Four Ways You Can Help Support Military Families, Including Digitizing Photos
NEWS FEATURE | SUPPORTING MILITARY FAMILIES THROUGH PHOTOS, SERVICE, AND GRATITUDE
When Deployment Separates Families, Memories Become a Lifeline
For America’s military families, every day can bring challenges most civilians never face—missing the birth of a child, a first “I love you,” or the simplest joy of cheering from the sidelines at a pee-wee soccer game. That’s why photos matter so much more.
Back in 2004, ScanMyPhotos.com joined forces with Operation Homefront, Kodak, Sony, and Canon for an initiative called Operation Photo. The goal? To collect new and used digital cameras for military families who couldn’t afford one. At the time, even a basic 3MP digital camera could run upwards of $400. But for families on a fixed income, that wasn’t realistic.
“Photos shrink the distance,” said Mitch Goldstone, CEO of ScanMyPhotos. “We knew that capturing and sharing everyday moments could help bridge those painful miles of separation.”
That belief hasn’t changed. Today, ScanMyPhotos.com continues to support our troops by offering a no-charge rush on all standard photo scanning orders sent to or from APO/FPO addresses. Every qualifying order is scanned within 5 business days, free of any expedited service fee.
Why Scanning Photos Matters for Military Families
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Emotional Resilience: A scanned photo shared by email or cloud can turn into a morale booster, a reason to smile, a reminder of home.
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Mobility: Digitized images mean less to carry when relocating — no bulky albums—just a drive or cloud folder that travels light.
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Security: Scanning protects memories from loss, damage, and time. It’s peace of mind, especially during frequent moves.
The Prepaid Photo Scanning Box from ScanMyPhotos.com makes it simple — fill it with pictures and ship. Three-way shipping is included. Whether you’re in Virginia or stationed in Okinawa, these memories deserve to be safe, shareable, and seen.
Not a Military Family? Here’s How You Can Help
📬 Say Thank You
A sincere “thank you” goes further than you think. Programs like Operation Appreciation organize letter-writing efforts to deployed service members and veterans. A note can turn someone’s day around.
📸 Volunteer Your Skills
Groups like Hearts Apart and Operation Love Reunited pair photographers with military families to create portraits before deployment. These aren’t just snapshots—they’re anchors for families during months of separation.
🏡 Be a Good Neighbor
Know a deployed family in your community? Offer to make dinner. Watch the kids. Be the person who shows up. And teach your kids to welcome “the new kid”—because many military children are the new kid… every year.
💵 Donate with Purpose
Operation Homefront and Blue Star Families direct 94¢ of every dollar to helping military families. Just look at the impact:
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$100 buys formula and diapers
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$161 feeds a family
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$300 keeps lights and water on
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$1,117 prevents homelessness
Want to go further? Sell on eBay and direct a portion of the proceeds to a charity like the Wounded Warrior Project or the Children of Fallen Soldiers. It’s simple at givingworks.ebay.com.
Bottom Line? Every Photo Tells a Story—and Every Family Deserves to Hold On to Theirs.
To learn more or get your own photos scanned, especially if you’re a military family, visit ScanMyPhotos.com. Because memories matter, no matter where in the world you are.
