Regardless of your political views surrounding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the one thing most people can agree on is we must support our troops. That message was hammered-home again this past weekend when both the writer and the director of The Hurt Locker (best picture) dedicated their Oscars to the men and women serving in our armed forces.

So it is with great pride that I am able to tell you about the relatively new charity; Bunkers In Baghdad. The charity’s founder, Joe Hanna, was just your typical American guy who read an article in Golf Magazine about how troops hit off make-shift driving ranges in the desert to relieve stress. But unlike many who just read articles such as these and think, “that’s neat” – Joe decided he could do actually something to help.

Thus in 2008 he established Bunkers In Baghdad. The organization collects new and used golf balls, clubs and equipment and ships them to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan to use on these desert driving ranges. By the end of that year, he had sent his first shipment – just in time for the holiday season. To date, Joe has shipped over 520,000 golf balls and 10,000 clubs!

In addition, Joe has expanded his outreach to include those service men and women recovering at the Wounded Warriors program at Walter Reed. To this effort, Bunkers In Baghdad has distributed nearly 440,000 golf balls and 15,000 clubs – bringing the total donation to nearly 1 million golf balls and over 25,000 golf clubs!

In 2010, Joe is looking to take the Bunkers In Baghdad program to new heights, and you can help! Cash donations can be made HERE.

Or, you can send Joe a package! That old shag-bag full of balls, or those used clubs in your attic – help them find a new home with our troops:

Mail to:
Bunkers in Baghdad, Inc.
Attn: Joe Hanna
665 Main Street, Suite 400
Buffalo, New York 14203