Slow Down and Enjoy the Holiday

Not finished your party planning? Still getting the decorations finished, tablecloths ironed and the good china dusted off for a New Year's Party?

Maybe you're like me and still rushing around like a crazy fool trying to "tie off all those loose ends" before a few well deserved "days off".

I was at WalMart the other day shopping for Christmas and as always there never seemed to be enough hours in the day to do all I had to do. But, we find the time don't we? Sometimes, however, it's at the expense of others or other important things going on around us. As I was rushing to find a parking space which didn't require a Passport to travel into the main store, I saw a young man crossing to enter the store. Since I was 2 cars behind and hoping those in front of me wouldn't get the primo spaces I started to get antsy hoping this guy would move faster. As I lined up directly behind him I realized his delay was caused by a prosthetic on his left leg just below the knee. Immediately recognizing the gray Army T-shirt I stopped thinking poorly of his delayed gait and a tear came to my eye. His service and his sacrifice earned him the right to take his time just as much as anyone else. It was ME, the impatient person who had the problem.

We take many things for granted in this world and one thing is "our freedom". A freedom which is secured by soldiers in all ranks, from all ethnic groups and from every city and state across this great nation of ours. We owe these service members our undying thanks for their service and sacrifice.

So, next time you are in a rush and don't know what's causing it...slow down and be patient. We can't always move as fast as we want, we can't always get things done as fast as we want and we certainly can't do any more than we are capable of doing at that moment...much like our soldier in the parking lot.

Make this New Year a positive one by saying thanks to your family, your friends and your co-workers for being in your life. If you see a soldier on the street, say thanks. If you want to make a more lasting impact, consider supporting the non-profits and charities across this nation which serve our military and their families. To make a difference you can go to www.operationhomefront.net/hamptonroads and donate now! Or, you can text PATRIOT to 90999 on your cell phone and $5 will be donated to Operation Homefront Hampton Roads in your name. No muss...no fusss...it will be charged directly to your phone bill and you can use your billing to claim your tax deduction.

May each and every American have a Happy New Year and THANKS to all active duty/activated guard/activated reserve who serve here and around the globe as members of our US Military. Thanks as well to our military families who serve as well here at home!

Tis the season to be jolly and it's not so jolly for many of our military families who are experiencing financial difficulties this holiday season. Rising costs, pay issues, unexpected expenses coupled with the deployment of a spouse creates financial strain on a family which can take them to the brink of frustration.

What can you do? Have you thought about making a donation in the form of a WalMart or Target Gift Card? These cards can be given to military families who need a little boost with they holiday gifts or some help supporting the cost of their holiday meal.

Would you like to make a donation of frequent flyer miles to the chapter either now or in the future to assist in transporting military members or their families when emergencies arise which will cost them out of pocket travel expenses. Sometimes these flights can be the birth of the first child, the death of an extended family member or just an opportunity for a service member to make one last trip home before deploying overseas. No matter what the reason, travel costs are not an expense which is easily funded by many organizations.

Take the time to share your wealth and holiday spirit either with a cash or in-kind donation of goods or services. Would you like to contribute your time or the time of your business in support of military families. These donations can help Operation Homefront Hampton Roads stretch the emergency assistance budget so more families can be assisted.

Every little bit helps and you can make a huge difference in the life of a family in crisis.
For more information visit www.operationhomefront.net/hamptonroads .

What to do in line...

A little more than two weeks until Christmas! Is your shopping done? If you are anything like me, the panic is just starting to set in. I have so much shopping to do... I can hardly think about it. I've been preparing for months, but apparently not enough because here I am, with a list that rivals Santa's.

While I stare at the computer screen (as online shopping is increasingly becoming an addiction), I can't help thinking about those whose list exceeds their bank account. There are many among our ranks whose spouses are deployed or wounded and the expenses of day to day limit the number of extraneous treats in the budget.

This year, as you are waiting in lines that wrap around the store, why not use that time to help others who don't have enough room in their budget for such a trip?

*Peek through those stands of gifts cards. Throw a practical one into your cart and donate it to Operation Homefront or other charitable groups. A gift card to a grocery or retail store can go a long way in easing the burden this year.

*Purchase a couple extra stamps at the Post Office this year. Imagine wanting to send your loved one a little gift, but being unable to squeeze the $10.95 it costs to ship a flat rate box. A stamp to cover that cost could go a long way!

*Don't forget the holidays will soon pass, but bills still need to be paid. Consider picking up an extra non-perishable item or two. Think about the daily needs... diapers, milk (soy or powdered), chunky soup, peanut butter.

*Feeling techy? Or just feeling a lack of creativity? Why not just text PATRIOT to 90999. Operation Homefront Hampton Roads would be glad to use the $5 that will be added to your next phone bill, to help a local military family.

After all, it's all about multi-tasking this time of year!

Holidays Approaching and How do we Give?

If you pay attention to the ads and hype of the season we continually hear "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year". For many families, the holiday truly can be a most wonderful time. However, for many other families it will not be as they look to a holiday with a loved one deployed overseas in Iraq, Afghanistan or some other location away from family. As we approach the 3 week countdown to Christmas Day, requests for assistance in the Operation Homefront Hampton Roads Adopt-A-Family Program continue to be received at a rate of 2-3 per day. The individual needs are different but the general commonality between these requests is that families are struggling. They are struggling with mortgage payments, car repairs, bills which have accumulated over time whey they have experienced unexpected financial issues which have stressed their financial resources.

Many members of the community have called and offered their support. Some are supporting families directly, some are gathering as a group to sponsor one or more families and some are offering to "shop" for families to help Operation Homefront serve as many families as possible with the resources they have at hand but where there are volunteers needed to assist in getting the gifts purchased, wrapped and delivered.

How do you give each holiday season? Have you thought about making a change in your giving process this year? Instead of giving a gift to one or more friends, have you thought about making a testimonial donation in their name? What about a memorial gift for a friend who has passed and who you wish to remember with something from your heart? What about adopting a family who is in need? Instead of gifts within a group, why not ask your friends over and instead of sharing a gift, ask them to bring a cash donation and select a charity of choice.

Operation Homefront Hampton Roads serves the needs of military families where a service member is deployed or where a wounded warrior has returned home. Operation Homefront Hampton Roads could use your help to meet the needs of the families who don't have the resources available to make their season bright! Please consider making contact and sharing your holiday cheer with a military family here in your own backyard. For more information, visit www.operationhomefront.net/hamptonroads