With the continued war on terror and a prolonged engagement in Iraq, many of the men and women serving our country are facing personal and financial hardships. Family budgets are strained and those who remain at home face a mounting workload. The large activation of Reserve and National Guard personnel has further strained the resources needed to take care of our troops and their families.

With the generous support of the National Association of Broadcasters, the four Military Aid Societies — Air Force Aid Society, Army Emergency Relief, Coast Guard Mutual Assistance, and Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society — have come together to address these escalating needs by creating The Armed Forces Relief Trust — a single, non-profit fund to better collect and disburse donations in support of the troops and their families in need.

The mission of the Armed Forces Relief Trust is to assist the military aid societies by providing a single vehicle to accept donations that will benefit the men and women of our Armed Forces and their families. Examples of such assistance may include payment for a soldier's airfare to fly home for his father's funeral, a special reading program for a sailor's daughter, special medical attention for a pilot's expectant spouse, or college tuition for a soldier's child.

Last year, the four emergency assistance programs disbursed more than $109 million in interest-free loans and grants to 145,000 individuals and families in need. But in order to meet our troops needs today, the Armed Forces Relief Trust is depending on the public's support.

Help boost the morale and welfare of our troops, better enabling them to focus on their important mission. Contribute to AFRtrust today.

Learn more about America's military aid societies: