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Programs to Help Military Families During the Holidays

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By Kaylah Jackson – Entercom ConnectingVets.com

104th Fighter Wing families participate in games and festivities at a children’s holiday party Dec. 2, 2018, at Barnes Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts. The Airmen spent time with their families and thanked them for their continuous support. The children were provided with the opportunity to talk to Mrs. Clause before the arrival of Santa Clause in a 104FW F-15. (U.S. Air National Guard photos by Airman Basic Sara Kolinski)

While for many the holiday season remains a joyful time to spend with family and friends, it can also be stressful. Purchasing gifts, entertaining, even arranging travel can sometimes ruin holiday cheer. This holds true for many military families as well.

If you’re interested in helping a family in need this year, or if you are part of a military family yourself that needs assistance, check out this list of organizations.

Trees for Troops

“Delivering the spirit of Christmas to military families—one Christmas Tree at a time.” Through generous donations, Trees for Troops provide free trees for military families all over the country. Last year, the organization donated and deliver over 17,400 Christmas Trees to 70 military bases and 250 trees to four international bases.

Toys for Tots

Since 1947, the Marine Toys for Tots Program has distributed 548 million toys to date. Through the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, less fortunate children  receive toys during the Christmas season.

Pay Away the Layaway

Through donations from “Layaway Angels,” the organization travels throughout the country during Back to School and Holiday seasons to help families by pay off their layaway balance which often include gifts for children like books, toys, and backpacks.

Operation Holiday Joy

Junior enlisted military families have been able to enjoy over 320,000 toys and over 25,000 baskets of food for Thanksgiving and Christmas thanks to generous donations toward Operation Holiday Joy. Find your local YMCA branch here.

Operation Homefront

While the organization has multiple initiatives throughout the year to support the military, during this time of year, Holiday Meals for Military and the Holiday Toy Drive are in full swing. Military families can register for the various distribution events throughout the year. Meal kits include turkey, gravy, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and vegetables. Follow Operation Homefront’s Facebook page to learn about the dates of their toy drive and how you can receive or donate to a military family.

Want to get more connected to the great stories and resources Connecting Vets has to offer? Click here and sign up for the weekly newsletter from Entercom’s ConnectingVets.com

4 types of Goldfish Crackers recalled, salmonella fears

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AP Photo/Mary Altaffer

NORWALK, Conn. (AP) — Pepperidge Farm is voluntarily recalling four varieties of Goldfish Crackers because of fears they could potentially have salmonella.

The company on Monday took the action after one of its ingredient suppliers notified it that whey powder used in a seasoning may be contaminated. The products were distributed in the United States and no illnesses have been reported.

The Goldfish recall covers Flavor Blasted Xtra Cheddar, Flavor Blasted Sour Cream & Onion, Goldfish Baked with Whole Grain Xtra Cheddar and Goldfish Mix Xtra Cheddar + Pretzel. The company has posted a chart with the product codes on its website.

The products can be returned to place of purchase for a refund.

Consumers can call customer service at 800-679-1791.

This Little Girl Gives Dolls the Scariest Makeovers

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Okay…so this is a little different. It’s not your standard Barbie and Ken living in a dream house driving a corvette kind of kids play. This particular little girl likes to give her dolls some pretty creepy makeovers. Some people are freaking out over her doll modifications and calling it early warning signs of a serial killer.

One person on Twitter said, “All fun and games until you hear ‘based on a true story’ 20 years after this post been out.” Another person Tweeted – “I been watching Criminal Minds and I’m basically a part of the team, and we think that this is an early sign … oh, she gone be a serial killer.” 

Not everyone is freaking out over it though. Some people are defending her saying that she’s probably just super creative and this is how she’s choosing to show it. One person on social media stated that they’re brother used to skin his Furby toys when he was little and now he’s a computer whiz who makes a ton of money.

What do you think? Is it pretty normal for creative kids to think way far out of the box and even kind of freak people out sometimes, or is this something that should be watched closely?

You can read more at thestir.cafemom.com

Ready To Recycle That Christmas Tree?

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ChristmasTreeRecycleFrom the City of San Diego web site, here is information on Christmas Tree recycling..

 

Where can I recycle a Christmas tree?

  • The Miramar Greenery accepts trees throughout the year.
  • I Love a Clean San Diego and the County of San Diego have a website at www.WasteFreeSD.org to help County residents find the nearest tree recycling dropoff site in San Diego County.
  • Curbside collection (For residents with yard waste collection only)
    • Manual container customers using their own bins should place trees on the curb for collection on your regular greenery recycling pickup day. Trees over four feet in length should be cut in half.
    • Automated container customers using the large, green 96-gallon bin provided by the city should cut their trees to fit into the automated container for pickup on collection day.

Drop-off Locations

  • Carmel Valley – Carmel Valley Recreation Center, 3777 Townsgate Drive, lower parking lot
  • Encanto – Cielo Drive at Woodman Street
  • Golden Hill – Golden Hill Recreation Center, 2600 Golf Course Drive
  • La Jolla – Kate Sessions Memorial Park, Soledad Road and Loring Street
  • Logan Heights – Memorial Recreation Center, 2902 Marcy Avenue
  • Miramar – The Greenery at the Miramar Landfill, Convoy Street north of Highway 52
  • Mission Bay – Sea World Drive at Pacific Highway
  • Oak Park – Chollas Lake, 6350 College Grove Drive, in Gloria’s Mesa parking lot
  • Ocean Beach – Robb Athletic Field Recreation Center, 2525 Bacon Street
  • Otay Mesa/Nestor – Montgomery Waller Community Park (lower-west parking lot)
  • Rancho Bernardo – Rancho Bernardo Recreation Center, 18448 W. Bernardo Drive
  • Rancho Penasquitos – Canyonside Recreation Center, 12350 Black Mountain Road
  • San Diego State University – Parking Lot 17C off Alvarado Road
  • Scripps Ranch – Scripps Ranch Recreation Center, 11454 Blue Cypress Drive
  • Tierrasanta – De Portola Middle School, 11010 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard
  • University City – Swanson Pool, 3585 Governor Drive

The “Easter Bunny” Don’t Lay Eggs But it Does Live 8 to 12 years

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Every spring cute baby bunnies and fluffy little chicks are bought to be Easter surprises. But the real surprise comes later when parents find out that rabbits live 8 to 12 years and that baby chicks grow feathers and become chickens. Your Rancho Coastal Humane Society (RCHS) in Encinitas is reminding families that baby bunnies and chicks make really bad Easter gifts. 

“Every year, a few weeks after Easter, we get calls from people who found stray Easter bunnies in their yards,” says RCHS spokesman John Van Zante. “In some cases, they chewed their way out of their pens. But just as often the families let them loose thinking that the rabbits will be fine. These are domesticated pets….not wild rabbits. Turning them loose is a death sentence.”

Van Zante says those fluffy, yellow, baby chicks may look cute on Easter morning, but in a couple weeks it’s a different story. “A chick that is half fluff and half feathers isn’t very attractive. And then it starts acting like a chicken. It becomes a ‘pecking, pooping machine’ with just one purpose….to become an adult hen or rooster. So if you don’t want an adult chicken living in your house, don’t get a baby chick.”

There are plenty of options for families who decide against bunnies of chicks. “Stuffed animals are a great alternative. You can get any kind of stuffed animal you want. There are no breed restrictions and they don’t grow. They’re a lot more fun to snuggle with. You never have to feed them or clean up after them. No Vet bills. And unlike pet chickens that live 8 to 10 years and pet rabbits that live 8 to 12 years, stuffed animals have unlimited life expectancy.”

Van Zante adds, “For families that are prepared to include rabbits in their homes, we encourage them to visit an animal shelter or a rabbit rescue group. Let us help you make an informed decision. Having a pet rabbit can be lots of fun. But, as with any pet, the fun is only temporary if you don’t understand the long term responsibility.”

Learn how you can adopt a pet that fits your lifestyle. Visit Rancho Coastal Humane Society at 389 Requeza Street in Encinitas, call 760-753-6413, or log on to www.sdpets.org.
Adoption kennels are open 11 AM to 5 PM Wednesday through Monday. (Closed on Easter Sunday.)

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