Project Valour-IT

I hope you all don't mind, but I've got to hit the pause button for a moment and knock out a little public service announcement.
I've been involved with Project Valour-IT for several years now and I can honestly say that the annual fall charity drive is one of my favorite times to be a blogger. The blogosphere-driven fundraising drive raises all kinds of dosh to purchase voice-activated laptops for soldiers who have lost limbs in combat. Those specially modded lappies make it possible for wounded troops to write and answer emails, update friends and family on their progress, and otherwise make them feel human and functional again.
Major Chuck Ziegenfuss, who was seriously injured by an IED blast in 2005 and was one of the first recipients of a Valour-IT laptop sends (with some selective edits) the rundown:

Valour-IT is completely out of money, and it's really going to be a shitty Christmas for wounded service members waiting for laptops. And yes Virginia, there is a waiting list.
So we begin the Valour-IT veteran's day fundraising project. Our goal is $250000, and that means each of the five branches are racing to the $50,000 finish line. Team Army Air Force, will, of course, win, because all of you WILL contribute. You will get your friends, family, and coworkers to contribute. You will get acquaintances to contribute.
Look, you don't have to donate your life savings. Just figure out how much you spend on mini-luxuries for a week. Five trips to starbux is $30. Drink coffee at work instead, and you've sacrificed little, but you can now contribute three percent of a laptop. Think about your weekly luxuries. What can you do without, so that you can give the gift of modern functionality to someone who needs it?
We've made sure the fund raiser will cover the mid-month pay period, too. So put back that can of creamed corn (really who eats that?) when you are doing your turkey day shopping. That's a dollar right there. Put back the second can of purple jelly too. Learn to make gravy instead of buying a jar.
It's important. It's something you can do to give, really give, someone such a great gift this holiday season. While we focus on being thankful for what we have , take a little time to remember what others have recently lost, and know that the only thing stopping them from regaining a piece of what they've lost--is you.