Military families know how to pick up and start again. With the added stress of the COVID-19 pandemic, this PCS season was unlike any other in terms of unique challenges. In response to the difficulties military families face, Blue Star Families (BSF) will kick off its inaugural Welcome Week Sept. 28.
The week is designed to help military families adapt to new duty stations, homes, schools and communities across the country. With this event, BSF hopes to support families as they integrate into their new locations.
“We want families who serve our country to know that they have support from their communities during this historically difficult year,” Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO of BSF, stated in a press release.
Throughout the week, BSF will provide fun and creative opportunities for military families to help ease their transition. Recent data from BSF’s 2019 annual Military Family Lifestyle Survey showed that 40% of military family member respondents do not feel a sense of belonging to their local civilian community.
Welcome Week is designed to build community engagement by bringing together community supporters, everyday civilian neighbors and military families to help build stronger, integrated connections that help ease the stress of frequent moves.
Related: BSF kicks off 11th annual survey.
“Fall is a time when thousands of service members receive their new duty assignments, and families work to overcome the many challenges that come with moving to a new home. Welcome Week is an opportunity for military families to start off right – to connect with people, places and experiences in new communities, to get to know your neighbors, and to have some fun,” Roth-Douquet said.
During Welcome Week, participants will receive messages of support from Blue Star Families across the country, information about their local area from Blue Star neighbors and be able to participate in giveaways.
The event is supported by partners including CSX, CJM Foundation, Leonardo DRS, Tramiel Charitable Trust, Humana, dozens of community small businesses and nonprofit partner organizations. Support from corporate sponsors, private foundations and individual donors sustains Blue Star Families and their mission of strengthening America’s military families through communities by offering programs and services at 11 chapter locations across the country.
More information about BSF’s Welcome Week can be found here.
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