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

Our 2024 Operation Christmas Spirit
Operation Enduring Support Assistance Applications 
This facet of our program is focused on 
ACTIVE DUTY & GOLD STAR families with children under 17
who are in need of emergency help for the holidays. ​
Applications for this year's program are now closed.
If we are able to open up to more families, we will post another application opportunity on our instagram account prior to Black Friday. 

We are unable to respond to general requests for help by email, phone or text.
We are unable to assist families who have already been served by this program.

​If we are able to take on more families later in the season, we will open back up application here. 

How Operation Christmas Spirit works: 

• We start with 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, Peterson AFB, Joint Base MacDill, Camp Lejeune, New River Air Station, and Fort Belvoir.
• On November 15th, we will open up applications for Christmas assistance to military families in crisis and CONUS regardless of base. ​
  • Applications require proof of ACTIVE DUTY service or Gold Star family status. 
  • Applications will automatically be denied if they are missing info.
• Once service and need are confirmed, we will place your family on our "wait list." A "slot" on our wait list does not guarantee a family will be "adopted." As we are able to help families on our "wait list," we send notifications 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 give the opportunity to another family. 

Who Qualifies for Operation Christmas Spirit?

• ACTIVE DUTY FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN OR EXPECTING A CHILD
  • ​​​E5 and Junior with legitimate need for assistance.
  • Any rank with 4+ children
  • Any rank with "justification" of a crisis situation.
  • Families must have a legitimate need for assistance. We have 20+ 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 surviving children (of the service member only) 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 OES Support?

•  FORMER PARTICIPANTS of OPERATION CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
  • ​Please do not apply if you have been a past recipient. 
• 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:

• ​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 (holiday meal giveaways and crisis applications)
• 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.