When it’s Not “Home for the Holidays”

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walmart for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

It has been 5 years, but I still remember that lonely, aching feeling of not having my husband home at Christmas…knowing he was a world away and just as lonely for us.

My parents were wonderful that year. They did a great job of making holiday traditions as fun and memorable as possible. But still…

…husband and dad was missing, and we were nowhere near other Army families who understood the heartaches of deployment.

Now that we do live in a military environment, I am around the families of deployed soldiers on a regular basis. I feel with them and for them. And I know that, while these families will do their best to make this upcoming Christmas season a good one, there will be a gaping hole in their celebrations.

That’s why it makes me happy to hear of people and organizations who work to make life easier, and maybe even a little happier, for military families during the holidays.

I just recently became aware of one such organization’s efforts, and I’d like to share a description of what is being done:

Walmart believes strongly in supporting those who have given the most to our country.  Walmart has made the largest-ever single donation to the Fisher House “Sponsor a Family” program of $500,000, supporting Fisher House Foundation’s pledge that no family pays to stay in a Fisher House. This grant will provide 50,000 nights of free lodging for families so they can be close to a loved one who is hospitalized.

In addition, Walmart will fund Operation Homefront’s plan to provide toys and meals to military families nationwide who are in need of support this holiday season. The gift also will support Operation Homefront’s “Home for the Holidays” program, reuniting heroes with their families.