For Guard Families
“I just wanted to thank you for all your help. It makes my family and I sleep better at night knowing there are wonderful and caring people out there like you.”
— Anonymous, Massachusetts Army National Guardsman
We currently provide two main forms of assistance directly to families:
- Emergency cash to individual families
- Grants to Family Readiness Groups
Guard Support provides the funds and the grants are administered by State Family Program Office or the Family Assistance Center Coordinator (see below for the application process).
These grants are meant as gifts to the families and no repayment is expected.
Take advantage of:
» Emergency cash to individual families» Grants to Family Readiness Groups
We want to help.
We appreciate the fact that you are carrying this burden for all of us.
Emergency cash to individual families
For families that face emergency needs when a loved one is deployed, or about to be deployed, we can provide some immediate help.
Qualifying Needs:
Some examples of needs that have received our assistance in the past:
- Child care;
- Elder care;
- Emergency travel expenses re serious illness or death;
- Food/gas;
- Funeral expenses;
- Housing (rent or mortgage to avoid eviction or foreclosure);
- Medical insurance co-pay;
- Telephone
Other types of need may qualify. Generally speaking, each Emergency Grant does not exceed $500.
You can contact your local aid officer for further questions.
Steps Required:
Guard Support provides cash assistance through the State Family Program Office or the Family Assistance Center Coordinator. The following steps are required.
- Download this application for Emergency Assistance, print it and fill it out.
- Call the nearest State Family Program Office or the Family Assistance Center Coordinator (the information is also in the application) and make an appointment.
- For your appointment with a staff in that office, bring your application in with you.
- The staff person will process your application and guide you from there.
For Family Readiness Groups
Family Readiness Groups are comprised of local families that are organizing programs and events.
Qualifying Needs
Some examples of needs that have received our assistance in the past:
- Special events for children
- Welcoming troops back home parties
- Support group meetings
- Educational programs
- “Night out” events for parents
Steps Required
If you are a Family Readiness Group and need more funding for your efforts, Guard Support wants to help. Take the following steps:
- Download this application for Family Readiness Groups, and fill it out.
- Call the nearest State Family Program Office or the Family Assistance Center Coordinator (the information is also in the application) and make an appointment.
- For your appointment with a staff in that office, bring your application in with you.
- The staff person will process your application and guide you from there.
State Family Program Offices/Family Assistance Centers
View the current list of Family Assistance Centers.
Questions?
If you have any questions, please contact us.
Future Programs
We are also building programs, in conjunction with other organizations, in a wide range of areas.
If there are areas where you think we can help — by pulling our neighbors together, we are always looking for ideas — please let us know.