Schlotzsky’s Welcomes Military Families to the Neighborhood
Once upon a time, there was a nonprofit named Blue Star Families, founded by military families for military families. Every year, Blue Star Families would hear peers say, “We’re isolated and lonely” because of the efforts needed to support the homefront — like moving every one to three years. Because of Blue Star Families’ Military…
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How Volunteering is Helping One Military Spouse Rebuild Community
If you’ve ever moved, then you’re likely no stranger to the anxieties of being new in town. For military families who move every two to three years on average, it’s a common emotional occurrence. Even for those who are considered “seasoned,” each move is different from the last. Just ask Misty. Play Now We first…
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Healing Wounds with Support: A Purple Heart Story
“Six months later, I woke up in Germany, not knowing who my parents were because of the extent of injuries that I endured. So, I was out in Germany for a year going through at least 33 surgeries, and at that time, I was told I wouldn’t be able to have any children. Then…
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What You Should Know About Kimberly, the New Housing Insecurity DEPLOY Fellow
As the 2022 Wells Fargo Housing Insecurity DEPLOY Fellow, Kimberly has a lot to offer military families. For starters, she understands military families. Her mother was the first Korean female Chief Warrant Officer 5 in the U.S. Army. Not to mention, Kimberly was accepted into the U.S. Air Force Academy, and her husband is an…
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Military Families: Look to Your Library as a Valuable and Welcoming Resource
Authors: Barry Trott, M.S.L.S., Library of Virginia Nicole Rawlinson, M.L.I.S., Blue Star Families When it comes to moving, military families know all the ins and outs. The average military family will move every two to three years, and each year, hundreds of thousands of military families across the country move to new communities.…
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From Adversity to Advocate, Get to Know Marla Bautista
Marla Bautista, an Army wife and mother of three, knows firsthand that advocacy can play an important role in building a stronger, more supported community. That’s because she was once food insecure and unhoused. And those challenging experiences have shaped her into who she is today while positively affecting how she can help others. “I…
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The Challenge of Family Building and How Military Spouses Can Help
When Laci married her Air Force service member, she was informed her family building journey would be difficult and conceiving a child naturally wasn’t likely. Laci’s story, though heartbreaking, is a common one. Research indicates that the natural fertility rate is only 20%, and 1 in 8 couples will have difficulty getting pregnant. For military…
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Blue Star Welcome Week: A Community-Building Event for Military Families
By: Marla Bautista Moving to a new duty station can be an exciting, but sometimes difficult transition for military families, especially those with small children or those who don’t have close friends or family nearby. Blue Star Welcome Week provides an opportunity to meet your community and welcome new members into your neighborhood while also…
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How Eating Together Improves Nourishment & Connection
Between working late, kids activities, and other obligations, a packed family schedule may mean less time to sit down and have a meal together. For military families, that time to sit down together can be further disrupted by TDYs, deployments, swing shifts, and irregular schedules. It’s no wonder why one of the top issues affecting…
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