Philately's Volunteer Service Committee

Stamps for the

Wounded

SERVING OUR VETERANS SINCE 1942

NOW THAT YOU HAVE DECIDED TO HELP....May we o�er a few suggestions for packing and mailing your precious gi�s?

1. In clipping stamps from envelopes and packages, PLEASE leave at least a quarter inch margin of paper around stamps. �is saves time and money in postage. Please don't try to steam or peel stamps o� paper as that will damage them. Don't soak stamps or sort them by country. �at is part of the fun of working with stamps for the hospitalized veteran. (But if stamps are already sorted when they come to you, just send them along.)

2. Please do not cut stamps from old envelopes, or more modern envelops if they are special, with such things as �rst day cancels, forwarding markings, etc.

3. If you have time, separate stamps into three groups: canceled US, uncancelled US, and Foreign. You can ship them together but this preliminary sorting will be of great help to us.

4. Use postage stamps on shipments rather than meters if you can.

5. Rather than sending a few stamps at a time, wait until you have enough for a large envelope or a small box.

6. Wrap boxes well - boxes that come apart in transit result in loss of the stamps, and gummed up USPS equipment.

7. If you are requesting a TAX RECEIPT, please include a letter or inventory with your estimate of value, citing your reference source (stamp catalog, dealer buy or sell lists, auction realizations, etc. You may donate up to $5000 in Fair Market Value in a single year without an appraisal. Above that amount, a formal appraisal is required by the IRS.

8. Donations by cash or check are always welcome to buy stamp collector supplies or o�set mailing costs.

9. PLEASE print your name and complete mailing address on your package AND on your transmittal letter or inventory so we know who it is from, and can acknowledge your generosity. We do our best to acknowledge every donation in a timely manner.

WHERE DO I SEND DONATIONS? Or get more information?

John Hotchner, Vice President Stamps For the Wounded P.O. Box 1125 Falls Church, VA 22041-0125 Email: jmhstamp@verizon.net

Stamps For �e Wounded P.O. Box 297 Dunn Loring, VA 22027

We try to answer all queries and acknowledge all donations promptly, but please be patient if our VOLUNTEER sta� sometimes falls a bit behind with the mail. �e �rst order of business at SFTW is getting the stamps to the veterans who need them!

WHO DO WE SERVE? Our wounded and Ill servicemen and women who are in- and out-patients at Department of Veterans A�airs hospitals and domiciliaries located all across the country. �ese people have served in the U.S. Military in foreign wars as far back as WWII extending to the most recent actions in the Middle East and in trouble spots all over the world. WHAT DO WE DO? �rough providing donated postage stamps, envelopes, and other philatelic materials, we attempt to stamp CANCELLED across the face of the deadliest foe that hospitalized personnel must �ght -- ENFORCED IDLENESS and its deadly allies: boredom, loneliness, frustration, futility, and despair. We do what we can to relight the spark of interest and life in the weary eyes of a wounded or convalescent veteran...eyes that without such help would stare at nothing but what one G.I. Called "white ceilings .... and dark futures"

WHAT CAN STAMPS DO? Miracles, almost. Stamps can give bedridden patients, long-term treatment patients, and convalescent patients, a consuming interest. �ey can sort and mount stamps while in bed. If ambulatory, or even in a wheel chair, they can pass happy hours soaking stamps and mounting them in albums. Even the withdrawn, mentally disabled patient takes pleasure in using more common stamps in organized therapy sessions to make fanciful greeting cards, or to cover decorative boxes

WHO ARE WE? Stamps For �e Wounded was founded in 1942 in New York, in response to an appeal from local Armed Services Hospitals. It was extended nationwide in 1944, with the aid of the country's leading stamp societies. �e SFTW team is made up entirely of volunteers, many of whom have been working in this program for decades. �ey receive no compensation for their e�orts. Nor is there an expensive o�ce operation supporting the program.

HOW DO WE DO IT? We depend upon YOU to donate U.S. And foreign stamps from your mail, stamp collections, even stamps you have bought at the post o�ce, and stamp collector supplies. Varied boxes of material are then put together and sent to participating facilities. We are always happy to hear from additional facilities and individual veterans who would like to have this sort of support. As we mark our 75th anniversary we know that tens of thousands of veterans have bene�ted from this program. We would love to be able to go out of business, but it seems our program will be needed for many years to come.

IS SFTW AFFILIATED WITH THE GOVERNMENT?No. However, the American Red Cross, the Department of Veterans A�airs, and other Veterans' groups recognize SFTW as an organization accredited to serve the philatelic needs of hospitalized service personnel. HOW ARE THE MATERIALS USED? Primarily, the stamps and envelopes are used to start and support stamp collections; a long term hobby that provides activities and challenges that develop enthusiasm and even a reason to live. Also quantities of modern common stamps are o�en used for art projects such as decoupage, 'painting' using bits of stamps, and other cra�s.

WHAT CAN YOU DO? We hope YOU will be moved to help. WHERE CAN YOU FIND STAMPS TO DONATE? Your own mail, friends, business �rms and fraternal groups, relatives who have stopped collecting, and attics, trunks, and closets where old, retired stamp collections and correspondence has been stored.

ARE CONTRIBUTIONS TO SFTW TAX-EXEMPT? Yes, indeed they are! (See Internal Revenue Code section 501c3.) donations of stamps, covers, cash, stamp supplies, philatelic literature (including old catalogs dated a�er 2005, and other collectibles such as post cards, sports cards, and coins are deductible at Fair Market Value (Note that this is generally not the same as catalogue values.)

Although stamps and covers are the major focus of our work, CASH DONATIONS are also gratefully accepted to help with shipping costs, and to buy albums, hinges, magni�ers, catalogs, and other accessories to include in our packages.

WHAT STAMPS DOES SFTW NEED? All philatelic material - stamps and covers no matter how inexpensive, U.S. and worldwide, old or new - in any quantity. Envelopes with imprinted stamps or computer vended postage can also be used. Note that older envelopes with special postmarks, interesting post o�ce markings, �rst day cancellations, �rst �ights, military cancellations are also collectibles and the stamps should not be clipped o�.

WHAT STAMPS ARE NOT NEEDED? Torn, damaged or defective modern stamps are not needed. Nor can we use quantities of common meters, or postmarks without stamps from modern era covers.