WASHINGTON, D.C., May 7, 2003 - Kids Care Clubs, a program of the Points of Light Foundation, is rallying children between the ages of 5 and 14 through Operation Kids Care to show their support for men and women in the United States military. Through the project children are writing post cards and assembling care packages to be distributed to men and women in the armed forces.

"When troops started being deployed because of the situation in Iraq, our program staff were flooded with requests from Clubs asking how their kids could show they care. We are fortunate that several Kids Care Clubs are located either on or near a military base and they were thrilled to partner with us on this project. These Clubs are receiving the postcards and supplies from other Clubs and then distributing them to men and women in the armed forces," said Cynthia Scherer, Vice-President of Youth Outreach at the Points of Light Foundation. "Kids from across the country are hoping that their notes of encouragement and thanks and care packages will help booster troop morale."

In addition to writing postcards and sending care packages, the project highlights other activities that kids can participate in including, sending emails to the troops, donating phone cards through the Veteran's of Foreign Wars' Operation Uplink and other ways to help through the United Service Organizations (USO). The project also has an educational component for young volunteers. This component includes geographical information about the countries where U.S. troops have been deployed, a story about a day in the life of a sailor at sea, and a letter from a young marine stationed in Kuwait.

The Lake Silver Elementary School Kids Care Club in Orlando, Florida wrote letters to a pilot stationed in Kuwait and collected items that they gave to a local family who is taking care of a child whose parents have both been deployed overseas. The kids also made a banner decorated with stars to hang in their school to express their support for the troops. "When I was trying to come up with something that we could write on the banner, one of our Kids Care Clubs members suggested 'Proud Americans.' All the Kids Care Clubs members signed the banner and it was heartwarming to watch other students express their proud feelings, too, by signing the banner," said Donna Clark, the Club's facilitator.

The Great Falls UMC Kids Care Club in Great Falls, Virginia has engaged their entire community in Operation Kids Care. Club members started by writing postcards and collecting care package items such as food and batteries. The kids also made posters and decorated collection cans, which were placed throughout the community. They plan to purchase phone cards and additional supplies with the monies collected. H aley, a twelve-year-old volunteer from the Great Falls Club said, "Participating in this project made me feel good because I felt like I was helping out in a small way."

To learn more about Kids Care Clubs, visit www.kidscare.org, call (203) 656-8052 or email kidscare@pointsoflight.org.

Kids Care Clubs is a program of the Points of Light Foundation. Since 1991, Kids Care Clubs has been providing meaningful hands-on service opportunities for children to develop compassion and the spirit of service and philanthropy by helping others in their local, national and global communities.

The Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network supports the vital work of millions of volunteers, who are helping to solve serious social problems in thousands of communities nationwide. For more information about local volunteer activities, call 1-800-VOLUNTEER, or visit www.1-800-volunteer.org.