Holidays can be a time filled with the bustle of food, activities, and planning for the new year. Still, it is an invitation to slow down and look around at what you can give to make your community a better one. Your tree may already be up, but if you haven’t found a way to share the holiday cheer, here are five ways to spread the joy in your military community.
1: Help make food and holiday decor accessible on Keesler AFB
Megan Brown, a military missionary with CRU military, has installed and supports the food pantry at Keesler AFB’s Airman’s Attic. The Airman’s Attic is a free store for enlisted families, E-5 and below. She has collaborated with the InspireUp foundation, Lowe’s, Every Warrior, and the local community to maintain and expand the food pantry. Since October, they have arranged 25 Christmas trees, over 100 packs of diapers, other household goods and donated over $3,000 worth of food for the Airman’s Attic. You can donate HERE towards the project.
2: Bring Christmas to a deserving military family.
Since 2013, Wish Patrol has been bringing a “Christmas-of-a-lifetime” to military families in need and has served over 1,000 families in Indianapolis and San Antonio. Get involved to help families who could use extra love this season at www.wishpatrol.org.
3: Provide a family or deployed troops with a Christmas tree!
Trees for Troops helps to add an extra sense of wonder during the holiday season. They have donated over 262,265 trees since 2005. You can purchase a tree to donate or support the mission for deployed troops or those on the home front. This year alone, they plan to pick up 14,500 trees from 55 different locations to deliver them to 77 bases in the U.S. alone. Go to ChristmasSpiritFoundation.org to get involved today!
4: Bring cheer to the spouse of a deployed military member.
Operating since 2007, Full Circle Home has helped over 26,000 troops give gifts and letters to their loved ones back home. You can host a sponsored wrapping event to wrap gifts or donate. If you know someone deployed who would like to sign up, they can apply at FullCircleHome.org.
5: Warm up your community with winter clothing.
The InspireUp Foundation founded Giving Military Tuesday (GTM) to create one million acts of kindness. Through GTM, they are sponsoring the Warm Up Project. Participate by gathering winter clothing, and leave them at bus stops, street lamps or donate them to your local shelter. Attach a note to each piece saying, “I am not lost. I’m here just for you. If you’re cold and you need me, please take me.” Participate and add your act of kindness to the tally HERE.