Published: March 31, 2020
ADC and Blue Star Families Join Forces to Support Military Communities and Families through COVID-19 Stimulus
Our nation, our military families and the communities they live in are facing a crisis like we have not faced in one hundred years. Our national security depends on ensuring we provide our defense communities and military families with understanding, information and support.
The Association of Defense Communities (ADC), Blue Star Families, and participants of the White Oak Collaborative are joining forces to create a united, national platform for sharing information, maintaining engagement, developing best practices and policy approaches to ensure our military receives the support it deserves. The COVID-19 Military Support Initiative (CMSI) will host webinars as well as provide resources and expertise to support communities, states and military families through this crisis. Find details here.
Visit Our COVID-19 Webpage for Vetted Information & Resources
Blue Star Families is leveraging close relationships with government leaders and the local community to bring visibility on challenges affecting military families in a thoughtful and timely way. Our hard work to create collaborative partnerships allows us to help coordinate a positive response. Click here to see many of the immediate actions we’re taking, including information, resources, and updates!
How is COVID-19 Affecting You?
Blue Star Families created a Pain Points Poll so you can tell us exactly what is most challenging for your military family right now. With the results, we can help direct support to address your particular needs and wants. Please take a few minutes to complete it today!
Order Your Chocolate from Home!
Practicing social distancing? Hop on over to Munson’s Chocolates and get your camo painted bunny shipped to your door in time for Easter. For orders over $40 use code BLUESTARCAMO for $5 flat rate ground shipping. A portion of all sales will be donated to support Blue Star Families like yours.
Cast Your Vote for the Best Hack!
We’re all inside a lot and cleaning is more important than ever! We need your help deciding on the best #MilFamSpringClean hack! The video with the most votes will win a Thrive Market cleaning bundle + a $1,000 gift card and a Roomba. The voting period has ended.
April is Month of the Military Child
Your MilKid is handling a lot right now, so let’s recognize them! Now, more than ever, they deserve to be celebrated and we are! Tell your MilKid they’re awesome with this certificate!
Sleep Well, MilKid Sweepstakes
As part of Month of the Military Child, we’re giving 100 lucky MilKids a Sleep Kit, courtesy of our awesome Blue Star Neighbor, Sleep Number®! We know our Sleep Kits don’t fix MilLife challenges, but they do bring comfort amidst chaos. Enter your MilKid for a chance to win here.
Survey Results are In
If you missed our 2019 Military Family Lifestyle Survey results release event on February 26th, you can still catch up via the livestream and download the full findings by visiting bluestarfam.org/survey.
Comcast is Offering Low-Income Veterans Free Internet Connectivity for 60 Days
As we navigate the COVID-19 emergency, Comcast recognizes the important role it plays in helping the military community stay connected – to their families, the VA, and other health services, as well as the latest information about the virus – through the Internet.
To help bridge the digital divide during this time of need, Comcast is providing special offers to thousands of veterans who qualify for the Internet Essentials program, which is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive broadband adoption program for low-income Americans.
The following offers are effective, as of March 16, 2020:
- All new Internet Essentials customers will receive two months of Internet service for free. After the second month, customers are free to cancel their service, as the program never requires a contract, or remain in the program as paying customers at the heavily-discounted Internet Essentials rate of $9.95 a month.
- Comcast is increasing the speed of the program’s Internet service to 25 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps upstream for all new and existing customers. This increase will go into effect for no additional fee and customers won’t have to do a thing. The speed will become the new base speed for the program going forward.
To check eligibility and sign up, click here.
What is Your Professional Why? Webinar
Military spouse employment and financial stressors are among the top concerns raised by military families according to Blue Star Families’ 2019 Military Family Lifestyle Survey.
Join Blue Star Families and AFCPE to learn more about the FINRA Investor Education Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship to become an Accredited Financial Counselor® (AFC®). Hear firsthand from a diverse group of fellowship recipients as they share their own personal experiences. Learn what inspired them to pursue the designation and why this opportunity and career path is so incredibly rewarding! Register for the Webinar
50 military spouses will be selected in 2020 to get their Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®) designation through this unique opportunity. Applications will be accepted through April 17, 2020. Find Out More
Go Remote with Google Tools!
Did you know you can use Google to search for virtual jobs? Google knows that flexible work is important to our military families. For that reason, it created a special search feature that lets you focus on remote and virtual jobs, so you can find a position that fits your skills and needs. Check here for all the details.
American Red Cross Blood Donors Needed
Over the past week, blood centers across the country are experiencing a significant drop in donations, which is limiting the ability for the nation’s blood supply to be adequately replenished. American Red Cross says it is safe to donate blood as the coronavirus doesn’t pose any known risk to blood donors during the donation process or from attending blood drives. Learn how you can help here.
Blue Star Families Needs Your Help: Call for Stories
As we’ve seen over the past few weeks, information relating to the COVID-19 pandemic develops rapidly. In order to help the BSF community adapt and overcome the challenges presented by coronavirus, we need to hear how your community is responding to this crisis.
For any story leads about how your community is adapting or related resilience strategies, please email [email protected]
Thank You for Your Support!
Blue Star Families sends a warm thank you to all the sponsors who helped us put on this year’s survey results release event, STRONGER: Stronger Communities for a Stronger America, and assisting with the fielding of the 2019 Military Family Lifestyle Survey #BSFSurvey. We appreciate all of your support!