Supporting Military Families in Need this Holiday Season.

Clink* *clink*

The light jingle of your coins joining others in a Salvation Army bucket is so satisfying. It’s so tangible. You can almost picture just what your money will be helping with: new coats for kids, hot meals for families in need.

Giving in other ways may seem less “real,” but it is not less impactful or meaningful. Especially during the holidays, military families need your help.

Send a Hug

KOAH is proud to partner with BearHug! These sweet care packages are sent to the Kids of America’s Heroes during deployments. Each care package has age appropriate gifts plus a letter from another child.

Deployments can be super tough for Military Kids of all ages. Getting these packages in the mail helps to break up and brighten the months of waiting. Sharing love in this way can make the difference for so many military children who are missing their mom or dad this holiday season.

Spread Cheer

Being a military family or veteran far from home can be so isolating. When you arrive, you know next to no one. Spending the holidays alone can be depressing.

If you have room at your table, invite a military family to join you! You can reach out through your religious group, the USO, through social media, or by contacting units stationed near your home. Share how many people you would like to invite and then wait for confirmation.

Not only will you be helping a military family feel at home, you’ll also be making new friends! Plus, I bet that your guests might bring a unique dish or two to share.

Pass it On

Many military families operate on very tight budgets. Some families are living at or below the poverty threshold. Even with a steady job, it can be hard to make ends meet when a family is constantly on the go.

As you sort through winter clothes or get ready to weed out your closets, consider donating clothes to local military charities. Most bases have thrift stores that accept donations of clothes, shoes, household items, and toys. Many churches will help to find homes for gently used items, too.

Even if you can’t part with toys or clothes for free, selling your items for a discounted rate on local yard sale pages can help military families. Your child’s outgrown playhouse might make the holidays a little brighter for a military child in need.

Stock the Shelves

For children of veterans, it can be hard to buy books about their struggles. At public libraries and schools located far from military installations, these books might not be on the shelves. Donating a copy or two of books for and about military connected children can help them to feel more at home.

As a bonus, you’ll be sharing the military life with all the children in your community. Too many Americans do not have a strong connection to today’s military. Help to forge that bond in a concrete way through literature! voice in our great nation. Help us to continue our mission of supporting these littlest warriors!

Support KOAH!

Our whole mission is built around supporting the Kids of America’s Heroes through education and programs. Too many MilKids are slipping through the cracks at school and in our communities, through no fault of their own.

By donating to KOAH or volunteering with us, you are helping to give these Kids a voice in our great nation. Help us to continue our mission of supporting these littlest warriors!

How have you supported military families in need during the holidays?

Meg Flanagan M.Ed and K.O.A.H. Military Education Specialist

I'm a teacher, blogger, writer, runner, mother, and military spouse. I am passionate about helping ALL children learn, offering tips to guide parents through the K-12 education world, and providing useful advice to teachers of all ages and stages.Visit Meg's Blog at MilKidsEd.com

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