The holidays should be a time of excitements and joy as the year wraps up and everyone is out buying presents or spending time with one another. However, the holidays can also be a source of stress as finances may be tight and maybe certain loved ones aren’t there anymore to spend the holiday. And even though these situations are unfortunate, there are some things that you can do to help veterans. If you are a veteran there are some programs you can participate in to have a good holiday this season.
How you can help a veteran
If you are looking to volunteer and give back this holiday season, there are many ways to assist in these challenging times. Some veterans may not have families to be with and you can help those who protect and serve our country by donating items or making a monetary donation to a worthy cause.
One option for you to help out with is to call a local USO branch or area Armed Services Recruiter. They may have a local donation program list available that you can contribute to. You can also help specific groups of veterans such as those who are disabled or injured, homeless or veterans who need jobs.
Local Veterans Association residential home or hospital may also be a great place to contact. Those who reside in these institutions are often older vets who are either hospitalized or, in a residence without friends and family to keep them company during the holidays. Most of these centers plan fundraisers so you can further your help. In many military hospitals, disabled vets are in recovery and there are pre-determined donation lists consisting of typical things where service members may need to aid in their recovery like blankets, gloves, movies, cookies and home baked good, socks, etc.
If you’re artistic, then you could knit a service member a blanket or quilt for use at their home. You can also donate your car if you have one to spare. Contact a local Veterans organization and ask how you can help this holiday season. For more opportunities and organizations to help with, please click here.
Holiday programs for veterans and families
If you are a veteran trying to figure out how you and your family will do survive the holiday season, there are a few programs for military families in need. Christmas can be a really tough time, specially if there is not a lot of extra money for christmas presents. Thankfully, there are various programs that are designed to help families like yours who are in need. Please contact them to see if you and your family qualify to be a part of their program, and what you can do to receive the benefits they offer.
One program is Adopt-a-Family for the Holidays. Various organizations offer these programs. MIlitary families who can show proof of need submit their wish lists to the organization and donors adopt the families by purchasing items from their wish list for Christmas. It is very popular, so you must fill out an application months before Christmas in order to get on the list. Pay attention to deadlines and get your application in as soon as the window opens because of how fast the spaces fill up.
Full Circle Home is a program for deployed service men and women that allow them to send gift boxes to their spouses back home. These gift boxes contain numerous items like lotions, bubble baths, spa socks and other self-care items. Along with these boxes, you can also send a handwritten note.
Military Installation Support offers assistance in many ways during the holidays. They have programs like Santa’s Shop which donates to military families in need. If you would like to help then you can reach out to your local installation. If you need assistance, then please reach out to the MWR (Morale Welfare and Recreation) Office locator or the MIlitary Installation Locator.
Operation Christmas Spirit supports local military families in the form of adopting over 100 families and fulfilling their Christmas wish lists with gifts for all family members and gift cards to do their own shopping. They sponsor gifts and crafts at unit holiday parties and also adopt single marines and sailors, giving them gifts and gift cards to celebrate whether they are around their families or not.
Operation Homefront offers many programs for military families throughout the year including Christmas. The organization partners with Dollar Tree to provide toys for military children. To receive a gift, you must register for your local Operation Homefront Toy Distribution. If your family cannot afford funds for a holiday meal, you can also attend one of the organization’s holiday meal events and receive all of the fixings for a great Christmas dinner.
Soldiers’ Angels sponsors Operation Outreach Holiday Support. Lower enlisted families can receive a $50-$100 gift card to help pay for a holiday meal and gifts for children 15 and under. Families must sign up for the program by December 15th and are matched with donors from around the US.
How Diverse Health Services can help
Diverse Health Services is a home health agency, however we do provide assistance to families, and that assistance can occur during the holidays. If you have an injured veteran who needs full time care, it may be hard to find time to go Christmas shopping. Diverse Health Services can provide home health services including transportation, cooking, medication distribution, hygiene, and more so family members and caretakers can carry out their holiday duties. If you need to go shopping or do other things for the holidays, but also have no one to help you take care of your injured and disabled veteran, please reach out to us and see if we can relieve you and give you time to prepare for the holidays with your family.
Resources
- https://militarybenefits.info/how-to-help-veterans-during-the-holidays/
- https://militarybenefits.info/christmas-programs-for-military-families-in-need/
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