Living far from family can be challenging all year round, and not being able to afford to return home for the holidays can weigh heavily on military families. Missing out on traditions, laughter, familiar comforts, and spending time with family can feel devastating. When you’re a military community member, you know the feeling well.

Service members and their families often struggle to allocate the funds needed to travel home during the holidays. For junior enlisted families in particular, plane tickets or gas costs are usually out of the question, especially when struggling to make ends meet. But there is hope.

In partnership with Jack Daniel’s, the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) helps junior enlisted military families travel home for the holidays through Operation Ride Home.

If Only In My Dreams

From long-distance assignments (sometimes in a foreign country), tight budgets, managing young children, and travel costs, it can feel almost impossible to find a way home for the holidays.. For some families, affording necessities like food is a challenge in itself. More than 25% of active duty families experience food insecurity, adding stress to existing financial struggles during the holidays.

Having a support system is vital, and for many, that system includes family and friends back home. Spending time with loved ones is a rare luxury within the military lifestyle, and holidays may be the only opportunity for many to do so. Making the silent sacrifice to skip reunions and traditions due to limited means can be heartbreaking for the whole family.

Operation Ride Home is there for military families when they need help the most. Relieving the heartbreak of holiday financial stress, this support is incredibly uplifting for families like Angela’s:

“The idea of going home for the holidays seemed impossible and had been for many years. When I learned about it, [Operation Ride Home], I immediately applied. When we got accepted, I felt like I could finally breathe a sigh of relief. I was finally going home to see my family.”

Angela was grateful for the support. Her husband was deployed at that time and unable to come home. She knew that she and her children needed to be surrounded by comfort, love, and familial support during such a difficult time. Angela hopes the program continues to help those within the military community in similar situations.

“I couldn’t have done it without ASYMCA. They made sure I was taken care of every step of the way home.”

There’s No Place Like Home

Travel assistance can provide financial relief and promote emotional and mental wellness. For service members and their families, being home for the holidays can boost morale, foster connection, and build resilience. Surrounded by their support systems, families can take time to feel at ease and catch up on happy moments they may have missed.

If traveling home is not an option, ASYMCA provides more than just Operation Ride Home. They aim to make the season special, no matter your circumstances, through holiday meals, fun events, and general military support.

How ASYMCA Celebrates the Holidays

Whether you’re a large family trying to make it home or a single service member needing the warmth of a hearty meal, no family should be forgotten during the holiday season. ASYMCA ensures that you never feel alone, no matter the season.

• Food Assistance – Keep warm this winter by enjoying a warm meal courtesy of ASYMCA. Many families struggle with military food insecurity. If you are struggling, many ASYMCA branches assist through food pantries, pre-packaged food boxes, or even food markets.
• Holiday-Specific Assistance – From community meals, holiday toy drives, and family-friendly events, ASYMCA ensures that the holiday season stays special for everyone. Look for your localbranch’s social media page, as most event information will be posted there.
• Mental Wellness Programs – The ASYMCA fosters mental health resilience by providing military support programs, such as Operation Hero, for children in grades 2-5 who are struggling academically. The organization also offers adult support through location-tailored programs and community events.

Services are location-based, so please check with your local branch.

Operation Ride Home: Application & Support

If you or your family are struggling to find a way home for the holidays, please apply to participate in Operation Ride Home.

How to Apply:

• Check out the ASYMCA Operation Ride Home website to verify your eligibility.
• Once you’ve determined eligibility, click the “Find Your Ride Home” button to access your local branch application requirements and deadline.
• Follow the instructions to complete the application allocated to your location and wait to hear back!

Support Operation Ride Home

If you’re already excited about giving this holiday season, use this opportunity to give back to the community through a donation. Donations and fundraising keep programs like Operation Ride Home up and running.

Why give? Military support is crucial — and even life-saving — during the holidays. It can be life-changing for service members and their families. It serves as a reminder that unity keeps us together during hard times and changing seasons.

Season of the Heart

Holidays are not just about the tangible offerings we give, but about the connection we build when we’re together. Programs like Operation Ride Home bring that spirit to life by keeping the season warm and special for everyone involved, turning hope into reality for military families.

Thank you to those who keep the program running. Every donation, gift, and share means more military families will be reunited with loved ones this holiday season. Fundraise or donate today – every trip home reminds a service member that they are seen, valued, and never alone. Remember them this holiday season in any way that you can.

Happy Holidays!

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