Veterans Advisory Committee encourages union members to help military families
Opportunities include Adopt-A-Platoon and Operation: Military Kids

June 20, 2007 - The 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.

Two options include: Adopt-A-Platoon and Operation: Military Kids.

The OCSEA State Board of Directors has a Veterans Advisory Committee that directs its attention to issues impacting union members on active duty and military veterans.

ADOPT-A-PLATOON  The program, officially titled The Adopt-A-Platoon Soldier Support Effort, offers Americans a way to show their support and concern for deployed United States Service men and women in all branches of the military.

You may have read news reports about schools, civic organizations, churches and other groups who got involved by participating in Adopt-A-Platoon programs:

• Pen-pals
• Holiday Packages
• Special Campaigns (i.e. Don't Bug Me, Operation Crayon, Operation Underwear, etc.)
• Care packages.

OPERATION: MILITARY KIDS  The program reaches out to the children of deployed military men and women. One way the Operation Military Kids (OMK) program is successful is through its 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. LEARN MORE

See Related

Veterans Advisory Committee

Download Adopt-A-Platoon for your subordinate body to consider (PDF)

Care Package - Suggested Snack Food and Miscellaneous Items (PDF) (April 2007)

Website of Adopt-A-Platoon

Website of Operation Military Kids