Family Matters Update

Can you believe that December is here? Where has this year gone? It seems just yesterday that I took on the position of Division 3 Family Matters Chair. Wow, time sure does fly when you’re having fun!

Well, sorry to say, I can no longer provide you an update of our Family Member count unless I pull each Chapter Roster, sort the spreadsheet and tally up the numbers. No thank you! The Cumulative Report used to give me those numbers, but this report was recently changed. I have contacted HQ about this issue.

Those with events planned for December are:

Chapter 804 will be passing out Christmas gifts to the veterans at the Kansas City VA Medical Center on December 22nd at 1:00 PM.

Chapters 959 and 988 will be hosting Wreaths Across America on December 12th. KUDOS to these two awesome Chapters!

Please be sure to involve your Family Members in these events!

Here are some ideas on how your Chapter and Family Members can help people out during the holidays:

Help the Homeless -- Make a basket full of fun little foods, a card, and a few other nice items, like toiletries, gum, a scarf, etc. When you stop at that stoplight where the person is standing, climb out and give them the basket with a "Merry Christmas!" Seeing them smile back will make your day and you can look forward to the thought that their life will be that much better. Spread the Christmas spirit around!

Write a Letter to your Mail Deliverer -- Give a Christmas card thanking him/her for their service to the community.

Help ‘Make a Wish’ -- The Make a Wish foundation helps grant wishes to terminally ill children. You can help by donating. Also, you could bring a gift and visit sick kids in the hospital. You could sing a song, bring some friends to help put on a silly play or give them a gift and cookies. This will be sure to make them feel better!

Contribute to ‘Toys for Tots’ and Abused Children -- You can make a difference by donating to Toys for Tots or foundations that help children who have been abused. You can give money to the organization or help and visit the children with gifts and a smile. It's a great feeling to help out!

Visit the Elderly -- Visit a nursing home to sing carols to the elderly. You can even sit with them and play a game of checkers. Pass out Christmas cookies and put a smile on their faces.

Write a Letter to a Soldier -- There are many organizations where you can join and write soldiers letters of encouragement and hope. I do believe I included some web sites in previous updates.

Adopt a Military Family -- Check out this web site. http://www.operationwearehere.com/adoptmilitaryfamily.html

Get your Family Members together and have them come up with a project. The possibilities are endless! Or if your Chapter already has something in mind, be sure to task your Family Members with part of the responsibility in organizing the project.

I know the holidays are a busy time for all of us, but if each Chapter could help just one family or organization, I can assure you that it will make you feel as if you were on top of the world!

Until next time -- stay safe, God Bless, thanks for all you do for AFSA, but most of all Thank You for Your Service!

- Patti Dalzell, AFSA Division 3 Family Matters Chair

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