Cody Anderson — honorary Marine, patriot and owner of 60 keys to cities who was ironically born on July 4 — is working to better the world by doing charity work across the U.S.
Anderson’s latest effort, Music Aid for Troops, made an appearance Saturday and Sunday in downtown Baton Rouge as he disc jockeyed while Syllable 7 played live music in front of the USS Kidd.
Anderson said he has already played shows in Florida and Georgia and will soon play more shows in Tennessee.
Anderson spent $40,000 out of his own pocket to build a sound system in the back of his truck to travel and organize shows to raise money and international phone cards for the troops, Anderson said.
Anderson said he has raised more than $300,000 in donations and phone cards since 9/11 and donated more than 7,000 phone cards to the troops abroad for Christmas in 2009.
Anderson explained troops always want phone cards, and he said he is starting a program that allows his Facebook friends to donate $10 to international phone cards.
“I want to get 40,000 to 50,000 phone cards at least,” Anderson said.
Anderson plans to personally deliver the phone cards and money he raises from shows and Facebook to the main base in Afghanistan.
Anderson’s Facebook friends who donate phone cards will have an opportunity to video chat with soldiers when he makes his delivery, Anderson said.
Maj. Michael Reeve, Anderson’s communicator with the troops overseas, said people across the U.S. are sending phone cards to his station in Fort Stewart, Ga., as well as giving them to Anderson.
Reeve said he sends the phone cards and other donations to Beverly Childes, the fort’s director of Morale Welfare and Recreation.
Childes sends the care packages overseas to a division chaplain and the division chaplain sends the packages to unit chaplains, who distribute them equally to the troops, Reeve said.
Reeve said what Anderson is doing is extraordinary, and he wishes more people would take an active role in supporting the soldiers.
“They’re still putting their lives on the line,” Reeve said. “They’re still missing birthdays. They’re not at home with loved ones. They’re missing their children grow up.”
Reeve said America has gotten tired of hearing about the war, and Anderson’s efforts are important because they help remind people the war is still going on.
“It’s a tremendous effort by an individual,” he said. “He in turn is inspiring others to get involved.”
Jade Edgecombe, biological sciences sophomore, said Anderson playing shows for donations is a great idea, and she would definitely donate a phone card.
“It makes me smile when I see people helping others, especially when it’s for a good cause,” Edgecombe said.
Other students would probably be willing to donate, Edgecombe said.
Anderson said college students are an important source for donations.
“The University alone could make the soldiers’ Christmas fantastic,” he said.
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Contact Ferris W. McDaniel at [email protected]