As we are all huge fans of Oprah’s Favorite Things, MOAA Spouse Programs wanted to compile a list of our favorite things to share with you. Unfortunately, these are not gifts per se, but all of the items on this list gift more than enough to our military families.
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Top Organization: Fisher House Foundation. This organization has stepped up to help military families in more ways than one. Besides providing military families housing close to a loved one during hospitalization for an illness, disease or injury, they offer programs such as Hero Miles, Hotels for Heroes and scholarships for military children. Let’s not forget that during the government shutdown, the Fisher House Foundation paid death benefits to the families who had given the ultimate sacrifice.
1. Toys for Tots Foundation. The idea was simple. A Marine spouse made a small request of her husband to deliver her homemade doll to a needy child at Christmas time. This one act of kindness gave birth to the most well-known toy drive in the United States—Toys for Tots. To date, the Marine Toys for Tots Program has distributed over 469 million toys to over 216 million less fortunate children.
2. Military Special Needs Network. This organization’s is a peer-to-peer, global organization founded to respond to the family support needs of all branches of the military and of our Exceptional Family Members. They strive to support each one of our Members and their families by providing family and emotional support and lasting friendships. This group has created an excellent Holiday Guide for Special Needs Families. Check it out!
3. The Rosie Network. They are a non-profit founded by military spouses for one purpose: Promote our sister-spouses and veteran-owned businesses to the public. Women’s Day Magazine (August 2013) described the Rosie Network as, “Etsy-meets Angie’s List, and it gives people who want to hire military families an easy way to do.”
4. Military Spouse Career Committee. We partnered with this group in Colorado Springs to host a Military Spouse Employer Forum in November. The Colorado Springs Military Spouse Career Committee is an amazing group of leaders who represent the best in the military community…it is a coalition of military, businesses, and spouse representatives who come together to train, educate, inform, network and empower military spouses in their pursuit of meaningful careers. This group is an excellent example of local partnerships making a difference in the lives of military spouses!
5. Macho Spouse. Are you a male spouse or know of any? This organization is an online resource and informational hub for male military spouses. Macho Spouse is a positive, pro-active project designed to help guys deal with current military life issues through the use of video, online networking and communication.
6. Esposas Militares Hispanas USA Armed Forces . We met the founder of this organization, Janet Sanchez, recently in San Antonio. This group is amazing and serves the needs of a very special military spouse population. They provide awareness, help, and information in Spanish to Hispanic Military Spouses about everything around us in the military; Benefits, Scholarships, Insurance, resources, etc.
7. InGear Career. Our friends at InGear Career created The Military Spouse’s Guide to Federal and Contractor Employment. This guide leverages the knowledge and insight of military spouses with more than 20 years federal sector experience to deliver a resource packed with effective strategies and practical tips to help spouses navigate the federal hiring system. If you are looking for a federal position, you need to check out this resource.
8. The American Military Partner Association. This organization is a great resource and support network for LGBT military partners, spouses and their families. Founded by the partners of active duty servicemembers, AMPA has grown to nearly 4,000 members with thousands more supporters.
9. Military Spouse Foundation. The Military Spouse Foundation (MSF) is an organization created by military spouses, for military spouses. They have created an interactive customized self-actualization, transferable skills and career planning program specifically designed to meet the unique lives and careers of military spouses.
10. Stella & Dot. MOAA is proud to be one of the distributors of this fun and uplifting campaign for 2013-2014! If someone purchased any Stella & Dot fashion handbag from 11/6 -11/12, Stella & Dot has given us the opportunity to gift jewelry to any military spouse, active duty member, female veteran and their daughters! Follow us on Facebook as we have already started our gifting and outreach campaign!
Did we leave one off? Share your favorite organization with us!