My husband is a Corporal in the National Gaurd upon returning back from his training in july he came home to find he no longer had a job. he is being deployed in jan so he had four different training dates from august to dec, all at least three weeks in length. so This made finding a job next to impossible. Finally a company hired him and he worked for about a month before being layed off due to plant shut down. the money he has made on his training has been just enough to keep us afloat. we have three daughters which we have kept in the dark on this situation, but i dont know what we are going to do for christmas. he has one more session of training before he leaves and that wont cover our bills let alone buy gifts for our girls. I hate to ask anyone for help but at this point i dont think we have a choice. my girls are losing their daddy for a year and a half and i hate to make things worse for them at christmas. so any help would be appreciated I just need information. THANK YOU
2007-11-26 00:32:14 · 18 answers · asked by crystal s 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Have you looked into Toys For Tots? That is a program run by the Marines which can definitely help for presents if it is in your community. Then there is other programs similar to that which might be able to help you out. See if the food bank can help with food, so you can spend a little bit on toys. Even buy a few dollar items and wrap them up, often a child doesn't care the price of a toy, just something to play with is all the matters. Even coloring books & crayons are a winner every time and they are cheap. Is there family members that can help out with presents?
Another option is a consolidated loan. Put all your bills, credit cards, and loans together and present it to a bank. Explain the situation and how it would be better to just make one payment instead of multiple payments. They may give it to you, seeing that in January he will have a regular check coming in each month.
Here are some things that can definitely help you out before and during te deployment with your children:
with your daughters, make a special photo book for Daddy to take with him. Starting with the two of you starting as babies, then together, then with the children. That would be wonderful.
Video tape your dh reading books either with the children in them or not. Then with him playing with the kids. That way when they miss Daddy they can watch him on TV.
Get a long piece of paper, have him lay down on it and trace his body. Then stick it on a door and everyday he is away put a sticker on it. When special events happen write it down. The more stickers, the sooner he comes home (Make sure you maybe make another one just in case it gets filled up or do one for each child).
Get a big bottle or tin or jar. Before he leaves sit down and decide something you want to do as a family when he comes home. Every penny, nickel, dime, quarter, etc... that you find put in it. If you have can recycling put all the money from that in there as well. You will be surprised how quickly the money can add up. Make sure you put it in a special account as the tin gets full.
Now have you also set up an account in both your names, for him to use during deployment. Have an allotment put into it each month for him to spend. Then if he needs more you can transfer it in there. That way you won't have to worry about an unexpected withdrawl.
2007-11-26 00:46:45 · answer #1 · answered by NWIP 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
As others have said you need to go at this two pronged.
It is illegal for your husband to be fired because of being Ntl. Guard (many employers may say this isn't the reason but obviously it was) and he needs to go to JAG and speak to them.
Then you need to get involved with your FRG and the closest base/post - as there are always Operation Santa Claus type things going on, toys for those with no money and toys for deployed families (our post this year is giving away Christmas trees as well - you must have copies of your orders). You will have to jump through some hoops but it can be done! Call the local post and ask for the community service program or better yet go there!
2007-11-26 09:22:38 · answer #2 · answered by ArmyWifey 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
As for the not having his job when coming home from training, you may need to have him get some details of that to JAG so it can be looked into. He may have been improperly let go.
As for Christmas- welcome to reality. Life sucks sometimes. If you are a member of a church, speak to someone there about assistance and contact your FRG. DO NOT go running to the media about this. I know many other wives (myself included) who are making ends meet with what we have just want to smack the dumb little girls who do this. You may not have the best Christmas ever, but would you be having a good one if he wasn't getting deployed? No. Sorry life has kinda taken a dump on you, but it happens. Keep pushing through and seek help from private sources. You will get through this- it sounds like things can only get better from here!
2007-11-26 10:24:10 · answer #3 · answered by KD 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Contact your husband's FRG leader, if you dont know who that is have your husband contact someone in the unit (Married Soldier), Some units to have an angel list for Soldiers with Children , that is why they are there not only to provide information but to help when they can; if you live close to a military base find and contact AER they may be able to get you the help you need, I know you can at least get a food voucher, also contact www.militaryonesource.com they have agencies who can assist you, and also contact your local VFW they too may be able to help.
I understand how you feel in regards to wanting you Girls to have a good Christmas, but I feel so many people have really lost what Christmas is about.
Also try to ask family for help, and try www.angelfoodministries.com they too maybe able to help you or help you find someone who can.
then you should go to www.silentunity.com to request prayer for your family.
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you!
Your more than welcome to email me if you need further info ok.
Good Bless,
Armywife & Soldier
2007-11-26 10:03:01 · answer #4 · answered by Justice35 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you live near any military base you can contact one of the following military-based charities. It doesn't matter which one. They have close relations and work with each other:
Army Emergency Relief
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
Air Force Aid Society.
If you don't live near a base, I've listed the web sites for these three agencies below in the source box. You can contact them via those sites.
2007-11-26 10:40:25 · answer #5 · answered by desertviking_00 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He needs to talk to his CO. They have a program that provides at least 3 gifts PER CHILD and they also give you a voucher for food so that you can have a christmas dinner.
We just got this program as did a lot of my friends...but it was because our husband was deployed. So im not sure if he can get it since you isn't deploying until after christmas. Im not sure how the national guard works but..if he has a chaplain at hand that he can talk with, then have him talk to them. they can sometimes get him food vouchers and a local church might be able to sponser you and your family for christmas.
good luck. i know its tough..been there done that.and my husbands active duty!
2007-11-26 09:56:42 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Contact the local family resource center in your area, the Salvatlion Army and a church of your choice.
If you live close to a military base, contact the chaplin, he will be able to help you, not only with this, but he will also be an excellent source for you concerning any problems with separation stress and anxiety.
2007-11-26 08:47:07 · answer #7 · answered by braves squaw 6 · 6⤊ 0⤋
I am so sorry to hear of your situation there may be some groups or churches in your area maybe a Christmas mother foundation or something try looking around the base if you live there anyways Merry Christmas!!!!
2007-11-26 08:43:49 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
The best gift you can give those girls at this time is the lesson that Love is the best gift of all, and that bonding together as a family will help you all get through hard times.
Material gifts are not the answer to happiness, Love is. Give the girls all the love and care they deserve but dont spend your time worrying about gifts, just provide food and a roof.
2007-11-26 08:38:09 · answer #9 · answered by Noone i 6 · 8⤊ 1⤋
There is a law that covers military personel who are training, it makes it so there current employers must hold their job for them while they are taking care of the military aspect of their life. He could talk to his staff sgt about that or even base legal. The local USO may be able to help you with the present situation for your kids they may also be able to get you in contact with other places who are willing to help. The base that your husband works at will probably have a base family services building, they will be able to assist you in contacting agencies that help military families. That is all I can think of for now. As one military wife to another, it is the hardest job but worth all the effort.
2007-11-26 08:45:35 · answer #10 · answered by jamie a 3 · 5⤊ 1⤋