Armed Services Exchanges are now authorized to sell prepaid calling cards to any individual or organization that wishes to purchase cards for troops now deployed overseas, the Department of Defense announced Friday.

The “Help Our Troops Call Home” program helps service members call home from Operations Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Those who wish to donate a prepaid calling card may log on to any of the three Armed Services Exchange web sites: the Army and Air Force Exchange Service http://www.aafes.com/, the Navy Exchange Service Command http://www.navy-nex.com/, and the Marine Corps Exchange http://www.usmc-mccs.org/.

Click the “Help Our Troops Call Home” link. From there, a prepaid calling card may be purchased for a service member at his or her deployment address or to “any service member” deployed or hospitalized.

The Armed Services Exchanges will distribute cards donated to “any service member” through the American Red Cross, Air Force Aid Society and the Fisher House Foundation.

IIndividuals and organizations may also show their support to deployed troops and their families with gift certificates. The “Gift of Groceries” program allows anyone to purchase commissary gift certificates at http://www.commissaries.com or by calling toll free 1 (877) 770-GIFT. The Armed Services Exchanges offer the “Gift From the Homefront” gift certificate for merchandise at these exchange web sites: http://www.aafes.com and http://www.navy-nex.com or by calling toll free 1 (877) 770-GIFT. Gift certificates may be purchased to be mailed to servicemembers and family members or will be distributed to “any servicemember.” Only authorized commissary and exchange patrons may redeem the gift certificates at military commissaries and exchanges, including those stores supporting deployed personnel around the globe.