Katie Lopez, IOM’s Post

As we head into the holiday season, many of us are planning gatherings with friends and family, taking time to reflect and give thanks. Yet, for our military families, the holidays can be a time of added stress and financial strain, particularly for those who are separated due to deployments or transitioning out of the military. For the last couple years, I've gotten the chance to volunteer with Operation Homefront, a nationally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to building strong, stable, and secure military families. I'm excited to get to do so again this year. Founded in 2002, Operation Homefront provides crucial support to military families through a range of programs designed to alleviate short-term difficulties and prevent them from becoming long-term hardships. With a remarkable 85% of expenditures going directly to programs and services, the organization has received a 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator for 11 consecutive years. In the Omaha area? Good news! Operation Homefront is giving away free Thanksgiving meals to military families who meet certain eligibility criteria. This program, known as Holiday Meals for Military, is a small but impactful way to say thank you for the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women. To find out if you’re eligible and how to participate, check out the below link. I think they're near max capacity - take a peek soon if needed. **Eligibility:** - Post 9/11 wounded, ill, or injured service members of any rank, both currently serving and those no longer serving in the military. - All ranks, Active Duty, Guard, and Reserves, in any duty status. - Transitioning service members within 12 months of their discharge/retirement date. Let's do our part to support those who have served our country. Help spread the word about this organization and this event and let's make this holiday season a bit easier for our military families.

Being a military spouse, I firsthand understand it’s important when there are companies and people who understand the transition, understand the lifestyle, the hardships you endure through every process. It’s a lifestyle ♥️ Heroes for Healthcare has your best interest at heart when it comes to your transition out. The people behind this program are there to support you through your changes.

We’ve got a problem. The demand for support from bereaved military families far, far outstrips what we at Scotty’s can afford. We can’t keep up. We need to generate £2m this year just to stand still and yet there are over 2,000 children bereaved of a parent who served every year. What you can do to help… ➡️ Can your business sign up to our Business Heroes Club? It’s £250/£500/£1k a month. ➡️ Could you nominate Scotty’s as your company’s charity of the year? ➡️ Can you afford to make a small donation? ➡️ How about fundraising at the Scotty’s March? ➡️ Or what about donating a % of sales from a product line? Together we can provide the support our bereaved military families deserve, but we need your help 🙌

🌟 Day 16/100: The Spirit of Service - Extending Beyond the Uniform 🌟 Day 16 of our journey brings us to a core value that defines military life and enriches our civilian communities: the Spirit of Service. Service in the military goes beyond the call of duty; it’s a deep-seated commitment to supporting one another, upholding shared values, and contributing to the greater good. This ingrained sense of service doesn’t end with the uniform; it extends into every aspect of a veteran’s life, inspiring involvement in community initiatives, volunteer work, and public service. The transition to civilian life provides a broad platform for veterans to apply this spirit of service, making meaningful impacts in their communities and beyond. Whether it’s through leadership in local organizations, volunteering, or mentoring, the contributions of veterans are invaluable. “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.” - Muhammad Ali. This quote encapsulates the essence of the spirit of service, emphasizing that giving back is a fundamental aspect of a fulfilling life. #SpiritOfService #VeteranCommunity #GiveBack #VeteransInService #Day16of100 📌 16/100: Today, let’s celebrate the ongoing contributions of veterans in our communities and reflect on how we can each embody the spirit of service in our daily lives. It’s about making a difference, one act of service at a time.

Every year, over 300,000 people join the United States military. There are many reasons people enlist: education benefits, access to healthcare, a sense of duty to their country. A lot has changed since I made the choice to serve in the United States Navy over 30 years ago, but one thing remains the same - military life impacts not only the servicemember but their entire family. There may be cross-country moves, deployments, late nights and early mornings. Sometimes the unthinkable happens and an entire family is left grieving their loved one. This is why organizations like Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) are so important. TAPS provides support to anyone impacted by the death of a servicemember or veteran, including individual counseling, peer support groups, and a 24/7 National Military Survivor Helpline. In honor of National Philanthropy Day and National Veterans and Military Families Month, I’m donating a portion of the November proceeds from my book, Soar Into Joy: A Combat Pilot’s Wisdom on Falling in Love with Your Life to support TAPS. Please consider supporting organizations, like TAPS, who directly support the families of those who gave their lives in service to our country.

You earned them, are you using them? Estimates are that just 34% of veterans access any #VAbenefits. The list is long on what the US is giving you as a thank you for your service. But there are not gifts, they are #benefits, they are what you earned by serving your country. Even if you had a bad military experince, don’t reject them out of spite. It’s thousands of dollars a month in #education, #homeloan or #disability and more. It’s part of your financial plan. #Register for this #complimentary webinar to learn of all the VA benefit programs.

If you live in the UK, what did you do to recognise the commitment and efforts of your Armed Forces last week? 🤔 If you forgot don't worry, there's over 360 days until Armed Forces Day 2025 🎯 That gives you ample time to decide how, and the good news is that you don't have to wait until then👏🏼 If you're stuck for ideas, follow our lead and support the HighGround Charity 🌳🚜🧑🏼🌾...as in turn it supports our Armed Forces in a very special way 🫡 https://highground-uk.org/ #SaluteOurForces #ArmedForcesDay #Outdoorsisbetter

🎖️ Introducing the "Military Branch Showdown" – your chance to proudly represent your favorite branch: Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard! Join a team and let's see which branch can rally the most participants and show their true colors. We have a special announcement for the branch that fundraises the most when the event concludes on 9/10!🎉 🐶 Whether you're a devoted runner or just want to show your support, this virtual run is for everyone. You choose the route, the pace, and the distance – it's all about having fun and making a difference. Every step you take brings us closer to our mission of supporting our service members and their pets. 🐕💙 📌 Follow the race with #RunWagBrave, and don't forget to post and tag us and Up Country Inc. in your run photo for a chance to win a commemorative keychain! 🐾🏁 💙REGISTER NOW at https://ow.ly/6unI50PGxFy #Charity5K #CharityRun #DogGear #DogsonDeployment #Fundraising #HelpingHands #JoinTheRun #MakingADifference #MakingStrides #Military #Run5K #RunForACause #RunForACause #RunForChange #RunForCharity #RunForGood #RunForImpact #RunningChallenge #RunningForACause #RunToGive #RunWagBrave #RunWithDog #RunWithPurpose #SupportingCharities #SupportMilitary #UpCountryInc #Veterans #Virtual5K #VirtualRace #VirtualRun