The holiday season can be an especially difficult time of the year for those whose loved ones are serving our country. As hundreds of thousands of our service members are currently deployed overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan, hundreds of thousands of families await their safe return.  Momentous occasions pass - holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, the birth of a child; these events are special but often saddened by the absence of loved ones with no guarantee of returning home.  

Each year, the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) takes the opportunity to make the holiday season a little warmer for our junior enlisted military families.  The ASYMCA teams up with Woman's Day magazine to sponsor Operation Holiday Joy, a national holiday drive to raise money for military families in need.  I'm thrilled to report that the holiday drive has raised more $800,000 over the last four year, every cent of which was used to purchase Thanksgiving food baskets and Christmas toys for military families across the country.  This year, the campaign is able to make an even greater impact with the help of the Military Channel.  Throughout the months of November and December, public service announcements about the holiday drive will air to help boost awareness and encourage individuals to make a donation. 

Notes of gratitude have flooded the ASYMCA office through the years, expressing their deep gratitude and appreciation for keeping our troops in our thoughts during the holiday season.  I'd like to share with you a note from an Iowa National Guard Family Readiness Group that received toys from Operation Holiday Joy:

Thanks to you, the families of the 834th Iowa National Guard are enjoying a brighter and Merrier Christmas than many had hoped for. Just to know that so many people are thinking of them and truly care about them and their families means so much more than you can ever know to the soldiers. I only wish you could have been there to see the smiles on the faces of the children as Santa wished them all a personal Merry Christmas and handed them their early Christmas gifts.

To complement this year's campaign, ASYMCA will once again team up with Gifts in Kind International to distribute new toys to more than 4,000 military children at ASYMCA branches and affiliates on military bases across the country.  ASYMCA has partnered with Gifts In Kind International for four consecutive years to help provide free toys to military children in need.    

ASYMCA branches nationwide will coordinate the gift giving with a holiday gathering for military families. For example, on December 11 more than 400 toys will be distributed to the children of the Fort Drum area in conjunction with a holiday party and concert with a performance by young recording artist Cali. Cali also will sign and distribute her Christmas album to the children at Fort Drum.  It is guaranteed to be a day filled with good food, presents, and holiday cheer. 

How you can help make a difference

With the increasing number of troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, many people have started the wonderful holiday tradition of sending gifts, cards and holiday greetings to our men and women in uniform.  However, many may not realize that military families back home need your support too. 

It is my firm belief that healthy military families contribute to the overall health of the military. Soldiers cannot be at their best when they are worried about their families back home.

One of the best ways to support our troops is participating in a program such as Operation Holiday Joy.  I know firsthand that there is no better way to show our troops that you care than by demonstrating your commitment and support to their families back home.    

It is fundamentally important that we support our military families because they, too, are sacrificing for our country. We must stand behind the spouses, children and parents left behind as our soldiers fight for our country and our freedom. Much like our men and women in uniform, military families know that freedom isn't free; it comes with a sticker price much higher than most are willing to pay.

To make this year's holiday season a little warmer for our military families, visit www.asymca.org or call (800) 597-1260 to donate to Operation Holiday Joy and learn more about what you can do for military families during the holidays.  To participate in holiday events taking place at your local ASYMCA, contact your local branch.