Santa sometimes needs a little help getting to the homes of America’s military heroes. Our nation’s veterans often struggle to support their families due to injuries, both visible and invisible, sustained in the line of duty. That is why Freedom Alliance created the Presents for Patriots Program over a decade ago, so that children of those who have sacrificed for our country are not forgotten.
This past Christmas, Freedom Alliance partnered with generous supporters to put presents under 85 Christmas trees across the nation, bringing joy to 330 children and their parents on Christmas Day—families who would otherwise have gone without.
One of the 85 families blessed this year was that of SSgt Shawn A. Bowen. SSgt Bowen served several tours in Africa with the Marine Corps before being medically retired in 2018 with PTSD and multiple traumatic brain injuries from blast exposure. SSgt Bowen shared with us:
My wife is the sole provider for our family, and like many others, we live paycheck to paycheck and sometimes not even making that…This program was so beneficial to our situation as we were able to focus on the moment rather than stressing over financial issues during this season. Words cannot express our deepest gratitude for your generosity to our children.
We cannot remember the last time we wrapped so many gifts for them. And seeing their faces while they were opening them brought so much joy to our hearts…Thank you for making Christmas so special, and God bless.
The Presents for Patriots program gives Freedom Alliance the opportunity to connect with hurting families in a special way. It’s often the way we meet troops who otherwise wouldn’t ask for help, and it’s just one of the ways Freedom Alliance works to heal the wounds of war. Santa’s work may end on Christmas day, but ours doesn’t. May we continue working together to bring hope and healing to these 85 families and so many more in the coming year.
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