Honoring the Families Behind the Uniform

Each November, we celebrate Military Family Appreciation Month. This time is designed to recognize the strength and enduring sacrifice of the families who serve alongside our nation’s heroes. Behind every deployment, Permanent Change of Station (PCS), and promotion is a spouse holding down the home front, a child saying yet another goodbye, and extended family offering support.
This month, let’s move beyond thank-yous and find real, impactful ways to uplift military families.
Here are seven meaningful ways to offer military help and heartfelt appreciation during November and beyond:

#1: Share Their Stories

Stories build bridges. They paint a picture of what military service is like and help civilians better understand the experience of military life.

Take time this month to listen to, read, or share stories from military families. Whether it be a podcast episode, a personal blog, or a social media post, amplifying these voices matters.

A good place to start your search is the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) website! The ASYMCA regularly features military family stories on its platforms, offering a powerful window into their lives. You can also check out the ASYMCA Blog to read more posts written by military spouses themselves.

#2: Support Military Kids

They may not wear the uniform, but military kids serve too. Frequent relocations, long separations, and heart-aching goodbyes are a part of their childhood.

This November, consider volunteering at a military-connected school, donating books or toys, or simply showing up to cheer at a school event.

Through programs like Operation Hero and youth enrichment camps, the ASYMCA helps nurture the emotional and social growth of military children. These programs empower military kids by helping them to thrive in their special set of circumstances.

#3: Send Encouragement or Care Packages

A small gesture can mean everything. Whether it’s a handwritten card, a comfort item, or a thoughtful care package, these tokens of support show military families that they’re seen and valued.

Community organizations, church groups, or workplaces can organize drives to support families, especially those with a deployed loved one.

Care packages are one of the best ways to brighten the spirits of both service members and military families. They’re also a great way to connect the local community to the military. The ASYMCA hosts seasonal drives and care package events to lift the spirits of military children and spouses. Join in or start one local to you! Here are some Holiday Military Care Package Ideas to help get you started.

#4: Attend or Host A Military Appreciation Event

Visibility builds community. Attending a military appreciation event, parade, or an ASYMCA-hosted dinner, such as the annual Angels of the Battlefield Awards, not only honors families but also connects them to vital local support.

No event nearby? Host your own! Have a local classroom write letters to deployed service members. Ask a local church to host a donation drive for your local ASYMCA Food & Thrift Store. You can even search ASYMCA volunteer events and donate your time.

Let military families know their sacrifices are seen and appreciated.

#5: Offer Practical Help

Sometimes the most meaningful support is simple — a hot meal, a school pickup, an hour of free babysitting. For military families managing life during deployments or transition, day-to-day help can be a lifeline. These simple gestures give spouses and caregivers a chance to take a deep breath.

Reach out to a neighbor, friend, or local military family and ask, “How can I help this week?”

The ASYMCA also helps connect military families with resources for childcare, food assistance, and community support. With ASYMCA locations across the country, you can find support and resources right in your community.

#6: Advocate for Stronger Military Support

Military families face real challenges from housing and food insecurity to military spouse unemployment. The DoD’s Survey of Active-Duty Spouses found that the unemployment rate among the civilian spouses of active-duty military members was 21% in 2021. This is nearly four times the overall unemployment rate of 5.3% that year. You don’t need to wear a uniform to fight for them!

Use your voice to advocate for better military resources and increased funding. Donate to organizations that serve families daily and show military support. Share posts, write letters, and spread the word to raise awareness.

At the ASYMCA, advocacy meets action. From addressing food insecurity to offering no-cost gym memberships and even partnering with outside companies, the work is vital, and your support helps power it forward.

#7: Say Thank You — And Mean It

A simple, sincere “thank you” carries a lot of weight.

This month, take time to thank a service member, write a card to a military spouse, or spotlight a resilient military child in your community.

Gratitude is more than a formality. It is a celebration of the unseen service military families provide every single day.

Appreciation That Lasts Beyond November

Military Family Appreciation Month is just one moment to shine a light on the families behind our armed forces. However, true support — the kind that transforms lives — happens year-round.

Let’s commit to showing up with compassion, action, and respect.

Donate to ASYCMA today to provide year-round support to military families and help ensure they never have to serve alone.

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