Active Duty and Military Family Focused
Dedicated to uniting U.S. military families who face separation by facilitating the bonding experience of reading aloud together, United Through Reading creates an emotional connection, encourages literacy, and makes homecomings easier. Writers, illustrators, reviewers, and other volunteers are all welcome to get involved. unitedthroughreading.org
Support the Enlisted Project in San Diego (STEP) provides active duty and veteran families financial grants in times of crisis and, through one-on-one counseling, develops plans for achieving financial self-sufficiency. stepsocal.org
In 2004, a group of Marine Corps spouses in Camp Pendleton created the Semper Fi Fund, which provides immediate financial assistance and lifetime support to injured and critically ill members of all branches of the armed forces and their families, ensuring that they have the resources for recovery and transition back into their communities. semperfifund.org
The SEAL-NSW Family Foundation raises awareness and funds for special programs in direct support of Naval Special Warfare families. sealnswff.org
USO San Diego’s two centers downtown and at the airport sponsor deployment and homecoming events, food pantries, holiday festivals, and special programs like Padre for a Day and the Marine Corps Trials, all of which welcome volunteer help. usosandiego.org
Founded by military spouses, Blue Star Families is a platform where military family members can join with civilian communities and their leaders to address the challenges of military life. bluestarfam.org
The Armed Services YMCAs of San Diego and Camp Pendleton provide multiple programs that directly support active-duty service members and their families. sandiegoasymca.org, camppendletonasymca.org
Veteran Focused
The Honor Foundation designed the first transition institute for the US Special Operations Forces community by working with the top business schools and America’s finest companies to create a transition pipeline. Get involved by joining its Volunteer Team. thehonorfoundation.org
Warrior Foundation–Freedom Station was formed in 2004 to provide quality-of-life items, support services, and transitional housing to San Diego area veterans. warriorfoundation.org
Workshops for Warriors prepares San Diego area veterans and wounded warriors for advanced manufacturing careers, to meet the strong demand for skilled labor in the welding and fabricating industries. workshopsforwarriors.org
The National Veterans Transition Services is a San Diego–based organization dedicated to assisting veterans in adjusting to civilian life and securing meaningful employment by combining best-practice performance social solutions and techniques through their Reboot Workshops. nvtsi.org
Zero8Hundred was started to proactively link military families to a broad range of resources and opportunities in the community, helping them successfully transition to civilian life. San Diego has the third-highest population of veterans in the United States and is the number one destination for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. zero8hundred.org
SAN DIEGO (May 14, 2013) – Damage Controlman 3rd Class Valentina Caceres, assigned to amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) mans the rails while pulling into homeport San Diego. Peleliu is the flagship for the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group and, along with amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20) and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD 47), has returned from an eight-month deployment to the 5th and 7th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel Viramontes/Released)
Photo by Petty Officer Second Class Daniel Viramontes
