Soldier are Heroes!
Soldiers are heros who offer their lives to serve the country and its beliefs. Taken away from their families, they face life threatening dangers on a daily basis. The holidays are particularly lonely as this special time is meant to be spent with family and loved ones. Many Americans believe it’s important to make the soldiers feel loved and appreciated during Christmas, which is why they have founded many charities that help soldiers and their families to have a happy holiday. Below are some charities that work hard to give Christmas to American soldiers and their families.
Operation Christmas Cards for Troops
What’s it about: The Operation Christmas Cards for Troops collects Christmas cards from people all over the world to send to deployed troops during Christmas. This act helps our soldiers feel remembered during a time when they miss their families and friends most.
How you can help: Extend your appreciation and warm wishes to our soldiers by writing and sending them a holiday card. This is a great way to boost their morale and keep them inspired!
Operation Christmas Aloha
What’s it about: Operation Christmas Aloha is a yearly event that offers the members the opportunity to send our soldiers a Christmas gift. The group believes that what they do is small compared to the service that the military does for the country. This is why they find it fitting to support soldiers by sending gifts and packages.
How you can help: Donate small packages and gifts to Oahu Ohana, who will then send these presents to soldiers during the holidays.
Holiday Mail for Heroes
What’s it about: Holiday Mail for Heroes is a charity by Red Cross that sends out holiday mail to soldiers. The soldiers who perform exceptional sacrifices deserve a boost and inspiration, especially during this particular time of year.
How you can help: You can put smiles on the face of each soldier by writing them a letter. Everyone is invited to send holiday cards to the American service members, their families, and veterans all over the world. The Red Cross workers will deliver these holiday greetings to servicemen in their communities.
Christmas Adopt-a-Soldier Program
What’s it about: Adopt-a-Soldier is a program wherein local families in El Paso invite a Fort Bliss soldier to their home for a home-cooked holiday meal. Fort Bliss and El Paso have teamed up to provide each soldier with a host family to make them feel at home during Christmas.
How you can help: If you would like to be a host family for a soldier, you can simply contact the Adopt-a-Soldier program through their website. Soldiers who would like to be adopted can fill out a form and once their information is consolidated, they will receive the contact information for their host family
Soldier’s Secret Santa
What’s it about: The Soldier’s Secret Santa provides gifts for the children of soldiers by
soliciting donations from grateful and compassionate citizens. Soldier’s Secret Santa was founded to fill a need in the 101st Airborne Division, who was in Iraq. In
December, the unit lost a soldier and this was not only affecting the soldiers in the field, but also their families back at Kentucky. Being that it was the holidays, they decided something had to be done to make sure that their families still had something to celebrate. When they asked for donations during the first year, they were able to raise enough money to help five families and eighteen children. Every family received a card telling them about how much the profession of the soldier is respected.
How you can help: You can help by donating through the website of Soldier’s Secret Santa, or by giving your donation directly to their board members. You can also help the organization by offering your services. All donations go to the children of US Soldiers or to their families.
There are many ways to make our soldiers and their families feel appreciated, and one great way is to donate to one of these charities. Soldiers should experience an abundant Christmas, whether they are deployed overseas or at a US base. Whether you are donating gifts or your time by volunteering, your help will go a long way.
Isabella York is a mother who has dedicated herself to helping other families this holiday season. Along with raising her son, she works for Balsam Hill, a purveyor of Artificial Christmas Trees and Christmas Trees.
When it comes to your money and the different investments available to help reach your long-term financial goals, there is no shortage of salespeople lining up to offer you a “solution”. But buyer beware! Each investment choice has two costs:
