But there's another option for spending the money that represents one of the best ways we can help this nation: Donate it to charitable organizations supporting our troops and their families.

This proposal is one that Americans all across the political spectrum should enthusiastically embrace. Many who oppose the war have criticized the Bush administration for not calling on Americans to sacrifice more to assist our men and women in uniform. Well, why wait for the president to ask? Let's just do it.

Those who advocated invading Iraq or who support staying there, particularly conservative talk show hosts and commentators, have expressed the need to show our troops that we're behind them. The stimulus checks present a perfect opportunity for citizens, pro-war or not, to give to worthy military- and veteran-related charities -- and to persuade others to do the same.

Congregations, civic organizations, fraternities, sororities and other groups could pool their money and adopt a local base, military hospital, Veterans Affairs medical center or homeless shelter for veterans. Now is the time to say, "What can we do to help?"

Americans nationwide have contributed time and money, but many of these individuals are themselves veterans or the family members of troops. They give because they are all too familiar with the hardships of military life. It is critical that those of us who are not a part of this community demonstrate our support as well.

There are countless ways to help our troops, from sending phone cards and care packages overseas to building homes for disabled veterans and providing scholarships for the children of service members killed in action.

The American Institute of Philanthropy, a nonpartisan organization that reports on how efficiently charities dispense their funds, has compiled an excellent list of first-rate nonprofits, including the Fisher House Foundation, Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, Army Emergency Relief, the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society and the National Military Family Association. Many others can easily be found online.

About the same number of U.S. service members are fighting overseas today as were five years ago, when their heroism was regularly featured in the news. Today, though, when many soldiers, Marines, airmen and sailors are on their third or fourth deployments, and the burden on them and their loved ones has become even greater, our country seems increasingly apathetic about the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Let's remind our troops and their families, through a surge in giving, that we have not forgotten their sacrifice. If even a tiny percentage of Americans make donations, millions of dollars could be raised. Bumper stickers and lapel pins are not enough. We cannot merely tell these extraordinary men and women how much we owe them for their service. It is time to show them.

This column first appeared in the Washinton Post.