge...

The staff at Gore Mutual Insurance are rallying around one of their co-workers (one of our Military Moms!) whose 23 year old son is currently serving overseas in Afghanistan.
She supports the troops as always by wearing her red "Support Our Troops" T-shirt every Friday. Well - the support is caught on. Her co-workers had asked to purchase the shirts and would wear them on Fridays as well. After being contacted by the Gore social commitee and being asked about selling Canadian Forces sanctioned shirts and other merchandise to fellow employees, after two days, sales amounted to more than $740 once the company decided to match the amount of the money raised! THANKYOU GORE! HUA!
You can FEEL the support at Gore. More on the Cambridge Times article.

All proceeds from the sales of "Support Our Troops" items are reinvested directly into morale and welfare programs for CF members and their families. (eg. kit bags for wounded soldiers while in hospital - and to offset the cost to dependents while visiting their loved ones)

She is part of a support group called Families of Canadian Soldiers in Afghanistan. The group promotes awareness in the community and provides support to boost the morale of deployed local military personnel, as well as offering support to those families who have loved ones overseas.

For more information about the support group for

Families of Canadian Soldiers in Afghanistan,
contact: focsia@hotmail.com

Elsewhere, in Cambridge...

The Real Estate Board of Cambridge continues to raise funds in support of Canadian troops in Afghanistan. Residents are encouraged to purchase yellow ribbon car magnets and yellow bracelets that read, "Support Our Troops". Magnets cost $4 and bracelets cost $2.
Proceeds from sales will be used to purchase items on the wish list of men and women overseas. These are items that are not supplied by the military. More information is available by contacting Val Brooks at 740-3690 or the MLS Board Office at 623-3660.
Brooks is also accepting letters of support for troops. To get there in time for Christmas, she must have all letters by next week.
"Way to go VAL! and Real Estate Board of Cambridge! "

In Kitchener...

Staff at Smithson Public School shows support.
November 4th, it was a sea of red as the support flowed through the halls of Smithson School. Staff wore red in support of the troops (as well, one of the soldiers had been a past student at their school). They had an opportunity to sign a card being sent to the troops! Since, the students have been seen wearing red - and when asked why? Their answer: "It's Red Friday of course- it's for our soldiers!" Smithson gets a BIG HUA!

In the Niagara Region...

That next trip to the corner store could mean a lot more than lottery tickets and a carton of milk. All 110 Avondale stores in Niagara region are asking customers to sign a message of support for Canada's 2,300 troops stationed in Afghanistan. Signatures and well-wishes will be collected until Dec. 6, when they will be taped together to form a giant, fold-out Christmas card Canada Post will ship overseas for free. When in the Niagara area, be sure to stop by an Avondale store and send your well wishes to the troops. Read further

Thank you Ann... and thank you Niagara Region!

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In the Ottawa Area:

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Canadian Tire in Ottawa and CFRA News Talk 580

As the movement in support of Canadian troops and their families continues to grow, Ottawa's News/Talk Radio station is teaming up with two leading businesses to spread the red wave even further. Starting Thursday, November 8th, all local Canadian Tire dealers will be selling red "support our troops" T-shirts with 100% of net proceeds going to the Petawawa Military Family Resource Centre. The PMFRC www.pmfrc.org exists to "promote and create an environment which fosters social and emotional well-being of our military families in order to support the mission of the Canadian Forces." From the outset, the two military wives who brought the wear red campaign to Petawawa have stressed the non-political nature of their initiative. "No matter what your views on any particular mission," says Lisa Miller, "wearing red is a simple way to say thank you to the soldiers and their families who give up so much in the service of their country." The stylish red T-shirts are high quality red 100% cotton, emblazoned with the message "Courage is being afraid, but going anyway. Support our troops" and were designed and produced by Ottawa's award-winning branding company Promographix. They first appeared at the huge Red Friday rally on Parliament Hill in September, and are now being made available to the general public for the first time. The "Support our Troops" shirts are in stores now for $10 (including tax) available in large and extra-large only at Ottawa area Canadian Tire dealers; however, if you would like to make a large quanitity order, 36 shirts or more, send an email to wearred@promographix.com.
Proceeds go to Petawawa Military Family Resource Centre.
http://www.cfra.com/red-shirt/index.asp

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Canadians can show their support by:

Wearing Red on Fridays: Wear something red on Fridays to show support for the CF and their families. (red "Support Our Troops" t-shirts available at: www.cfpsa.com/canex

Writing to the Troops: Let Canadian Forces members know they are appreciated by posting a message on the online message board at: www.forces.gc.ca/site/community/messageboard/index_e.asp

Purchasing Canadian Forces sanctioned merchandise (magnets, pins, shirts, caps, etc.) Canex

"If you or your company is doing something in support of the troops and families, let us know. Post your comments below and I'll publish it. Thank you!"