There are three big expenses for the holidays – the food, the décor and the presents. Several programs are aimed at helping military families specifically to provide these at no expense. Check often and check early, as many of these programs have sign-ups that fill up quickly.
Turkey for Troops
Turkey for Troops from the USO
Many branches of the USO have holiday meal programs. The program usually includes a turkey and some sides sponsored either by a local corporation or grocery store. For instance, the USO-Metro offers holiday meal baskets to active-duty service members ranked E1-E6 stationed in the area. Registration for their program opens mid-October, and those chosen will be notified the first week of November. Check your local USO branch for information on available donations.
Operation Homefront
The Holiday Meals for Military Program from Operation Homefront provides holiday meals for military members with deployed service members. Holiday meal sign-ups are open NOW, and can fill quickly, so make sure to check out the eligibility criteria and sign up if you meet the criteria. Some programs are open to all ranks and include veterans; some areas are open to E1-E6 only. You can search specifically by state to narrow down your location. There is a contact person listed in each category for any location-specific questions.
Trees for Troops
Trees for Troops was developed to deliver holiday cheer with free fresh trees to military families. Cost is a limiting factor for some looking for a fresh tree, and the program’s goal is to give as many military members as possible a tree for the holiday season.
How to Get a Tree
All donated trees will be picked up on December 4th and delivered to military bases over the following 2 weeks. To see if your base is getting a delivery, check this link for a map or check the list below. Follow the military post pages, including Fleet and Family Services or Community Services for pick-up times.
All branches of the Armed Forces are represented in donation sites, and a National Guard site is included this year!
The following Air Force Bases will be receiving donations:
- Travis AFB- CA
- JB Anacostia-Bolling (11th wing AF) – DC
- Dover AFB – DE
- Hurlburt Field – FL
- MacDill AFB – FL
- Moody AFB – GA
- Robins AFB – GA
- Scott AFB – IL
- Whiteman AFB – MO
- Offutt AFB – NE
- Altus AFB – OK
- JB Charleston – SC
- JBSA Randolph AFB – TX
- JB Langely – Eustis – VA
- Warren AFB – WY
The following Army Bases will be receiving donations:
- Fort Novosel – AL
- Fort Huachuca – AZ
- U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground – AZ
- Fort Hunter Liggett – CA
- Fort Irwin – CA
- Fort Carson – CO
- Fort Eisenhower- GA
- Fort Moore – GA
- Fort Stewart – GA
- Hunter Army Air Field – GA
- Rock Island Arsenal – IL
- Fort Leavenworth – KS
- Fort Riley – KS
- Fort Campbell – KY
- Fort Knox – KY
- Fort Johnson – LA
- Fort Leonard Wood – MO
- Fort Liberty – NC
- Fort Drum – NY
- Fort Hamilton – NY
- West Point – NY
- Fort Sill – OK
- Fort Bliss – TX
- Fort Cavazos – TX
- JB Lewis-McChord – WA
- Fort McCoy – WI
The following Marine Corps Bases will be receiving donations:
- MCAS YUMA – AZ
- Camp Pendleton – CA
- MCAGCC Twentynine Palms – CA
- MCAS Miramar – CA
- MCLB – Barstow – CA
- MCRD San Diego – CA
- MCLB – Albany – GA
- Camp Lejeune – New River – NC
- MCAS Cherry Point – NC
- MCB Quantico – VA
The following Navy Bases will be receiving donations:
- NAS Lemoore – CA
- NAS North Island – CA
- Naval Base Point Loma – CA
- Naval Base Ventura County – CA
- NWS Seal Beach – CA
- NAWS China Lake – CA
- Naval Submarine Base New London – CT
- NAS Jacksonville – FL
- NAS Key West – FL
- NAS Pensacola – FL
- NAS Whiting Field – FL
- NOTU Cape Canaveral – FL
- NS Mayport – FL
- NSA Panama City – FL
- NSB Kings Bay – GA
- Naval Station Great Lakes – IL
- NAS JRB New Orleans – LA
- NAS Patuxent River – MD
- NSA Annapolis – MD
- NSF Indian Head – MD
- NAS Meridian – MS
- NCBC Gulfport – MS
- Naval Weapons Station Earle – NJ
- NSA Mid-South – TN
- NAS Corpus Christie – TX
- NAS Kingsville – TX
- NASJRB Fort Worth – TX
- JEB Little Creek – Fort Story – VA
- NSF Dahlgren – VA
- NWS Yorktown – VA
- NAS Whidbey Island – WA
- NS Everett – WA
The following Coast Guard Bases will be receiving donations:
- Sector Mobile – AL
- Sector L.A. – Long Beach – CA
- Sector San Diego – CA
- Coast Guard Academy – CT
- CG Training Center Cape May – NJ
- Cleveland Moorings – OH
- Sector Lake Michigan – WI
The following National Guard training center will be receiving donations:
- LANG Training Center – Pineville – LA
The following Space Force bases will be receiving donations:
- Peterson SFB – CO
- Schriever SFB – CO
Holiday Toy Drive
Operation Home Front and the USO offer variable holiday toy offerings. Operation Home Front typically announces and organizes their toy giveaways once collections are complete in December, so stay tuned to their website for any announcements. Each USO differs in what programs they offer. Some USO locations offer Project Elf, assigning a child aged 3-12 with a volunteer to help them “shop” on the tables to choose gifts for their parents for free, as available through donations. Check your local USO social media page for any updates.