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Sweet Home Alabama
This past October, an award from Home for the Holidays allowed Edward and Michelle to travel to Alabama with their 18 month old son, Kolten, to see Edward’s aging parents. Edward’s father has been very sick, and in and out of the hospital with a heart condition and knee problems. Edward is active duty military. They wanted to see his parents before he is deployed again, but could not afford to pay for the trip.
The family had been deployed to Japan for two years while Michelle was pregnant. When their son was born with a bilateral cleft, the military relocated them back to San Diego to get treatment at Rady Children’s Hospital. Their son had two surgeries at 5 months and 12 months. Now he is a happy, healthy boy.
Even though the family had saved money for their new baby, all was depleted to cover their son’s doctor and medical bills. Eventually, they even had to go off of the military insurance plan so their son could see a doctor specializing in his condition.
The timing of their trip to Alabama could not have been better. Edward’s father’s health had improved significantly and he was able to play with and get to know his 18 month old grandson. In the meantime, Edward’s mother’s health had declined and they helped move her into facilitated care while they were in town.
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Teaming Up to Help a Marine
Helping fulfill a Marine's Christmas wish recently took a team effort in San Diego. Lance Corporal Marvin's Family Readiness Officer (FRO) contacted Operation Homefront Southern California to ask for assistance for a young Marine. His mother, Becky Lee, lives in Louisiana. She survives on a monthly income of what most minimum wage employees make weekly. She is extremely supportive of her son's service and deeply patriotic towards her country. It is hard to think of a prouder mom, or one more thankful of the Marine Corps for taking care of her son.
Marvin's FRO reached out to Operation Homefront to ask for an array of assistance for Marvin and his mother to help cope with the daily poverty she is experiencing at home. Their one Christmas wish was to be together during the upcoming holiday season before deployment of Marvin's command. Operation Homefront reached out to us to see if we could help make this wish come true. Within hours, Home for the Holidays was able to provide the financial assistance required so that the Marine could go home and be with his mother for Christmas.
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Partnership Has Its Benefits
In December, Home for the Holidays partnered with Armed Services YMCA, presenting financial awards to two young military families.
Mary and Justin will travel to Texas for the holidays. Justin’s first deployment is in January—he is 19 years old. With three small children, money is tight and finances have been an ongoing challenge. Assistance from Home for the Holidays will allow Justin, Mary and their children to spend time with friends and family at home in Texas before his first deployment.
Amy and Andrew are traveling to Arkansas with their 16 month old son, Dyllan. It has been almost two years since they have been able to spend time with their families. Andrew is going to be deployed in January. This will be Dyllan’s first Christmas with his grandparents.
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