Dual-Military Family Grateful for Family Support Programs
Army veteran Elizabeth Maasjo understands that people sometimes need help. She and her husband, Army Staff Sgt. Michael Maasjo, run a ministry for the unhoused in Colorado, where Michael is stationed.
At times they, too, have turned to others for resources to help their own family.
Most recently, the Maasjo family attended an Operation Homefront Holiday Meals for Military® (HMFM) event at the Southeast Armed Forces YMCA in Colorado Springs.
The family was one of 200 signed up for the event. They received a Walmart gift card and tickets for the whole family to the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo.
“We knew we were getting the gift card, but the rodeo tickets were a surprise,” Elizabeth said. “It was so nice because my husband was already talking about wanting to go.”
Elizabeth used gift cards to help offset the cost of school supplies and other summer necessities for her kids.
“The donations are a blessing for a lot of families.” – Elizabeth Maasjo, Army veteran and Army spouse
HMFM is just one of Operation Homefront’s family support programs the Massjo family has participated in. The children have gotten backpacks and school supplies through Back-to-School Brigade®, and the Maasjos have nominated their son for the Military Child of the Year Awards®.
“He volunteers and helps with our ministry,” Elizabeth said. “He does so much for others.”
She recalled a Thanksgiving HMFM event the family participated in that provided the entire meal, all packaged and ready to go.
She is grateful for the care the volunteers take at to make each event special for veterans and military families.
Elizabeth and her husband were dual military at the beginning of their relationship. They met in 2008 when both deployed to the same base in Iraq. After she had their son, life was too difficult for both she and her husband to be in the military at the same time, so she discharged having reached the rank of sergeant. Michael is nearing 20 years of service and plans to keep going.
Elizabeth appreciates the donors who make family support programs possible.
“The donations are a blessing for families,” she said. “I know many friends who are very grateful because they use these resources. It helps a lot.”
Since 2010, Operation Homefront’s HMFM has provided more than 210,000 holiday meals to military and veteran families.
