Our Stories
How Blue Star Families Celebrates Military Family Month Year-Round
It’s November. And you know what that means, right? Military Family Month! Technically, we dedicate every month, day, and week to showing our appreciation for and supporting our nation’s military families here at Blue Star Families. But we figured we’d join in the celebration by sharing a brief backstory on how this month-long observance came…
Read moreNovember 2019 Newsletter
Sign your deployed service member up for free coffee here DYK: There’s a #BlueStarNeighbor (civilian) out there who’d really like to say “Thanks a latte” to our deployed servicemen and women on Veterans Day (Mon. Nov. 11)? And YOU could make that happen for your service member through the partnership we just launched with Green…
Read moreSign your deployed spouse up for free coffee here
Are you over this deployment, milspouse? We see you, friend. And we totally understand. The deployment countdown clock never ticks fast enough, right? So while we, unfortunately, can’t speed up time, we can ease your pain with a little fun. Do you want in?! We thought you might. So, here’s the deal. Now through November…
Read moreBSF Volunteer Opportunities That Fit Your Schedule
Some of the busiest people we know are our volunteers. They’re parents, service members, realtors, HR professionals, students, community members, veterans, business professionals, and hospital employees. And many of them supervise homework, lead scout troops, and have fur babies they’re responsible for, too! Why are we sharing this with you? Well, because we want you…
Read moreMilitary Lending Act & How It Affects Military Families
Mike Saunders is the Director of Military & Consumer Policy at Veterans Education Success in Washington, D.C., a nonprofit organization serving veterans’ educational needs. Mike can be reached at [email protected] ————— Did you know: as the family of an active-duty service member, you have legal rights covered by the Military Lending Act (MLA), which protects…
Read moreState Licensure: Breaking Down Barriers to Military Spouse Employment
Did you know: the Department of Labor (DoL) recently rolled out new online resources for military spouses seeking to be re-licensed after PCSing to a new state? More on that in just a second! First, let’s talk about military spouse employment. Military spouse employment is a persistent problem for military families. Obviously, that should come…
Read more5 Tips to Balance Your Thinking When You’re Missing Your Old Community
We’re just a few months away from welcoming yet another holiday season and another decade. But maybe you’re feeling less than excited because, well, this was the year the military decided to uproot you and plant you in unfamiliar territory once again. With no choice but to part ways with treasured friendships, local favorites, and…
Read moreThe Changing Face of Domestic Violence
Did you know that 15 percent of respondents in Blue Star Families’ 2017 Military Family Lifestyle Survey said they felt unsafe in their relationships? If that wasn’t sobering enough, a 2013 VA study stated that around 22 percent of service members had perpetrated intimate partner violence. Of course, domestic or intimate partner violence is not…
Read more4 Stories that Prove You Can Take BSF With You Wherever You Go
We’ve recently noticed an exciting volunteer trend, and we can’t keep it to ourselves any longer! So, here it is… Our volunteers are on the move, and they’re taking BSF along for the ride. We’re sharing this with such excitement because this means you can join us today as a Blue Star Families volunteer—from wherever…
Read moreOctober 2019 Newsletter
360® Smart Bed Giveaway! Know a veteran or active-duty service member who deserves a good night’s sleep? Nominate them for a chance to win Sleep Number’s “Thank You Military” giveaway here. Thank You, Starbucks! Over the past month, Blue Star Families hosted events at local Starbucks stores to welcome military families to the community. Families…
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