Today is an important day for the military community.
It is National POW/MIA Recognition Day, when we remember those who endured captivity, those who never returned home, and the families who continue to wait.
It is also the 79th birthday of the United States Air Force.
It seems like an especially appropriate day for AFA Palm Springs Chapter 134 to announce something new.
We are introducing Mission Grant, a program designed to provide one-time grants of up to $500 to veterans, active-duty service members, spouses and military family members facing an immediate and demonstrated financial need.
The idea behind Mission Grant is simple.
Sometimes a relatively small amount of money can keep a difficult situation from becoming a genuine crisis. It might be a $400 car repair that allows someone to continue getting to work. It might be groceries for the widow of a veteran trying to make it through the end of the month. It might be a prescription, a utility bill or another unexpected expense.
We cannot solve every problem. But sometimes as much as $500 can solve the problem that matters right now.
Requests will be reviewed by a small Chapter committee, and applicants and recipients will be treated confidentially. We do not believe someone should have to publicly share a difficult personal situation in order to ask for help.
We are still putting the final application procedures in place, and an online application will be available soon.
Today we have launched a new Mission Grant page on the AFA Palm Springs Chapter 134 website where you can learn more about the program.
Visit AFAPalmSprings.org and select Mission Grant from the main menu.
The mission of the Air & Space Forces Association is Educate. Advocate. Support.
On a day when we remember those who served, honor those who never came home, and celebrate 79 years of the United States Air Force, Support seems like a particularly appropriate word.
Mission Grant is one more way AFA Palm Springs Chapter 134 is putting our mission to Support into action.
Thank You!