Coast Guard spouse of the year: Military families shouldn't have to rely on food banks
By Jessica Manfre -
September 3, 2019
'How could the needs of those who would sacrifice their lives for this country be ignored?'
When Americans see military men and women in their uniforms, a common greeting is "Thank you for your service." Service members will smile, nod, and continue on in quiet pride to serve the United States. I know, because I am married to one.
What Americans do not know is that many of our junior service members live in poverty.
At a time when our defense budget is nearly as high as it has ever been, you'd imagine that those who serve would not have to worry about putting food on the table. Unfortunately, you'd be wrong and that is because there is a lack of affordable child care and employment opportunities for military spouses.
The partial government shutdown that started last December and lasted more than a month — making it the longest government shutdown in U.S. history — rattled the lives of so many Americans across the country.
https://shareblue.com/coast-guard-spouse-of-the-year-military-families-shouldnt-have-to-use-food-banks/
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Although the government shutdown is months behind us, food insecurity persists for a quarter of our military families. As time goes on, it becomes increasingly more difficult for our junior families to provide for their families.
Military families are a proud and resilient group of people, but even we need help. Today, many families of those who would willingly die for our country are lining up at food banks. This can't be our reality — but it is. I implore our elected officials to recognize the needs of our military families. Stand for them the way they do for you.
Jessica Manfre is the 2019 Armed Forces Insurance Coast Guard Spouse of the Year. She has spent the past decade working with vulnerable populations and advocating for those in need, and is currently finishing her master's in social work. She resides in Illinois with her husband of 12 years and her two children.
During WWII and prior to that war a lot of people men and woman joined the service to get a paycheck....................out of that paycheck they sent home money, so that family could survive......................the right wing libertarian BS mantra........................this is outright shameful.....................................
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