PRESIDIO OF MONTEREY, Calif. - As the holiday season approaches, Thanksgiving dinners weigh on the minds of many people.
For some of those people, those thoughts are probably heavier this year than other years.
Recognizing the concern of the expense of putting holiday meals on the table, the Monterey Military Community came together this year to make Thanksgiving thankful for many Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force families.
Hoping to give a boost to service members and their Thanksgiving cornucopia, the Catholic and Protestant congregations at the Presidio of Monterey and Ord Military Community chapels dug deep into their pockets again this year.
The congregations raised more than $4,000 through designated worship service offerings, said Maj. John C. Lim, Presidio of Monterey Garrison chaplain.
Also turning the tide to a happier Thanksgiving Day meal was Pinnacle Family Housing, which donated $1,500. "Donations have been extremely limited for us recently due to budget constraints," said Michelle Calloway, Pinnacle Family Housing community director. "However, we will continue to make this donation as we feel it's truly for a good cause."
The chaplain's office staff was able to purchase about 100 Defense Commissary Agency gift cards this year from the commissary, said Lim.
The cards can be used to purchase food only and decline in value as they are used, said Ord Community Commissary Director Robert L. Landon Sr., explaining the flexibility of not having to use the whole value at once makes them great for gifts.
"Gift cards come in increments of $25 and $50 and can be purchase. The can also be used for stocking stuffers during the Christmas holidays," said Landon.
"Our priority is the joy we provide to military families during the holiday, and, therefore, do not set specific income requirements," said Lim, explaining that the program is designed to "benefit families in financial need regardless of their income level."
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