Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

1. I have put together a coalition of non-profit organizations to help
active-duty military families in the greater DC area that have special needs
children. This assistance is particularly, but not exclusively for kids
with an autism spectrum disorder. Now, they are looking for folks to help,
and that may be you. We are seeking families of wounded warriors at the
Walter Reed Army Medical Center or the National Naval Medical Center in
Bethesda, MD who have special needs children and may need some help during
visits to or who may be convalescing in the greater DC area. They are also
seeking families with a deployed service member, who specifically have a
child with an autism spectrum disorder that live in the greater DC area.
If you know of anyone who meet this criteria, please contact me. Thanks!
Scott

Office 703 681-9426
Home 703 241-2640

2. Quilts Provide Comfort to Military Children. Military children who miss
their deployed parents can take comfort in quilts made by the Armed Services
YMCA's Operation Kid Comfort program. To help them deal with the separation,
Operation Kid Comfort participants create quilts unique to each child 5 and
under. Older children receive a small pillow. The program is currently
available at Fort Bragg, N.C., Fort Riley, Kansas, Fort Drum, N.Y., Fort
Belvoir, Va. and at the Armed Services YMCAs in San Diego and Alaska. The
program is expected to be introduced at Fort Stewart, Ga., and Fort Carson,
Colo., by fall. ASYMCA is working to launch Operation Kid Comfort
nationwide. For more information, visit the Operation Kid Comfort webpage at
http://www.asymca.org/c4-2.html.

3. Sesame Street Helps With Deployments. The Sesame Workshop has a program
that addresses the stress families endure when faced with deploying family
members. "Talk, Listen, Connect" is Sesame Workshop's educational outreach
program designed for military families through each stage, beginning with
pre-deployment. For more information, check your local television listings
or to download the program, visit the Sesame Street "Talk, Listen, Connect"
webpage at http://www.sesameworkshop.org/tlc. DVDs and print packages in
English and Spanish are also available to military parents at no cost
through the Military OneSource at http://www.militaryonesource.com.

4. Rules Change for Free School Lunches Overseas. Defense Department
Education Activity (DODEA) officials are encouraging families of children
attending Defense Department Education Activity (DODEA) officials are
encouraging families of children attending DODEA overseas schools to reapply
for free and reduced price school lunches. Because the USDA has increased
its reimbursement rates, more families may qualify for free or reduced-price
lunches. This change applies to families of children attending DODEA schools
overseas in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, the United Kingdom,
the Azores, Turkey, Korea, Japan and Okinawa. It does not include families
of children attending DODEA schools in Puerto Rico or Guam, who fall under
their state Department of Education programs.
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE