For families experiencing the stresses of deployment and war, it can be difficult to provide a safe and loving home. Military families relocate ten times more often than civilian families — on average, every 2 or 3 years. Many times these families are facing emotional wounds, financial stress, fractured family relationships and hopelessness. Children in military families experience high rates of mental health, trauma and related problems. In a study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, about 30% of the military children studied reported feeling sad or hopeless almost every day for two weeks during the past 12 months. These families are not faceless people struggling somewhere else in America, they are our neighbors! The VFW National Home for Children offers struggling military and veteran families a chance to heal and grow. Our campus offers a safe and tranquil environment where parents can focus on getting their lives back on solid footing, while kids can focus on the important work of just being kids. Awareness Week 2017 is March 19th through the 25th, and this year we ask that you take the pledge to help a veteran family in need in your community. To help with this effort, we have pledge bracelets with our Military and Veteran Family Helpline number (800.313.4200) printed on the band along with the words “I Will Help A Veteran Family.” You can simply hand this band to a veteran or military family and tell them about the life-changing opportunity the National Home may be able to offer them. If you are ready to connect a family in your neck of the woods with the help they desperately need, contact us at Info@vfwnationalhome.org to receive your bracelet.