“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” – Ebenezer Scrooge
Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
As Thanksgiving and Christmas approach, we see extraordinary examples of generosity throughout our communities. Organizations provide holiday meals, toys for children, bicycles, and countless other gifts that bring happiness and relief to families. These are wonderful efforts, and the organizations and volunteers who make them possible deserve our appreciation.
At the Air & Space Forces Association Palm Springs Chapter 134, we have been considering how we might contribute to that same spirit of giving during the holiday season.
And we realized that we are already doing it.
Our Mission Grant program was established to provide direct financial assistance to veterans, active-duty service members, and their families facing emergency and immediate financial needs. Through one-time grants of up to $500, we can help address unexpected hardships when assistance is needed most.
An unexpected vehicle repair, a utility bill that cannot wait, urgent medical care, prescription medications, or another immediate expense can create a financial crisis for an individual or family. For someone already struggling to make ends meet, even a relatively small unexpected expense can become overwhelming. These are people who have served our country, who are serving today, or whose families have shared in the sacrifices of military service.
This holiday season, we are asking for your help.
There are veterans and military families in our communities who may be facing difficult circumstances that most of us will never see. Their needs may not come wrapped in holiday paper or appear on a Christmas wish list. Sometimes the greatest gift we can offer is simply helping someone get through a difficult moment, knowing they are not alone and that someone cares.
Your donation to AFA Palm Springs Chapter 134 can help us respond when someone reaches out for assistance. It can help turn a moment of uncertainty into one of relief, and remind someone who has served that their community has not forgotten them.
Please don’t wait for someone else to make a difference when you can make one yourself. Whatever amount you can give, your generosity can help change someone’s circumstances at a moment when they need it most. A gift that may seem small to you could mean the world to a veteran or military family facing an unexpected hardship.
We ask you to make a donation today and become part of this effort to support those who have given so much in service to our country.
Make your donation here:
https://square.link/u/CD9bweYJ
As a special thank-you, donations of $100 or more will receive an autographed copy of Crashed, by author and AFA Palm Springs Chapter member Elizabeth Witte. The book tells the true story of a young pilot’s devastating plane crash and her remarkable journey through survival, recovery, and rebuilding her life.
Air & Space Forces Association Palm Springs Chapter 134 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Your generosity supports our Chapter’s charitable mission, including Mission Grants and our expanding cyber education programs. Through CyberPatriot competitions, hands-on cybersecurity instruction, and the development of a portable computer lab, we are working to bring technology education and practical computer skills to young people throughout the Coachella Valley, including students in underserved communities who may not otherwise have access to these opportunities. Our goal is to help students develop valuable skills, discover new interests, and explore future educational and career possibilities in technology and cybersecurity.
Our Chapter’s mission includes a simple but important commitment:
“Supporting and honoring service members and their families.”
That commitment extends to all branches of military service and to those who have served in the past.
Just as importantly, we want to reach those who may need our help. If you are a veteran, active-duty service member, or eligible family member experiencing an immediate financial hardship, we encourage you to learn about our Mission Grant program and consider applying.
And if you know someone who may qualify, please share this information with them. Sometimes the most important assistance begins with simply letting someone know that help may be available.
Learn about Mission Grant and apply for assistance:
https://afapalmsprings.org/mission-grant/
Charles Dickens wrote those memorable words more than 180 years ago. Their meaning remains just as relevant today, regardless of religious belief or tradition.
The spirit of generosity and compassion that we celebrate during the holidays should not end when the decorations come down.
For AFA Palm Springs Chapter 134, supporting those who serve and those who have served is a commitment we intend to honor throughout the year.
And with your help, we can make that commitment meaningful in the lives of people who need us, not just during the holidays, but every day of the year.
Thank You!