With most Federal employees’ jobs not effected by the COVID-19 pandemic the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) annual Feds Feed Families (FFF) campaign takes on greater importance. Food banks are struggling to meet the demand of so many people out of work and food insecure. This year, 2020 marks the 11^th annual FFF campaign which reaches out to employees from all federal departments and agencies to donate food, services and time. Resources collected go to food banks and pantries around the country. The campaign takes place in June and July but throughout the year FFF sends out seasonal reminders to donate throughout the year.

“During these challenging times with coronavirus, I am amazed by the generosity of the American people and their giving nature,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “Our USDA family has the most dedicated employees in the federal government and this campaign is our chance to help feed those in need.”

The 2020 Food Drive is focusing on healthy, nutritious foods. Participants may collect nonperishable foods and fresh foods (as appropriate for each food bank). Items most wanted by food pantries include high protein foods such as canned or dry beans, peanut butter, canned tuna, and salmon. Also in demand: grains (such as brown and white rice, pasta, and macaroni and cheese), hot and cold cereal, canned vegetables, canned fruit, dried fruits, 100 percent juice drinks, granola bars, and soups.

There are many ways to participate:

• Become an FFF Champion at your department or agency to motivate your colleagues to participate.
• Donate online: Purchase food at an online grocer and have it delivered directly to a food bank or pantry. Or make a monetary donation to a food pantry or food bank. Record your donation in either pounds or dollars on the FFF Hub.
• Combined Federal Campaign (CFC): Donate money to a food pantry or food bank through the CFC special solicitation through June 30 and also during the regular CFC giving season from September through January. Record your donation on the FFF Hub.
• Attend a virtual food drive event: Join your colleagues online to learn about food insecurity in your community and how to donate pounds to participating local organizations.
• Drop off donations at your local food bank or pantry: Record your donation in pounds on the FFF Hub.
• Plant-a-row: Plant an extra row of produce in your garden and give the extra harvest to local feeding programs.
• Field Gleaning: Field Gleaning is the harvesting of unused or unharvested produce. Search for gleaning opportunities in your community that you can do on your own time. Learn about gleaning with the USDA Gleaning Toolkit. Weigh the produce or ask the farm to help you calculate pound and record your donation on the FFF Hub.
• Warehouse Gleaning:Warehouse Gleaning is volunteering to sort and package food donations at a food bank or pantry and is completed on your own time. Ask the food bank or pantry to help determine the weight of food resulting from your volunteer time and record your donation on the FFF Hub.

Check with your local commissary to see if they are participating in the campaign. They have two ways to participate; purchase a prepackaged brown bag and drop it off in the designated bin or purchase, or bring in, any nonperishable or personal hygiene product and drop it in the bin.

You can also check out the FFF new website, the FFF Hub to find out more about participating in the campaign. FFF measures their donations in pounds rather than dollars and the website provides a way to record contributions. It also provides information on ways to participate and success stories.

According to the FFF website, Since Feds Feed Families launched in 2009, this campaign has collected more than 92 million pounds of food for donation. In 2019 alone, federal employees donated more than 2.8 million pounds. USDA is the designated lead agency for the National Feds Feeds Families campaign for the U.S. government nationwide.

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.PeggyWhereShouldIGo.com

During the COVID-19 Pandemic taking care of your health can be confusing especially when it comes to navigating TRICARE and the Military Health System. Even a cough generates the question do I have the “Corona”? Other questions can be admin related such as my ID card has expired. Rumors are rampant so here is where you can find accurate and updated information.

Accurate Information

Did you know TRICARE is on Facebook? This is a great source of information.  The latest  TRICARE on Facebook post gives information about using the emergency room at a military hospital during the pandemic and the steps taken to insure your safety. Another place to find detailed information is the official Tricare Corona Virus page on their website. Great accurate up to date information and frequently asked questions. It also has a section of symptoms and signs of Corona Virus. It gave a better explanation for me than I had seen anywhere else.

ID Cards

One of the big questions is what do I do if my ID Card expires? Service Members can renew online.  For family members and military retirees if your Uniformed Services ID (ID card) expired on or after Jan. 1, 2020 you can continue to use your card until Sept. 30, 2020 to receive care and fill prescriptions. If you have a new family member for TRICARE, make sure all their information is updated into the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). You will then be able to mail, fax or email your paperwork to your nearest ID card issuing facility. For more information visit ID Card Online Office.

Telemedicine

I recently had a routine medical appointment over the phone. It worked well for just basic questions and updates on my existing condition. What is you have new illness or symptoms of COVID-19? Contact the Military Health System (MHS) Nurse Advice Line. A Military Health System registered nurse can answer your questions as well as assess your symptoms over the phone. They can screen you as well for COVID-19. They can coordinate follow up medical visits with a health care provider either virtually or in person depending on the medical condition. Important: When you receive a call, it will show up as blocked or unknown. Make sure to answer during your appointment time.

COVID – 19 Myths vs. Facts

The TRICARE website also has a section of Myths vs Facts and I found it highly informative. It has detailed information on why and how to wear a mask and dispels the myth that homemade cloth masks aren’t effective. They are and the site has suggestions on how to wear, material etc.

Another myth is there are no resources for children to help them cope. Here are two: Military Kids Connect and Sesame Street for Military Families.

One way you can help is to share Coronavirus infographics such as the one on this page on your social media. The TRICARE Facebook page has a bunch to choose from. If you do share information on social media make sure it is from reliable, vetted sources.

Sign up for TRICARE Email Alerts to stay up to date on the latest news.

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.PeggyWhereShouldIGo.com

It’s Wednesday morning and I am in the air flying to my father’s funeral. It is so surreal to be experiencing this during the Covid-19 pandemic. In some ways, it is so much harder and in others way things are simpler. My father passed away on Monday of an emergency not the corona virus.

My father a retired naval officer lived in a Louisiana State Veteran’s Home. My Mother received a call there was a complication from a minor medical procedure and they were taking him by ambulance to the hospital. My Mother called the family and then proceeded to wait in the emergency room parking lot. She saw my Dad go into the hospital from the ambulance but was not allowed to be with him. The staff was kind to my mother and came out to update her that he had arrived and the doctor would come out once he had examined Dad. My Mom updated us and we weren’t thinking that anything was serious.

Death

Dying during a pandemic is a terrible way to die because you are alone. The doctor came out to see my mom and was full of empathy as he informed my mother that my dad had passed away while she sat in the car alone in the emergency room parking lot. My poor mother called everyone from the car and continued to wait in the parking lot until she could see my father for the last time. The wait involved waiting for the coroner. Finally, she was able to go into to see my father which was a real blessing for her. The last time she had seen him was through the window of the nursing home as no visitors were allowed. The doctor escorted my mother into see dad and he was so thoughtful. When my mom expressed a wish that her children could see him he helped her take a photo that she could share with us. She mentioned to me when she shared the story how young the doctor was. I couldn’t imagine how much death he had seen in his short career.

Getting There

After the shock subsided, all the questions emerged. Can we have a funeral? Should I fly? Is it risky to be with my mom coming from Washington State? Is it dangerous for me to go to Louisiana? My husband jumped into gear and was already looking into flights while I was on the phone. He said something that really resonated with me. “We got this, we are a military family and they aren’t like other families.” So true and with the precision of an operations order, flights were booked, notifications and decisions made. Due to travel restrictions for my husband and my son distant learning we decided I would go alone.

Flights were a little challenging as there were limited options. Luckily, I was flying out of a major airport and although I couldn’t fly into Baton Rouge the nearest airport I was able to get into New Orleans is only an hour drive away. A positive is that last minute flights are much less than they normally are and first class was not an expensive upgrade.

The Funeral

We were all nervous as to what would happen due to all the news stories about morgues and funeral homes overwhelmed. We lucked out and everything was arranged very quickly but also very sad. We can’t have a catholic funeral mass which is tragic for our family. We are only allowed 10 people in a cemetery service. One thing my dad has always expressed a wish for was to have military honors and that is not an option at this time. So even though it is very difficult it is also simpler with easy decisions and much less expense for my father’s estate.

The Silver Lining

My mother is 80 and I was worried about her and the fact we couldn’t travel. I am able to go spend a week with her. I am very grateful for the resilience I have built during my years as a military spouse that kicks in at times like these. I know I will get through this but I have to admit it is tough. So this is what it is like to lose a loved one during these times. Reach out to those you love especially the older ones. Call or use snail mail and connect in these uncertain times. You won’t regret it.

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.PeggyWhereShouldIGo.com

If you’ve never been a homeschooler with schools around the country going to distance learning; you are now a military family homeschool. You may be lucky like I am with a school that anticipated a scenario where students would be at home and fully implemented a digital school plan. We finished regular school the week before and started distance learning the following Monday. Many aren’t so lucky. So here is a guide to help you out.

The most important thing to know is that a homeschool day is much shorter than a normal school day which is what appeals to those that homeschool full time. Most children work well independently and can complete their schoolwork by lunchtime. Create a schedule and if you want the school day longer you will have to plan for it. Consider adding art, music, virtual library time and P.E. to extend the day.

Create A Schedule

This is the number one most important thing you need to do. Treat each weekday as if it is a school/work day and follow a set routine. Children function much better when they know what to expect each day. Plan the day to mimic a school day. A simple routine:

Early morning – Wake children up at their normal weekday time. Have everybody get dressed, eat breakfast and complete any morning chores such as making their beds.

Morning – School begins at a set hour. Make sure you review requirements from your children’s school. They may have requirements to be online at a certain time. This is a good time to review what work they must complete for the day.

Lunch – Everyone in the household takes the same lunch break. Have time to eat and then have the kids get outside for a bit.

Afternoon – Finish up any work not completed in the morning. The afternoon should be devoted to electives like art, music, PT etc.

Dinner –

Evening – Free time, evening chores homework and then a set bedtime each night.

This routine is super simple and sometimes that is the best. Lindsay Power, @NoShameParenting has some great advice on Raising Kids During the Coronavirus and not being so stressed about being the perfect homeschool parent.

Military One Source is a great resource for military family homeschoolers because it also lists resources available on military installations. Here are their suggestions for planning your homeschool week:

• Consider your child’s age. Transitioning to home-based learning will be very different for a preschool student than a middle or high school student. Discuss your expectations for learning at home and go over any concerns so you are on the same page.
• Set and follow a weekday schedule for starting and ending the school day and going to bed. All children benefit from structure, even if they try to resist it.
• Build in flexibility to accommodate your own work and other responsibilities. You may be teleworking, for example. See if you and your spouse, partner or another adult in your household can share some of the teaching. It might also help to set aside time in the evenings to check over assignments or work together on reading and other skills.
• Take breaks. Schedule time during the school day for lunch, snacks and age-appropriate breaks. Think physical education, recess, etc.
• Build in time for creativity. Make time for music, art and other creative subjects. This may include time for your child to practice an instrument, draw, paint, try their hand at drama or develop other skills. Have younger children practice counting by stacking blocks, or build a fort from sheets.
• Help your child safely connect with friends and relatives. Connecting with friends and family members outside your household is important. Work with your child’s school, their friends’ parents and others to help them stay in touch. Consider taking turns leading virtual lessons or hosting virtual play dates. Have your child write letters to people they care about while practicing handwriting and grammar.

Preschoolers

A note on preschoolers. This can be a real challenge as not every state has preschool as part of the school system. The National Head Start Association which specializes in preschool education has a wealth of free resources to Learn at Home. I found their information on Noggin from Nickelodeon to be very helpful. They are offering three months free and have hundreds of read-aloud e-books, games, songs and other content geared to preschoolers. The platform also has a weekly series of play activities to do offline. Perfect for getting out all that toddler energy.

School Age Children

Make sure to tap into all the resources available through your child’s school. Most schools are going to digital learning with virtual lessons and online assignments. Help your child log on and if needed read instructions together to help them understand the requirements. Reach out to teachers or counselors for any help you may need. Also keep in touch if you have any issues regarding technology or if your child falls behind in the work that is do.

Electives

Integrate the arts and physical activity into each school day. You may also want to consider offering life skills and teach your children how to cook and do laundry. I once worked at a wilderness education program and we taught children math by planning and cooking meals.

Installation Resources

Each installation has homeschooling resources. Reach out to the school liaison officers to find out what is available on your base. If you are stationed overseas check out the Head Start/Sure Start programs . Did you know Military OneSource has Education Consultants? Call 800.342.9647 to make a one-on-one session to discuss your child’s education. They can help you find resources in your area.

The Morale, Welfare and Recreation Digital Library has tons of free online resources for children, teens and adults. In addition to e-books there are educational resources such as ScienceFlix which has hands-on projects. Videos and other interactive features to help teach science concepts and ideas.

Art, Music and Physical Education

Art can be anything from simple art projects. Pinterest or Michael’s are great resources for ideas. Look for your favorite art museum online. While they are closed many are offering special activities for children. The National Gallery of Art (NGA) kids app for iPad is an immersive experience giving children the opportunity to explore more than 300 years of art history. Animation and audio features make learning fun.  The app covers: Portrait, Landscape, Seascape, Still Life, Action Painting, Exploring Color, Color Field, Collage, Sketchbook, and My Art Gallery. This is a great resource. A fun activity is to have children pick a favorite famous painting and recreate it for sharing on social media.

Many music teachers that have military family students offer virtual lessons so a student can continue with the same instructor even after they move. Gen Mayo, is a veteran homeschool mom and a music teacher for over 25 years. On her blog, Music In Your Homeschool she shares Six Ways to Teach Music in Your homeschool. A very good resource. If you don’t want to get too technical, have an afternoon dance party. Introduce your children to different genres of music and explain what you like or dislike about each one.

Physical Education – For many families the military member is working from home now too. What a great resource to lead family PT each day. This is a good opportunity for the service member to connect with their children while giving the spouse a break. Mary Ann Kelley, has managed a homeschool website for more than 20 years. Read her Ideas for Homeschool PT.  Childcare Extension has some useful tips on integrating motor development and fine motor skills into play and learning. They also recommend a variety of resources.

Other Resources

The QNS website offers so many websites and resources. The COVID-19 Shelter in Place rules will be lifted before you have checked out everything listed on this site!

This is a tough and challenging time for everyone.

Most importantly, Be Kind to Yourself. And…

Enlist your spouse to assist with homeschool duties. What are your favorite homeschool tips which are helping you get through being a homeschool teacher?

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.PeggyWhereShouldIGo.com

By Marguerite Cleveland

Now is the perfect time to read a book. Military Spouses across the country are embracing the extra time they have and opening up a book to escape into other worlds. Shelter in Place means no FRG meetings or volunteer work. Homeschooling is a perfect time to read as you monitor your child’s education and are available for questions. Here are why your fellow Military Spouses are picking up a book:

• Susanna Hickman Bartee – Definitely finding more time to read with all of the after school and evening activities suspended. I find I just want to escape. Historical fiction is always my go to genre.
• Stacie Preston Pogoncheff – This is a perfect time to read a book, as it gives you the perfect place to escape the monotony of staying home and social distancing. I had set a yearly goal to read 25 books, small as we were supposed to be moving…that 25 is now my pandemic goal. I have read 3 books in the last 2 weeks.
• Tina Winn – I always read, but lately (with my teaching schedule) I’ve gravitated towards quicker, easier reads or reading novels for children to get ideas for my classroom. Knowing I am going to have a lot of time on my hands made this the perfect time to dive in!
• Kirsten Campbell – This is the perfect time to accomplish lots of things we never seem to have time to do. Now we have time to read for pleasure, read to learn something new, read with our newly homeschooled students, just don’t read any more about COVID-19!
• Jamie Lynn Blum- I’m in multiple book clubs, they keep me sane and grounded even in normal times. I’m not reading as much as I usually do now that I’m “crisis schooling” my children and doing my full-time job from home. I’ve been going for runs at night after my children are in bed (grandparents are home) and I listen to books on Audible. I’ve gone from 4-5 books a month to 3.
• Patty Hembree – I don’t feel guilty taking time to read or escaping to a quiet room to read because no one has to go to a practice, so dinner doesn’t “need” to be served at a certain time and no urgent errands to be run. I’m “reading” 2 books at once nowadays. I listen to an audible  book while I run every morning and read a book at home.
• Mary Christina Hold -This is the perfect time to pick up that book you’ve been meaning to read. We all desperately need an escape right now and a good book can let you travel mentally and emotionally into a different place. While my rate of reading personal books has actually gone down during this time due to my kids being home, it has allowed me to explore stories with my kids instead. We have been reading out loud together books from my childhood. These read-alongs are giving us all a much needed break from the difficult times.
• Sarah Becking – I’m actually reading less right now because I’m working from home, and working in my garden, and then I started volunteering at a food bank, because many of their regulars are high risk, and their demand has increased.

With libraries and bookstores around the country closed, where can you get your book fix?

You Have Free E-Book Options Available To You Now!

When stuck at home, download Kindle from Amazon. You don’t have to purchase a Kindle to be able to read e-books just download the software from Amazon and read on your phone, tablet or computer. And with so many companies trying to ease the stress of quarantine, they’re offering free e-books from time to time. Disney, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and iBooks have all made some E-books available at no cost.

If you are a member of Amazon Prime there is a whole section devoted to free reading for Prime members. Another option is to go online to your base’s library.  The Army MWR Library, Navy MWR Library, and Air Force Digital Library are all online resources to check out ebooks as well as a variety of other media and educational digital content. The Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Digital Library is a wealth of digital content for children, teens and adults. In addition to eBooks, you can access digital newspapers, listen to concerts and take online classes. Well worth checking out. Also check out your local library online. Many are now offering digital library cards and have a variety of eBooks you can check out.

Did you know eBooks were first created back in 1971 by Michael Hart? He created Project Gutenberg to encourage the creation and distribution of eBooks. The project has over 60,000 eBooks that can be read using a kindle or the free Epub Reader. Most of the books are older books that are out of copywrite protection and in the public domain. The program is volunteer run and a good source for out of print books you may have wanted to read.

Invest in a Daydream

And for those titles that aren’t available for free, you deserve to read what you want now more than ever. Invest in that book you’ve been eyeing for some time. Now is the perfect time to cozy up with a good book and get lost.

Nothing Compares to a Good Old Fashioned Hard Cover or Paperback

If you’re a book lover that truly loves the feel of the pages between your fingers, we’ve got you too! You can still read the old fashioned way. Check out Amazon, Barnes & Noble and HudsonBooksellers.com to order physical copies of the books you can’t wait to get your hands on and have them shipped directly to your home.

Are you reading more during the Covid-19 outbreak? What is on your reading list?

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.PeggyWhereShouldIGo.com