AAA Central Penn recently partnered with two nonprofits to provide support for veterans’ emotional support animals, as well as to provide cost-free communication services to military and veterans.
Through the AAA Cares community volunteer program, Central Penn partnered with Military Pets Share, a Central Pennsylvania nonprofit dedicated to providing support for veterans to care for their pets.
Through Saturday, AAA Central Penn branches are collecting wet and dry cat and dog food, pet treats, cat litter, and pet toys that will be delivered to Military Pets Share in honor of Veterans Day.
“Many veterans rely on pets for emotional support, and AAA Central Penn is proud to help an organization like Military Pets Share that eases the financial cost of caring for them,” said AAA Central Penn President and CEO Jodie Daubert. “By donating pet items to any of our AAA locations, you can help make sure that not only the pets of veterans are taken care of, but help make sure that veterans are supported both financially and emotionally.”
According to the most recent statistics from the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics, there are 697,655 veterans living in Pennsylvania, making it the 4th largest veteran-populated state in the country.
There are more than 17 million veterans in the United States, and many rely on pets for emotional support. Pets help reduce post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression, yet caring for them can be financially challenging.
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, at some point in their life, 7 out of every 100 veterans will have PTSD. Military Pets Share supports more than 380 pets monthly, easing the burden for local veterans and improving their well-being.
AAA Central Penn also partnered with Cell Phones for Soldiers, which is a nonprofit that provides cost-free communication services and emergency funding to service members and veterans.
Cell Phones for Soldiers turns unused devices into a lifeline for troops and veterans by collecting gently used handheld electronic devices, refurbishing them, and selling them to recycling companies. The proceeds are used to purchase prepaid international calling cards for service members and provide emergency funding to veterans.
Since its inception in 2004, Cell Phone for Soldiers has recycled 25 million phones and provided around 400 minutes of airtime for service members worldwide.
AAA Central Penn branches are accepting donated devices in any condition, including cell phones, tablets, iPads, and mp3 players, as well as device chargers and device accessories in their original packaging, which will be shipped to Cell Phones for Soldiers for refurbishment or recycling. AAA Central Penn is covering shipping costs for the donated devices.
“The Cell Phone for Soldiers program bridges the distance between deployed service members and their families, offering a vital lifeline through free communication,” said Brad Rank, Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs division chief, and member of the Pennsylvania National Guard. “Staying connected with loved ones helps boost morale and ease the challenges of deployment.”
AAA Central Penn is accepting donation drop-offs during operating hours at all seven of its branch locations for both Military Pets Share and Cell Phones for Soldiers.