MEDIA ADVISORY, Dec. 19 /Christian Newswire/ -- The wife of a former Navy Seal has tips for helping military families with deployed members make it through the holidays. Marshele Carter Waddell, with www.hopeforthehomefront.com, says:
1. Offer to be a Foster Family – if the the military family is home without the service member, offer for them to join your own family for a home-cooked meal, a movie night, or Christmas Day with the kids playing together.
2. Volunteer Handymen/handywomen – gather names of volunteers through your church and community that could help if a need arises. Most plumbers and repair people won’t take a call for the holiday time, so volunteer help is vital for a military family.
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There are close to 700,000 spouses of active duty military personnel and close to 500,000 spouses of reserve military spouses.
Many are spending the Christmans season without their loved one.
3. Parent’s Day out – Church and community people can gather the names of volunteers trained in childcare to let the homefront parent finish shopping, or just have some alone time. Childcare centers could offer “military night” where the military spouse brings the children for a free few hours of care.
4. Family Doc/vet on call – a licensed medical practitioner can offer to give quick advice in case of a minor problem over the holidays. If a child starts a fever, it will be a long holiday until the regular doctors' offices are open. Military spouses could use the assurance and advice on minor illness.
5. Emergency Stand-in/Chaperone - if the military spouse turns sick or has a crisis over the holiday, a responsible adult volunteer could coordinate meals for the family, oversee phone calls, and other necessary daily tasks.
The important part is to reach out to the nearby military families that you know. Go by the house. Take food or a small gift. Offer your services, and gather the volunteers to offer theirs. This is the best way to thank these families for their service to us.
