Help for Active Duty and Gold Star Families
​in Need of Assistance this Christmas

Operation Christmas Spirit 2021 Open Application Dates for ACTIVE DUTY, GOLD STAR and RECENTLY (past yr.) MEDICALLY RETIRED SERVICE MEMBERS: 
Applications for our 2021 Operation Christmas Spirit program are now CLOSED. 
Have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season! 

Mission: To spread the Spirit of Christmas and share our appreciation for the sacrifices our active duty military families make for our country. We do not view Operation Christmas Spirit as an act of charity but as an expression of gratitude and love at a time of year when the best of humanity can be seen -- Christmas.

How Operation Christmas Spirit will work in 2021: 

• We start with unit nominations from units at the following bases: Camp Pendleton, 29 Palms, Miramar, Naval Base San Diego, MCRD San Diego, Quantico, Fort Sam Houston, Lackland AFB, Fort Carson, Buckley AFB, Peterson AFB, Joint Base MacDill, Camp Lejeune, NewRiver Air Station, Fort Belvoir, and Fort Bragg.
• November 1st -2nd and again November 15th-16th, we will open up applications for Christmas assistance to military families CONUS regardless of base. These families are placed on our wait list and assisted as we receive more donor sign ups. ​
  • Applications require a mil ID and a current LES statement or casualty documentation. Applications missing this info will be automatically deleted. 
• Once service and need are confirmed, we will place your family on our "wait list." A "slot" on our wait list does not mean a family has been "adopted." As we are able to help families on our "wait list," we send a notification that we are able to help with a request to fill out a more in-depth wish list. ​
• Please be responsive to emails and/or wish list questions. If we notify your family we can help and don't receive a response within two days, we will put you back on our wait list and give the opportunity to another family until we hear from you again.

Who Qualifies for Operation Christmas Spirit?

• ACTIVE DUTY FAMILIES
  • ​​​E5 and Junior
  • Any rank with 4+ children
  • Any rank with "justification" of need. ​
  • Families must have a legitimate need for assistance. We have 18 years of experience with this and know that it's the unexpected life events, growing families, health issues and non-military related issues that tend to create situations when you may need assistance. 
• GOLD STAR FAMILIES
  • ​With children 17 and under
  • Guardians of gold star children may apply as well as gold star spouses
  • Post 9/11​

​Who Does NOT Qualify for Operation Christmas Spirit?

• FORMER PARTICIPANTS of OPERATION CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
  • ​Please do not apply if you have been a past recipient. 
  • If there is an ongoing need due to crisis or illness, please have your unit contact us. 
• SINGLE SERVICE MEMBERS
  • ​We have a separate program for single service members.
• FAMILIES RECEIVING HELP FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
  • ​​​ Because we have so many families who could use Christmas TLC, please do not apply if you are receiving help from another organization so those of us with Christmas programs for families can work collectively to serve many. Please disclose on your app if you have applied for assistance with another organization, even if they have not responded yet.

​
ARE YOU A VET? Because we are a small organization with a mission focused on Active Duty and Gold Star families, we don't have the resources to expand our mission to vets at this time. Please consider the following resources if you are a vet looking for help:

• Code of Vets (financial assistance)
• American Legion (help to find programs local to you)
• Elk's Lodge (grants for vets)
• AmVets (resources)
• Your local church may have discretionary funds to help people struggling in the community. 
• USO (giveaways)
• Operation Homefront (giveaways)
• Toys for Tots (veterans qualify for support through Toys for Tots)
• ​Marine Corps League (If you are a veteran Marine, reach out to your local Marine Corps League. They will help their brothers and sisters.)

You are not alone. If you struggle to find resources and have tried the orgs above, please reach out to us. Even if you don't qualify for our program, we will do our best to help you find support.  

We want any active duty military family worried about providing Christmas for their children to apply and know we will do our best to help.