Maine Credit Unions Launch `Operation Phone Home'

WESTBROOK, Maine – Sometimes just hearing a familiar voice is all it takes to raise one’s spirits and morale. To that end credit unions here have banded together to collect and donate phone cards and/or cash for Operation Phone Home. Recently launched, the effort is to provide moral support to those soldiers fighting in Iraq. “Operation Phone Home is not about whether people do or do not support the war, it’s about supporting our troops,” said Maine Credit Union League Director of Communications Jon Paradise. “Phone cards will be used for not only troops to call their families but also for families to call other family members for support while their loved ones are deployed in the Middle East. Providing some comfort to troops and their families is our primary goal.” All funds and phone cards collected will be sent to the USO to be distributed to troops and their families. Maine’s credit unions will be conducting `Operation Phone Home’ through April 10, 2003, with a goal of collecting at least 50,000 minutes.