Holidays for military families can look a little different compared to most. Many are stationed far from loved ones, and it’s not always feasible to reconnect for the season.

As most of our holidays as a military family were spent on the West Coast, while our extended families were on the East Coast, much of our holiday joy came from our military family community. This community — which is always there — strengthens during the holidays.

Festive events bring opportunities to connect with other military and veteran families. Civilians with big hearts share their holiday joy by offering military family support. Large corporations and individuals also come together to provide gifts for military families. Through Operation Holiday Joy, the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) makes the season brighter for junior enlisted families in need.

The Heart of Holiday Giving

Holidays for military families can be especially challenging for several reasons. Here are just a few:

• Deployment or Reintegration Stress – Having a spouse or parent deployed for the holidays can be overwhelming, and even after they return home, the reintegration phase can be complex, as the family adjusts to changes and invisible wounds.¹
• Need for Connection – Being stationed far from close family and friends can translate to holiday loneliness, a common theme among military families. These feelings can be compounded after a recent Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move.
• Financial Stress – For familiesliving paycheck to paycheck, a holiday meal and gifts can seem unattainable. The unfortunate reality is that food insecurity impacts 1 in 4 military families. Low wages, combined with military spouse unemployment rates, add to financial stress.
• Time Constraints – Schedules can be chaotic even when the service member is stateside. Duty days regularly land on holidays. There’s also the stress of making sure the ‘last holiday before they deploy again’ is as memorable as possible.

These burdens seem lighter when holiday joy comes from unexpected acts of kindness. Presents for children, a warm meal, or a simple invitation to share in a festive celebration can brighten the holidays for military families. That’s where Operation Holiday Joy comes in. Creating a bridge between military families and their local communities, Operation Holiday Joy is more than just gifts — it’s a message of hope and belonging.

Operation Holiday Joy in Action

How It Works

This inspiring program for junior enlisted families is made possible by the kindness and generosity of the local community. Donations of gifts and financial support are collected. Partnerships with businesses and organizations are formed to provide event services and meals for families. Volunteers cheerfully help organize the event location. More volunteers assemble bikes, wrap gifts, and guide recipients through the event. Others assist with carrying food, gifts, and trees for the recipients. It takes an entire team of kind and caring community members to make the magic of Operation Holiday Joy possible.

Junior-enlisted families wishing to register for Operation Holiday Joy can contact their local ASYMCA branch for details on program availability and other eligibility requirements.

A Glimpse of the Joy

When we were stationed in San Diego, we experienced the magic of Operation Holiday Joy firsthand. It had been a difficult year for us. We were in the reintegration phase of deployment, which proved more challengingthan I ever could have imagined. But from the moment we arrived at Operation Holiday Joy, we were immersed in a winter wonderland. The chapel had been transformed into a toy workshop that even elves would have been proud of. An astounding number of bicycles were centered in the festively decorated building, surrounded by gifts for boys and girls. Outside, tents held food and mini Christmas trees.

We needed holiday joy that year, and ASYMCA delivered. I’ll forever remember the kind smiles of the volunteers and the overwhelming gratitude I felt.

The Ripple Effect of Holiday Joy

Research has shown that both givers and receivers of acts of kindness are positively impacted, and that givers often underestimate their impact.² The act of giving extends beyond the immediate gift.

Through Operation Holiday Joy, financial burdens are lifted for military families. This simple act of giving creates memories for service members, spouses, and their children for years to come. There is strength in community.

Connection fosters a deeper appreciation and understanding. Donors and volunteers brighten the holidays for military families, a gift that lasts longer than anything that could ever be wrapped.

Be Part of the Joy

You can be part of the joy this holiday season and beyond.

Here are 5 practical ways to get involved:

1. Give the gift of holiday joy through a donation.
2. Explore volunteer opportunities with the ASYMCA.
3. Spread community awareness — more donors and volunteers mean more families can be reached.
4. Refer an active-duty family that may benefit from Operation Holiday Joy.
5. Connect with and support a local military family.

Small actions can bring holiday joy to families far from home. Invite a military family to a neighborhood event, share a local hidden gem to explore, offer a holiday treat, or extend an invitation for coffee and conversation. You can make a difference in easing holiday loneliness and stress in both big and small ways.

Wrap the Season in Kindness

Holidays for military families are made brighter not just by gifts, but by the love and support of their communities.

The gifts of time and presence are the most meaningful of all. Whether you donate, volunteer, or spread the word, your support helps ensure no military family feels forgotten.

Now through December 31, every donation will be matched 2X — doubling your impact for the families who serve alongside their loved ones.

2X YOUR IMPACT

Sources:
¹Easing Holiday and Reintegration Stress – https://health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Centers-of-Excellence/Psychological-Health-Center-of-Excellence/Real-Warriors-Campaign/Articles/Easing-Holiday-and-Reintegration-Stress
²A Little Good Goes an Unexpectedly Long Way: Underestimating the Positive Impact of Kindness on Recipients –
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35980709/