When someone enlists in the armed services, his or her family is drafted as well.
Many charities serve the military member, but there are a growing number that offer support to those left behind when a soldier is sent overseas.
Not only are soldiers away from their families, they often earn so little that there is a tremendous financial strain on those left behind who are trying to make ends meet.
Our Military Kids addresses both the emotional and financial distress that can come to a child when his or her parent is away. The organization pays for military kids to participate in extracurricular activities and tutoring programs. Children of National Guard and Military Reserve personnel deployed overseas are eligible, as are children of any wounded service members.
Two women founded the organization in 2004 because they were bothered by the lack of support services for children of military men and women, especially when they went months without seeing their parents. After implementing a pilot program in Virginia, Our Military Kids went national in 2006.
Our Military Kids already has a famous alumnus: 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist Gabby Douglas received a grant from the non-profit when she was growing up.
Don’t soldiers in service have enough to worry about without having to worry whether their kids are being taken care of?
July 6: Our Military Kids
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