November is Military Family Month

November 11, 2020 By Claire Garlick Leave a Comment

Military Family Month dedicates November to military families around the world. The observance recognizes the commitment and dedication these families make to their service members. Their sacrifices make it possible for our military to remain organized and strong.

While servicemen and women are actively serving, deployed or training, their families provide a vital foundation at home that allows confidence in the field. Spouses and children are often separated from their service members for long periods of time and over great distances. Communication can be patchy and under stressful conditions. And they frequently move, uprooting children and jobs. But, military families are adaptable.

During November, the country honors the military families who make the U.S. Armed Forces strong.

HOW TO OBSERVE #MilitaryFamilyMonth

Thank a veteran, active duty, reserve or national guard service member or family member for their service by giving back. Ask your military families how you can support them. Many will not ask when they need it. In many cases, through deployments or other circumstances, military families will band together. But even then that may not be enough.

Adopt a military family for the holidays. You can also sponsor a Food Basket or Toys for junior enlisted military families through the ASYMCA’s Operation Holiday Joy.
Offer to run errands for military spouses who may have their hands full with their children or even their pets.
Volunteer or donate services to military organizations.
Read upcoming legislation and learn how it impacts our military, veterans, and their families. Then write and call your legislators.
Families, participate in events all month long in your honor. Many organizations will be hosting dinners, webinars, educational opportunities, and more.
Donate a Thanksgiving gift to junior-enlisted members and their families through the USO-Metro’s Turkeys for Troops!
Create a Spouse or Service Member Care Package with items that would help either ease stress during a deployment.
Adopt-a-Soldier for the Holidays
Create a spouse care package for them to enjoy and help reduce stress during training, deployment, and PCS moves and relocations.
Thank an Active-Duty Member, Veteran, Military Spouse, or Military Child for their service.
Visit war memorials with your family to teach your children the value of service.
Fly the U.S. Flag.
Contact your nearest military base Morale, Welfare, And Recreation (MWR) office to see what events or activities might be planned on-post honoring families including special events, contests, or discounts for local businesses or attractions. Sometimes just showing up for an event or ceremony creates a stronger bond in the community.
Volunteer at a local chapter of a Veterans Service Organization (VSO) such as the Red Cross, AmVets, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), American Legion, etc.
Donate professional services to military communities. Are you a professional counselor, psychologist, social worker, therapist, child care professional, or community organizer? Private and chartered organizations serving military families may need your expertise to make an impact in military communities whether active duty, Guard, Reserve, retirees, etc.
Contact your nearest chapter of the Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society, Air Force Aid Society, Army Emergency Relief, or Coast Guard Mutual Assistance, to volunteer or participate in scheduled events to support their efforts. The winter months are prime fundraising and support time for these societies as they gear up to assist military families over the holiday season. The annual Toys For Tots drives and similar efforts held by these agencies are always in need of volunteer help.
Visit a veteran receiving care in a VA hospital or nursing home.
Offer a military neighbor a bit of respite with volunteer childcare to get errands accomplished or to even enjoy a few hours to recharge.
See someone in uniform? Thank them for their service or surprise them with a free coffee, dessert or drink if they are in line behind you.
Make a donation or volunteer with a military assistance organization like the Armed Services YMCA.

Use #MilitaryFamilyMonth to post on social media.

MILITARY FAMILY MONTH HISTORY

The Armed Services YMCA along with the U.S. Government established Military Family Month in 1996 by expanding Military Family Week. Each year, the President declares the month through a signed proclamation.

Article originally published at https://nationaldaycalendar.com/military-family-month-november/. With excerpts from https://militarybenefits.info/military-family-month/.

Local Update – El Paso County Enacting Stricter COVID-19 Guidelines

November 4, 2020 By Claire Garlick Leave a Comment

From KRDO: El Paso County Commissioner Chairman Mark Waller says the county will move to Safer At Home Level 2 restrictions on Nov. 4 due to rising COVID-19 rates.

Under Safer at Home Level 2 guidelines, offices must move to 50% capacity, indoor events are capped at 100 people, outdoor events are capped at 175 people, retail stores must operate at 50% capacity, restaurants must operate at 50% capacity or 50 people (or 100 with calculator) with six feet between parties.

All schools can be in-person, hybrid, or remote as appropriate under Level 2.

Waller tells KRDO that Gov. Jared Polis’ office made the decision to increase the coronavirus restriction level in El Paso County.

The move comes as El Paso County’s two-week coronavirus incidence rate has climbed over 270 per 100,000. According to state guidelines, that number should put the county at Level 3 restrictions, however, the state made the decision to only bump the county up from Level 1 to Level 2.

Waller says the restrictions take effect on Nov. 4 so that it doesn’t affect Election Day.

Starting in early October, the number of COVID-19 cases in El Paso County began to spike up, with two of the highest daily-count days since the pandemic started happening this month. County officials had said they were meeting with state health officials to discuss mitigation efforts, but Waller expressed displeasure with the lack of time given to come up with a new plan.

Waller also argues the restrictions on businesses likely won’t make a difference, because — according to scientists — the spike is largely due to house parties where people aren’t wearing a mask or social distancing.

“We want to have the opportunity and the ability to try to figure out where this is coming from so then we can take appropriate actions, because this shot in the dark kind of solution that we’re using right now just isn’t what we need moving forward,” Commissioner Waller explained.

However, public health officials insist we need to make do with the restrictions we can implement, and encourage people to follow guidelines at home, too.

“It is the cumulative effect of all of our individual actions that will have the impact that we need,” said Medical Director Dr. Robin Johnson.

Article originally published at https://krdo.com/news/top-stories/2020/10/30/el-paso-county-enacting-stricter-covid-19-guidelines-after-election/.

Garden of the Gods Park Receives More Than $360,000 to Support Visitor Experience

October 27, 2020 By Claire Garlick Leave a Comment

Garden of the Gods Park receives more than $360,000 to support visitor experience and public safety programs

The Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department received a donation earlier this month totaling $367,826. Funds will support the visitor experience, public safety programs and the next phase of restroom construction in the ever-popular Garden of the Gods Park.

The generous donation was made by the Garden of the Gods Foundation, with $50,000 from the Garden of the Gods Trading Post.

“We are extremely grateful for the wonderful collaboration between the Foundation, Trading Post, and the City,” said Karen Palus, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services director. “This is such a great example of community organizations working together toward a common goal, which in this case, is enhancing and protecting Garden of the Gods Park for the enjoyment of generations to come.”

The Garden of the Gods Foundation, a local 501(c)(3) organization created in 1994, works to improve the quality of Garden of the Gods Park by gathering resources and distributing grants that enhance and protect the park. It also owns and operates the Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center, which was built to give back to the park. Since its founding, the Foundation has granted more than $4 million to Garden of the Gods Park, a registered National Natural Landmark.

“The Garden of the Gods Foundation is proud of its long-term commitment to preserve and maintain the Garden of the Gods Park,” said Jan Martin, president of the Garden of the Gods Foundation. “Our annual contribution to the parks department to enhance and protect this park feels even more significant in 2020, and we thank the thousands of visitors who have continued to patronize the Visitor and Nature Center and the park itself despite the challenges of this year. Every purchase made in the visitor center supports the park.”

The Visitor & Nature Center was closed for several weeks in March and all of April and May due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened to the public in June.

Article originally published at https://coloradosprings.gov/parks/article/news/garden-gods-park-receives-more-360000-support-visitor.