Every military family has a unique story. With moving around every few years, no two families end up following the same path. In addition to moving, there is training, night shifts, deployments and housing issues that military families face. There are also the families that live with those who are scarred from the battlefield – physically and mentally – and those whose loved ones never return at all. Supporting military families at any level is a wonderful thing to do. Many don’t even know beforehand what is expected of them during their journey as a military family.
Here are some ways to support military families – both in your community and around the globe.
Get to know them
Military families are everywhere, especially with many serving in the Guard and Reserves. If you meet a military family in your neighborhood, church or child’s school, get to know the family. Military families who move a lot often encounter people who don’t want to invest in a friendship because they’ll just move away in a few years. However, those people can miss out on getting to know people who bring a different insight into their community. Being friends with a military family is one of the best things you can do to support them.
Deployed military support
There are still many military deployed overseas. Letters and care packages are still something that helps lift spirits of those deployed. Support Our Troops is one group that gathers items to send off in care packages. Operation Gratitude collects Halloween candy to send in care packages.
If letter writing is something you’re interested in, Soldier’s Angels and A Million Thanks can help you send letters to servicemembers.
Helping veterans
In Washington, the Veterans Homes are located in Spokane, Orting, Walla Walla and Port Orchard. They are often in need of donations and items needed can be found here. They also take donations for their cemeteries and for a general support fund for veterans.
The Gary Sinise Foundation is an organization that helps veterans with special physical needs get the housing they need to live comfortably. He also takes children of fallen heroes on a Snowball Express flight for a family experience. There are numerous ways this organization supports the families of the fallen – see their website for details.
Gold Star families
For those who have lost their loved ones while serving their country, American’s Gold Star Families is an organization that provides them support. A Soldier’s Child is a group that sends a birthday present every year to children who lost a parent. They also offer camps for the children, too.
Identify local needs
Washington state is home to two Air Force bases (McChord AFB in Tacoma and Fairchild AFB in Spokane), one National Guard base (Camp Murray in Tacoma), one Army base (Fort Lewis in Tacoma), five Navy locations (NB Kitsap in Silverdale, NS Everett in Everett, NAS Whidbey Island in Oak Harbor, Naval Hospital Bremerton and Naval Magazine Indian Island) and several District 13 Coast Guard locations. You can look up each location and find their Web site and news page. Many often do cookie drives for younger military members around the holidays.
I recently had a book published, The Ring, that shows what one fictional military goes through. Set mostly in the SeaTac area, the book starts with Amanda knowing she doesn’t want to fall in love with anyone in the military. She ends up meeting Lucas, who is in the Air Force, who is unlike anyone she’s ever met. Their journey includes deployments, a move, a delayed honeymoon and infertility. The Ring can be found for Kindle and in paperback on Amazon (it is currently free for Kindle Unlimited readers). Buy the book here!
Enter the giveaway for a copy of The Ring! Winner can receive a paperback or Kindle version!
Writing stories since she was little, Sarah Anne is constantly thinking of ideas that could be used as a plot for a novel. She is a journalist by trade and has written numerous newspaper articles. She grew up as an Air Force brat and married a military man and has lived in many states and countries. Currently residing in Ohio, she spends her time enjoying her family, reading and writing. The Ring is Sarah Anne’s first published novel. You can reach Sarah Anne at her Web site at www.sarahannecarter.com.
