As military veterans and animal lovers, the two charities we choose to support, and that are especially near and dear to our hearts, are the Special Operations Warrior Foundation or SOWF (Nationwide) and the Tilted Acres Rescue and Adoption, Inc or T.A.R.A. (found just around the corner here in Raeford). Here is more information about these two deserving charities and specific actions you can take to help.

The Special Operations Warrior Foundation supports America’s Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps Special Operations personnel through two programs:

1. Ensuring full financial assistance for post-secondary education from an accredited two or four-year college, university, technical or trade school, as well as educational counseling, preschool grants, and tutoring to the surviving children of Special Operations personnel who lose their lives in the line-of-duty
2. Providing immediate financial grants to severely combat-wounded and hospitalized Special Operations personnel and their families

The Special Operations Warrior Foundation pledges to ensure full college funding to every surviving child of a special operator who loses their life in the line of duty. They proactively reach out to every eligible family. They do not need to apply for help.

Additionally, SOWF realizes that one of the most difficult challenges that special operations families may face is the immediate financial burden when their loved ones are hospitalized with severe combat wounds or injuries. They fulfill this need by immediately providing a check to the service member (or his/her designated recipient) so the family and loved ones can be at their bedside.

After they reach out to a fallen special operations service member’s family, they stay in touch through the entire educational process. Their counselors work with the families to ensure in-home tutoring is available from kindergarten through college graduation. They contact the high school students to customize a personal plan for their studies at a university, vocational or technical school. They help prepare the students for SAT/ACT examinations and college applications.

You Can Help

Last year, 48 special operations service members lost their lives and left behind 94 children. Those children are the newest members of the SOWF family and sadly that number continues to grow.  They need your help to meet the anticipated need for scholarships.

There are many ways to help this organization. You can donate (online or via mail), fundraise online or Facebook, arrange a gift from your estate, donate stocks or leave a bequest in your will. Some of these options provide considerable tax benefits for you, while also supporting the children they’ve pledged to care for and educate.

For more information on this worthwhile organization and how you can make a difference please visit https://specialops.org.

T.A.R.A. is a non-profit, no-kill, foster based rescue committed to finding loving, permanent homes for the homeless animals of Hoke and Cumberland Counties and the surrounding areas.

There is an adoption fee of $150 (for dogs) and $100 (for cats) includes spay or neuter, microchip, rabies vaccination, and all other age appropriate vaccinations.

You Can Help

In addition to monetary donations, T.A.R.A can always use the following items:

• Dog food (canned and kibble)
• Cat food (canned and kibble)
• Treats
• Cat litter
• Chew toys
• Disinfecting wipes
• Power towels
• Used blankets
• Laundry detergent
• Bleach
• Dryer sheets
• Cleaners (Windex, Simple Green, Pinesol, Clorox Cleanup)

Volunteers – They can use help at our adoption events and administrative functions
Fosters – As a foster based rescue, they can only take in as many dogs as they have places to put them. Opening your home to a foster pet helps them save the animal’s life and provides valuable socialization skills to the animal.

For more information on this valuable organization and to see how you can make a difference and please visit http://tararescue.org.

Please remember every little bit counts and together we can make a real difference!