Take Care of the Kids
Veterans Advisory Committee encourages union members to help active duty military

The OCSEA Veterans Advisory Committee is encouraging OCSEA chapters, assemblies and district councils to consider what they can do to help military families who have loved ones on active duty. The union committee directs its attention to issues impacting union members on active duty and military veterans.

Two options for helping active duty military men and women and their children include: the Operation: Military Kids program and the Our Military Kids program.

Both program support the children of deployed military men and women—one by providing material resources and the other by awarding scholarships to fund extra curricular activities.

HELP MAKE HERO PACKS  Hero Packs are OMK knapsacks filled with a variety of items from the OMK Partner Agencies, which are given to suddenly military youth as a thanks for the sacrifices that they make while their parents are deployed.

Organizations interested in building Hero Packs for distribution to youth should contact their State OMK Team for information on materials. 

Ohio Coordinator Contact Information:

Dona Leonhard
2120 Fyffe Rd., Rm. 25 Ag Admin Bldg
Columbus, Ohio 43210
Phone: (614) 292-3758
Fax: (614) 292-5937
Email: leonhard.10@osu.edu

Perhaps your chapter, assembly, or district council will consider partnership options with OMK. Current Ohio partners include: Ohio 4-H Youth Development, Ohio National Guard, Army Reserve (88th RRC), American Legion, Boys & Girls Clubs, Collegiate 4-H, Marine Corps Family Support Community, Ohio Veterans Association, Ohio Attorney General's Office, and the USO.

HELP KEEP MILITARY CHILDREN ACTIVE
Our Military Kids is a program that is offering a one time scholarship to help pay for Extracurricular Activities for children of currently deployed troops, according to ODJFS.

The mission of Our Military Kids, Inc. is to ensure that the children (K thru 12) of deployed and severely injured Reserve and National Guard personnel can afford to participate in activities such as youth sports, fine arts and tutoring programs that are so important in their young lives during this stressful time. Based on statistics published by the Department of Defense, an estimated 77,000 children are eligible to participate in and benefit from this grant program.

The program will pay up to $500 per child (limited to one activity per child). This program has been very well received across the nation.

See sample list of qualifying activities below:

Youth Sports Activities: Baseball In-Line Hockey, Basketball, Judo, Bowling, Lacrosse, Cheerleading, Martial Arts Cycling, Racquetball/Handball/Squash, Dancing, Soccer, Field Hockey, Softball, Football, Street Hockey Floor Hockey, Swimming, Golf, Tennis, Gymnastics, Track & Field, Horseback Riding, Volleyball, Ice Hockey, Wrestling & Ice Skating

Fine Arts: Ballet, Painting, Music & Sculpture.

Tutor Programs: Reading, Writing, Math Study & English Skills.

For more information, contact Sue Ann Carroll Contractor with IIF Data Solutions Ohio National Guard State Youth Coordinator 877-460-2177 or 614-336-7456
Cell Phone: 614-302-8227
Fax: 614-336-7115 or
Email @ sue.ann.carroll@oh.ngb.army.mil

For more information about how your family or your subordinate body can donate, browse the program's sponsorship page.

See Related

Website of Operation Military Kids

Ohio 4-H Website for Operation: Military Kids program

Website of the Our Military Kids Program

Scholarship Application - Air Force Reserve and National Guard (PDF)

Scholarship Application - Army National Guard and Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Marine Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve (PDF)

Website of the Ohio National Guard - Family