April is the Month of the Military Child, honoring the resilience and sacrifices of the more than 1.6 million military children in our country. Moving off military bases or across the country means children must enroll in new schools, make new friends and new support systems, and in some cases lose valuable resources available to active-duty parents.
Foundation for Women Warriors focuses not only on the needs of women veterans, but also of their children. The Foundation for Women Warriors Childcare Assistance program ensures veterans’ children have safe and reliable care and can attend camp, guaranteeing that their learning continues during school breaks. The organization also ensures veteran families do not go without necessities, like diapers, cribs, car seats, and strollers.
Foundation for Women Warriors is the only organization in California that solely focuses on serving women veterans and their families with programs that address the growing needs of the increasing number of military women transitioning into civilian life.
CEO Jodie Grenier said the foundation is a 105-year-old nonprofit in August, beginning in 1920 as a housing association for widows, war nurses, and mothers of fallen service members.
Grenier said Month of the Military Child is a time to recognize that aside from military members who sacrifice so much, their families, especially their children, also sacrifice.
“They have had to pick up from their communities, get stationed at another base, or perhaps their family members have deployed. Many times, there are dual service members in the family. So, we really celebrate the resilience of these children, and there are several ways for the San Diego community to get involved,” she said. “One, is our ongoing Childcare Assistance campaign. This helps support childcare for veteran’s children. The transition from the military is something that is also overlooked for the family. Youth also leave the military environment and are expected to go to a new school, reassimilate, and build new relationships. So, we provide assistance for childcare, whether it is summer camp, spring camp, or childcare basically Monday through Friday, while mom is going to work or going to school herself.”