We’re all stuck at home for the foreseeable future. And we’re trying to limit our grocery shopping outings. Right now is the perfect time to plan for your long game by planting a patio or container garden!

Plant a Patio Garden to Harvest Fresh Produce All Summer

Planting a small garden on your patio or balcony can help you to add more fresh herbs or veggies into your diet, while also reducing your spending on produce.

Just think about how much you’ll spend on tomatoes alone this summer!

Planting your garden in containers or raised beds makes things easier to manage. You can also control just how many plants you raise and how much space you take up with your fun stay-at-home project.

Get Set for Gardening Success

Before you go hog wild at the nursery, you’ll need to set yourself up for success.

1. Scout your yard, patio or balcony for a sunny spot
2. Measure the area
3. Decide which plants you’re going to prioritize; look for easy care plants
4. Choose your containers – long rectangles, big pots, hanging pots, raised bed
5. Do a little research into your ideal plants to see what they like – sun/shade, soil type, best planting times for your climate zone
6. Sketch out your ideal garden using graph paper to keep things neat and organized

It’s important to take these steps before you start actually planting things. It would be such a bummer to buy tomatoes and then realize that you’re not in the best set-up to grow them!

Another great tip is to keep your containers, whatever they might be, easy for you to access while also providing ample space for plants to grow. For square planters, stick to about 4’x4′ to keep all your plants within arms reach. Round or oval planters should err on the side of being bigger instead of a bunch of very small containers. This will give growing plants space to spout and help you avoid multiple repottings.

You can grab all your pots and containers on Amazon, along with your seeds. For living seedlings, best for herbs, broccoli and tomatoes, you’ll need to dash into the nearest gardening center or home improvement store.

While you’re there, pick up your soil. Lowe’s has a handy calculator to help you figure out how much soil you’ll need to buy.

Planting for Maximum Produce

No matter how much you love beans, if that’s all you’re planting you might end up getting sick of them before you finish your harvest.

Instead, diversify your garden with several types of plants. Before you buy, keep the actual space you have in mind. A giant pumpkin, for example, isn’t ideal for a teeny, tiny patio. They need lots of space to spread out – something you might not have.

Instead, try these plants for the space you have:

• Tomatoes: use stakes or tomato cages to keep everything under control
• Eggplants
• Peppers
• Beans: grow on a trellis or fabric netting stretched vertically
• Greens, like lettuce, kale, Swiss chard
• Radishes: grow in a deeper pot for these root veggies
• Herbs
• Cucumbers: use cages, netting or stakes to help train these vines to take up the least space
• Squash: train these vine-y plants up or over on a trellis

To increase your harvest per square foot, you could follow the pairing method of planting or the square foot gardening method.

Farmers Almanac recommends planting crops of different heights with various harvest times but that have complementary soil, sun and nutrient needs. Some good partners are:

• tomatoes + basil
• peppers + basil
• corn + beans
• cucumber + peas
• radishes + leafy greens like lettuce and kale

Another high-yield planting plan is the square foot gardening method. Instead of planting in rows, this method uses 1’x1′ squares that are then divided up into smaller squares.

Different plants require different amounts of space. For example, one tomato plant can be planted in a square foot, but 16 carrot, radish or turnip plants can be planted in that same space.

Maintaining Your Crops

Now that you’re a gardener and your crops are planted, you’ll need to keep a watchful eye to ensure their growth and success.

Making sure that your plants are watered is the first step. Next is weeding out, well, weeds.

Pull plants that are unwanted, like dandelions and grass, from your gardening containers. Using the paired planting or square foot method helps you to see which plants are yours and which are “extra.”

Last, watch for bugs and pests. Tomatoes are prone to aphids and big green worms. You can use natural deterrents, like marigolds or strategic planting pairings, to avoid some of the problem. You may still need to physically remove pests or bugs. Treating your plants with a pesticide or all-natural spray is another way to keep them healthy.

What are your best small-space gardening tips and tricks? Sound off in the comments.

We’re all trying to stay 6-8 feet apart to prevent the spread of coronavirus through our communities. However, with so many people out of work and needing support, we still want to support others through the pandemic.

Help Others While Staying Socially Distant

Helping people is second nature for many in the military and veteran community. We thrive on supporting people in times of need. But right now we also need to keep our distance to prevent infection with COVID-19.

You can do both! Try these simple ways to help others with staying socially distant!

Remember, donating is a 100% contactless way to support others and provide relief for our most vulnerable communities.

Help the Global Community

People around the world are suffering under the pandemic. You can help by supporting charities through targeted giving.

• Doctors Without Borders: supporting communities in need
• Red Cross: providing needed medical relief and supplies for communities around the world
• Save the Children: supporting kids in need by providing medical care, education materials and food
• World Health Organization: the WHO has been on the frontlines responding to the pandemic since the early stages – you can support that mission

Charitable Giving in the US

Keep your donations closer to home through donations to US-based charities that provide support to vulnerable people.

• Donate blood: use America’s Blood to find a blood drive near you (note: this is not a contactless donation)
• Boys & Girls Clubs: help keep kids from going hungry by donating to your local chapter or the national organization
• CERF+: support artists and craftspeople who are impacted by lost income due to canceled events or those who have fallen ill
• DirectRelief: help them deliver needed protective equipment and supplies that medical professionals needs to keep operations going
• Feeding America: helping by providing food boxes, supporting food pantries and keeping local operations running with grants
• No Kid Hungry: supporting children who rely on school to provide nutritious meals and children in food insecure households
• Meals on Wheels: help senior citizens eat with a donation to this essential organization
• Ronald McDonald House Charities: supporting the families of critically ill children with housing and meals; currently repurposing some spaces for doctors and medical professionals who are on the frontlines of the pandemic

Give Support in Your Community

While helping on a global or national scale is definitely needed, there are lots of ways to donate in your own backyard. Remember: giving your money or in-kind donations if often contactless!

• Donate to your local food back, either with monetary support or non-perishable goods
• Check with the local school districts to see if they need support
• Call senior centers and nursing homes to find out what they need
• Contact animal rescues and shelters to find out more about fostering an animal or supporting in another way
• Contact the local chapters of the Red Cross, No Kid Hungry or similar groups to offer your donations
• Coordinate with homeless shelters or other support organizations to help pack kits of supplies or donate in another way

If you are stuck for ideas, search online for:

your community + coronavirus + donate

More Personal Ways to Help Your Hometown

If you don’t or can’t donate money, consider donating your time and energy. You can still help your neighbors in large and small ways during the coronavirus pandemic.

• Sew masks out of fabric
• 3D print masks
• Run errands for those in quarantine or who are at high risk of infection
• Mow lawns and weed gardens
• Walk dogs for overwhelmed parents, as well as elderly or ill neighbors
• Take part in community scavenger hunts, like stuffed animal safaris or rainbow hunts
• Offer your services for free, via online booking systems
• Read children’s stories out loud on YouTube or Facebook LIVE
• Surprise your loved ones with letters or postcards

Helping in the Military Communities We Love

Military families might be facing extra strain during this time, especially since the “normal” flow of our lives has been disrupted in different ways.

The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society is providing support for Marines and sailors who have hit financial hardship.

The Air Force Aid Society is also providing support for airmen and their families during the pandemic.

You could also connect with the chaplains for your unit or at the nearest base. Ask about on-post food banks or ways to help.

Contact the CDCs on-base to see if they need supplies or protective equipment. Many child care centers are remaining open to provide care for essential military and civilian personnel.

Disabled American Veterans (DAV) is providing guidance and support for veterans throughout the pandemic. They are offering grants and monetary support for eligible veterans facing unemployment due to coronavirus.

VFW posts around the country are finding ways to support local veterans and the greater communities they serve. Contact your local VFW to learn about their work and how you can help.

How are you supporting others while staying safe? Sound off in the comments.

Before D-Day and the Pacific island hopping campaign, the Greatest Generation learned the hard way how to get through the toughest of times. Many who served in World War II, as well as those who waited on the home front, had already survived the Great Depression, a time of massive unemployment and food insecurity beginning in 1929 and lasting right up to the start of the war.

Channel the Greatest Generation to Grit Through the Pandemic

As we face our own great test, the coronavirus pandemic, we should be modeling ourselves after the gritty men and women who made the best of what they had.

Facing an Uncertain Future

The Greatest Generation lived their formative years and early adulthood under the strain of economic depression. Families scraped by on what little they had and work was often scarce.

Jobs were uncertain. Food supply was uncertain. Life was a roller coaster.

Then, the world was plunged into a violent war across two oceans and continents. Even survival wasn’t guaranteed for the troops; loved ones lived with the knowledge that loss was likely imminent.

And yet, they survived. Many thrived. They lived to, literally, fight another day.

They did it by living in gratitude for what they had. This generation enjoyed simple pleasures and treasured their families.

Communities pulled together to get by during those challenging times.

Here’s how we can use the lessons of the Greatest Generation today:

• love your family well
• enjoy what you have today
• be grateful for what you have
• share what you can, when you can
• tell your loved ones how you feel
• save what you can for the future

Missing Loved Ones

During the Depression, many husbands and fathers needed to move away from their families just to find work. Then all able bodied men and many women joined the fight in World War II.

Missing someone they loved was a fact of life.

Here’s how the Greatest Generation made it through:

• writing letters
• sending pictures
• keeping diaries
• phoning when able
• making the most of the days they were together

Use those tips with a modern twist:

• send emails instead of, or in addition to, writing letters or postcards
• start a shared photo album or add new photos to a digital photo frame
• use a shared Google Doc to write down your experiences daily
• connect via video chat
• play games virtually via video chat
• watch a move together, separately with Netflix Party
• make plans for fun with friends and family post-pandemic

Essential Food Shortages

Before the current pandemic even started to really hit the US, stores saw their entire stock of toilet paper get wiped out. Now, we’re seeing shortages of food essentials like flour, milk, bread and eggs.

This wouldn’t have been unfamiliar to the WW2 generation. They lived through the Depression, when many food items were simply too expensive to buy frequently. And then the War brought food rationing to help keep the troops well fed.

They learned how to cook with smart swaps, like using applesauce for eggs or oil. We can use some of these recipes today!

What they couldn’t buy, they often learned to grow themselves! Almost every family had a victory garden in their yard, on their patio or as part of a larger community garden. You can still see victory gardens in Boston.

You can use these tips from the Greatest Generation to handle food shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic:

• grow your favorite veggies at home in containers or raised beds
• plant herbs in tin cans and place in a sunny window
• join a CSA or farm co-op in your area to support local farmers and grab fresh produce
• use pantry staples to cook filling meals
• bake your own bread, if possible
• learn how to can or pickle

Limited Travel Options

During World War II, gas was rationed, as were rubber tires. Both materials were desperately needed to supply the troops overseas.

This caused travel to be very limited. No long road trips!

Today, we are all mostly limited to socially distant outings in our immediate area. We can’t cross state lines for fun or adventure anymore.

In addition, flying for any non-essential reason is frowned upon. Cruises are floating petri dishes, too.

Vacations are basically canceled for the foreseeable future.

Channel the Greatest Generation to have fun in your own backyard:

• explore a local hiking trail
• take a walk in your neighborhood
• garden
• play games outside
• sit outside and read
• treat your town like a tourist – explore outside locations

Note: all activities in public spaces should be outside and observing the 6-8 foot social distancing guideline. Avoid crowded places, playgrounds and indoor activities in public places.

How has coronavirus impacted your daily life? Sound off in the comments.

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

Military families may soon have an easier time enrolling their children into on-base CDCs, thanks to a new policy created by Secretary of Defense Mark Esper in February.

This major change comes after Esper heard from military families recently.

“Child care is very important, so I want to put dollars there and I want to make sure we get the policies right,” Esper explained at a February town hall meeting with the Association of the U.S. Army. “I’ve got a lot of military kids who are not in on-base child care, and they should be. So it’s things like that I’m going to change, either from a funding perspective or a policy perspective.”

Military Families Get Priority Access to CDCs Following Review of Services

Effective June 1, 2020, active duty US military families will be given a higher priority to accessing child care at on-base centers. At that time, they will be bumped to the second-highest priority category, right behind the children of the actual CDC staff.

It is important to note that this category is going to be reserved for children of single active duty parents or in families where both families are actively serving in the military.

The categories are as follows:

1. CDC staff
2. single AD parents/dual military families; AD families with two parents who are working full-time
3. families with an AD parent + parent working/seeking at least part-time employment
4. families with an AD parent + parent attending school at least part-time
5. DOD civilian families
6. Space-A: all other eligible families

Making Space for Priority Access Families

The biggest change might impact families below second priority, technically labeled as Category 1B.

Starting June 1, families lower than Category 1B could be removed from their spots in on-base child care centers to make way for a student in the top two categories. This would only happen if there are no other on-base CDC spots available and/or the Category 1A or 1B family would be facing a wait time of longer than 45 days.

If a child is going to be removed from the program, their family will be given at least 45 days notice of the change.

Prior to this change, DOD civilian employees were generally given the same priority as active duty families.

Access to Cost-Effective Child Care Major Barrier for Military Families

“It’s a readiness issue, when you have active-duty members who can’t get to work because they can’t find child care. That’s a huge problem,” commented Nicole Russell, government relations deputy director of the National Military Family Association.

Military families have long felt the pinch of limited availability to CDCs, especially in areas of low civilian personnel turnover.

Russell noted that families can face exceptionally long wait times in the National Capital Region, San Diego, Norfolk and Hawaii.

Lack of access to child care often prevents military spouses from seeking or continuing employment or higher education.

Russell believes that making this change in prioritization categories will better serve military families as their nonmilitary partner seeks higher education or employment.

“We’re pleased that DoD is recognizing the hardship that child development center wait lists pose for military families.”

The NMFA has pledged to monitor the implementation of this new policy going forward.

“Through frequent moves and the demands of military service, our military families should be prioritized when moving to a new duty station and/or when a spouse gains employment,” the NMFA shared in a published statement. “We will closely monitor the implementation of this policy as we continue to advocate for all military families.”

Making Military Families a Priority at CDCs

After receiving feedback about the necessity and lack of access to quality child care, Esper has made major changes in both policy and practice.

In addition to the new CDC category prioritization structure, Esper has also pledged to shorten the hiring wait time for new CDC employees.

He cites the wait time in the hiring process as one of the reasons for open, but unavailable spots at many CDCs.

“In many cases the reason why our child development centers are not at full capacity is that we have an insufficient number of providers,” he said.

To combat this, Esper is committing to lowering the hiring period from an average of over 130 days in 2019 to under 60 days. This is anticipated to help fill open staff positions and allow CDCs to fill additional child care spots for eligible families quicker and more effectively.

“The DoD’s system of child care was established to assist service members as they face the unique challenges associated with the demands of military service,” Esper wrote in his February 21 memorandum. “Over time, child care access expanded to serve the total force, but we must not lose sight of the service member and mission requirements.”

Have you ever experienced excessive wait times at the military CDC that prevented you or your spouse from seeking employment? Sound off in the comments!

Army spouse Marla Bautista knows the homeless community firsthand. She was homeless as a teen.

Now, she’s enlisted her husband, Army SSG Ulisses Bautista, to help homeless communities wherever they’re stationed through targeted donations and partnerships.

SSG Bautista is a geospatial engineer with the US Army. Marla is the 2019 Fort Drum Military Spouse of the Year and accomplished writer, with a published book as well as many bylines to her credit.

Army Family Supports Homeless Communities Where They’re Planted

“As a teenager, I was homeless at some point. I know how hard it is to live without the basic living essentials to have a positive and productive life,” M. Bautista shared. “I promised myself if I ever got out of that situation I would give back to people in need.”

Through The Bautista Project, Marla and Ulisses create high-end home decor products. Then they donate all profits directly back to homeless community support organizations in their community.

“Everywhere we move, we literally just google homeless shelter and then call around to different shelters and find out what their needs are,” M. Bautista explained. “We start within one community and then branch out from there.”

Now, the Bautistas are on a mission to widen their support network, shedding light on the homeless communities that exist alongside military bases and around our nation.

“(Many people) don’t realize that there are people out there who just need a little help to get back on their feet.”

Recognizing Everyone’s Humanity

M. Bautista says that one of the hardest things for homeless people is feeling less than human and disconnected from their surrounding community. Part of their mission of giving back is to restore an individual’s sense of worth and connection to others. And it’s something that each of us can make a point to do every single day.

“A lot of times we turn our heads away,” M. Bautista says. “Instead say, ‘Hello, I don’t have money for you, but I hope you have a good day. I hope your day goes well.’ Making that connection helps that person to feel seen and human.”

The Bautistas are committed to going beyond the everyday gestures of humanity to make a tangible impact, supporting homeless people in many ways.

“We work with all homeless communities,” she explains. “In the veteran community, we do provide extra support for our veteran communities. We provide basic living supplies and education resources to homeless communities.”

Belonging Boxes, Blankets & Pillows

The Bautistas created a Belonging Box, filled with essentials and personal items that help homeless individuals feel seen and connected.

“We want people to feel like they belong to a community and that there are people out there that want them to do well.”

Inside are basic daily hygiene items, like a towel, soap, razor and shaving creme. These boxes help individuals without a home stay clean and feel more like themselves.

Marla was very young when she became homeless and knows that many homeless children might feel adrift.

It’s important to have something that is theirs, that no one can take away from them. In response to that, the Bautistas create and distribute blankets and pillows to homeless youth.

“In New York, we collected uniforms from the soldiers at Fort Drum, cut them up and created blankets and pillows,” she says. “We wanted to give them something that was theirs, something that no one could ever take away. And that was the blankets and pillows.”

Giving someone something that is theirs is important.

“It’s something that belongs to them and it’s something that no one can ever take away.”

Sharing Opportunity & Education

“I was a very young girl,” M. Bautista shares. “I could have easily gotten caught in the human trafficking system. And luckily I didn’t. But if there was one person out there to mentor me or guide me or provide me a place to sleep, I could have done a lot of things. I was out there because I had nowhere else to go.”

With that in mind, the Bautista Project offers homeless individuals support to change their life circumstances in big and small ways.

“Our organization provides food, hygiene items, and if need be transportation like bus tokens or bus passes. Or hotel vouchers if we have them.”

Changing the narrative around homelessness also means giving folks a hand up.

“We want to try to encourage the homeless community to get an education, whether that be high school or college.”

“We help with FAFSA,” M. Bautista says. “If they want to pursue a trade, we help with training, resumes and providing clothes for interviews. We provide financial literacy and self-care and also academic achievement.”

Connecting with New Communities After Every PCS

The Bautistas have made it a point to give back and serve others with every single PCS.

“When we were in Fort Drum, we primarily served the Watertown community and worked a lot with veterans peer to peer,” she explains. “We also partnered with ‘We Rise Above the Streets’ in Syracuse, a non-profit organization providing food and living resources for homeless communities.”

After a PCS to Florida, the Bautistas have recommitted to supporting Tampa-area homeless communities and organizations.

“In Tampa, we’re going to continue working with veterans peer to peer,” she shares. “But we’re also shifting our focus to the Tampa area. We’ve been working with Hillsborough County here.”

Everyone Can Make a Difference, Big and Small

“The issue of homelessness is a universal issue.”

The Bautista family and The Bautista Project operate from this basic assumption.

“No matter where we’ve gone, no matter what country we’ve been to, the need is still the same,” she explains. “They’re looking for a sense of belonging. The homeless community wants to feel as if they belong. And that’s what we believe.”

They also believe that each of us can make a positive impact on the world – and on the homeless community near us.

“We always encourage people to donate, not necessarily money, but we do encourage you to keep blessing bags in your car, keep snacks in your car.”

Blessing Bags can include a small snack, a gift card to a local quick food location and travel-sized hygiene items.

“We can all make a difference in the world. The smallest gestures change the world.”

You can sponsor Belonging Boxes in your community or support The Bautista Project’s mission. Contact them at thebautistaproject@yahoo.com

Are you concerned about the homeless veteran population or have a resource to support them? Sound off in the comments!

Operation Purple Camp offers military children a free week of summer camp and gives them a chance to connect with other kids who have shared experiences. The camp is a program offered by the National Military Family Association each summer. Children from all uniformed services, including National Guard, Reserve, Space Force, and the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and United States Public Health Service may apply.

The deadline for Summer 2020 Camps is April 12, 2020.  First preference is given to military children who have a parent that was wounded, ill or injured during service or have been deployed 18 months prior to or after May 2020.

Military Spouse Pam McFarland is a fan. “Alex loved the camp that year. It was well run, and he had a great time. It was a great opportunity for him to spend some time with other kids who also had currently deployed parents,” she said.

Operation Purple Camps are held throughout the country and you can visit the Interactive Map to click on a state you might like to send your child to. A listing will pop up giving you all the specifics for that camp such as location and the age group range for the program. Many of the camps are held at YMCAs, 4H, or church camp facilities. Once you have completed your application and you are notified your child was selected to attend an Operation Purple camp session in 2020 they will be required to submit an online “Hold My Spot” Deposit of $25 per child.

Your child can expect to enjoy a great summer camp experience. Each week includes arts and crafts and outdoor activities, like ropes courses, canoeing, swimming, archery, and climbing walls. The counselors and camp staff are trained to help children adapt and overcome the stressors of military life. They will meet other military kids who understand what it is like to have a parent in the military. Campers are encouraged to share their experiences and their sacrifices are honored.

Why Purple? Purple is the color of the military child and it also is what you get when you mix of Army green, Coast Guard blue, Air Force blue, Marine Corps red, and Navy blue. Operation Purple Camp has served more than 64,000 military kids since its inception in 2004, and the memories made last a lifetime.

Currently with Covid-19 or Corona Virus in the new, here are the safety steps Operation Purple Programs are taking:

• First and foremost, we want you to be safe.
• We are carefully monitoring the situation and listening closely to advice and directives coming from the CDC and the federal government.
• Here are some extra precautions being taken to ensure families stay healthy:
• Camps are increasing how often surfaces are cleaned.
• We are working on getting extra hand sanitizer, but please bring your own if you have it; Hand sanitizer is getting harder to come by.
• As for travel, please for the safety of all campers, stay home if you or anyone in your family is sick. We will refund Hold My Spot payments if you are unable to attend due to illness.

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

Since 2000, over 400,000 military troops and veterans have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries (TBI). In March, the Defense Health Agency’s Defense and Veteran’s Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) is shining a light on the impact of TBIs, as well as honoring the strength of wounded warriors and their caregivers.

Spotlighting the Visible Impacts of Hidden Brain Injuries

Thousands of veterans, from World War II to the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, have been diagnosed and treated for TBIs.

With medical progress and more understanding about how the brain works, there has been more compassion and wider treatment options. However, today’s veterans and troops with TBIs still need support from their families, medical teams and their communities as they heal and move forward.

Throughout March, the DVBIC will highlight resources aimed at preventing and recovery from TBIs, as well as inspiring stories from survivors. Learn more at A Head for the Future.

Resources for Troops & Veterans

One of the first steps to treating TBI is recognizing the symptoms as early as possible. To help, the DVBIC offers a checklist of possible symptoms.

It’s also important to be aware of the co-occurrence of TBI and PTSD. Both result from traumatic experiences and can impact your overall health for years.

Once you suspect that a TBI might be impacting your health, it’s important to seek medical advice as soon as possible in order to begin treatments. While TBIs are life-altering, there is hope for recovery with a variety of medical, surgical and other interventions.

Bottom line: getting a handle on your TBI requires awareness and action

Hidden Brain Injury Resources for Families

TBIs impact the entire family, from spouses to kids. From pre-diagnosis through recovery, getting the entire family on-board is essential.

DVBIC has resources to help start the conversation. Their guide to talking to kids about TBI is essential reading for any family dealing with the diagnosis.

For caregivers, it’s important that you have resources at your fingertips, both to support your loved one and to support yourself.

As you start down this journey, it’s important to understand what TBI means for your loved one as well as what it means to you. Using the DVBIC’s learning modules for caregivers and family members, you’ll feel more prepared to support your veteran or service member.

It’s also important to know that while you’re focused on caring for others, it’s equally vital that you take time for yourself, too. Practicing self-care makes you more effective and empathetic towards others.

Resources for Everyone

Knowing where to turn is essential. It’s important for veterans with TBIs, for caregivers and for families.

Use these resources to get help and have tough conversations, together.

• Elizabeth Dole Foundation: supporting caregivers of wounded warriors
• TBI Warrior Foundation: offering rehab counseling and caregiver training
• Brain Trauma Foundation: leading cutting-edge brain trauma research since 1986
• BrainLine Military: a military-specific organization providing resources and support
• Our Daddy is Invincible: a book by Shannon Maxwell to help children understand TBI in their parents
• In An Instant: Lee and Bob Woodruff share their story of TBI and its impact on their lives

Hope for Recovery

No matter where you are on the journey, it’s important to know that there is hope of recovery.

DVBIC is sharing inspiring stories of veterans who have gone on to do great things after TBI.

Check out all of the videos at A Head for the Future!

Veterans have gone back to school, literally climbed to great heights and provided support to other veterans with TBIs.

Preventing Future TBIs

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. When it comes to TBIs, this is extra true.

Head injuries can occur in unexpected places, as well as in more conventional settings. That’s why it’s important to properly protect your head.

When riding a bike, skating or doing similar activities, it’s vital to always wear a properly fitted helmet. Helmets are also a must when riding in an ATV or on a motorcycle. In fact, any activity that involves high speeds or great heights needs proper safety equipment, starting with a helmet.

Driving is another leading cause of TBIs from impact injuries and crashes. Using seatbelts and following vehicle safety instructions regarding airbags or child seat placement is critical.

Slips, trips and falls in the workplace or around the home can also cause severe TBI. Wet floors, debris and poor lighting can lead to serious tumbles. For homes with young children, it’s important to secure heavy furniture to walls and block stairs with safety gates.

While combat or blast-related TBI are not 100% preventable, injuries on the homefront are sometimes easier to avoid with a little bit of forethought and care.

Are you a veteran with a TBI? Do you love someone with a TBI? Share your favorite resources for support with us!