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Troops headed to Philippines need donations

By Michelle Basch

WASHINGTON – Unwanted items lying around the house could help Philippine typhoon victims as well as members of the U.S. military headed for the disaster zone.

“We’re issuing an urgent plea for donations of food and supplies for delivery to the Philippine storm victims and the troops that are deploying to the area,” Germaine Broussard, founder and president of the Virginia-based charity Troop Treats told WTOP.

Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines leaving behind a death toll of more than 2,300, which is expected to rise as accurate information is collected from the whole disaster zone. Approximately 600,000 people were displaced by the typhoon,– many of them homeless, hungry and thirsty.

Donations are being collected at four drop-off sites in Northern Virginia:

  • The Mason Inn Hotel, 4352 Mason Pond Drive, Fairfax
  • The James Lee Community Center, 2855 Annandale Road, Falls Church
  • Fairfax County Supervisor John Cook’s Office, 9002 Burke Lake Road, Burke
  • The Fratkin Broussard Team at Morgan Stanley, 1650 Tysons Boulevard, McLean (please call first at 703-556-8108 to arrange a drop-off)

“If someone in Maryland or D.C. wants to get involved, please contact us and we can make arrangements to either do a pickup or to meet you somewhere,” said Broussard.

Troop Treats is requesting the following items:

  • First Aid Kits
  • Canned food items
  • Noodle packets & Rice
  • Sanitary napkins for women
  • Blankets, socks, underwear, pants
  • Baby food (unbreakable containers)
  • Small/medium flashlights, Portable radios & AA batteries
  • Hotel size toiletries (soap, shampoo, baby wipes, tooth paste)

To make a money donation via PayPal, visit the Troop Treats website.

Some time in the next two weeks, the organization will ask for volunteers to help pack the donations for shipping.

Broussard says the items will be packed into boxes the size of those used for copier paper. They cost about $50 each to ship through priority Mail.

Help is needed right away, but there is no deadline for making donations. Broussard said they’ll be shipping items out constantly throughout the next few weeks, and she expects the Philippines will need help for quite some time.

“This is going to be a long haul for all of us,” Broussard said.

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Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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