Holiday resource guide 2013 by Naval Base San Diego

Holiday Resource Guide 2013 Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) Holiday Workshops Would you like to develop a holiday spending plan, get tips for smart shopping, and avoid post-holiday debt? All shopped out, attended too many parties, and baked so many cookies you can’t see straight? Our Secrets for Managing Holiday Stress with Finesse & How to Financially Thrive During the Holidays Workshop will give you the secrets to smart finances, strategies to maximize your budget and tips for how to manage stress associated with this busy time. Don’t just survive the holidays, thrive! Free toy drawing at every workshop! Call FFSC 1-866-923-6478 for registration. For more information visit: http://navylifesw.com/sandiego/families/ffsc/ Oct 23 • 9:30-11:30 am, FFSC VSM, 3141 Afton Road SD, CA 92123 Nov 6 • 5-7 pm, FFSC NBSD, Bldg. 263, 3005 Corbina Alley, Suite 1 SD, CA 92136 Nov 20 • 2-4 pm, Housing Opportunities, 1045 11th St. SD, CA 92101 Dec 10 • 5-7 pm, Murphy Canyon Chapel, 3200 Santo Rd. SD, CA 92124

USO San Diego Thanksgiving Feast On Thanksgiving Day, November 28th at 12:00 pm the USO’s Downtown location (303 A Street, Downtown San Diego) will be serving a traditional Thanksgiving Feast with all the trimmings. Come enjoy arts and crafts for the kids, a magician, and give-a-ways throughout dinner. For more information visit: www.usosandiego.org

USO Santa Store December 3, 5, & 7, 2012 - USO Downtown Center USO San Diego’s annual Santa Store is an opportunity for active duty children to come and receive a delicious meal, get a photo with Santa, a gift from Santa’s sack, pick out a gift for mom and dad or guardians, and also have their special gift wrapped before they go home. This event gives a wonderful holiday memory to the children of active duty military, many whom are not only separated from their loved ones during the holidays, but who have experienced multiple deployments of their mother/father and in some cases, both parents. For more programs & information visit: www.usosandiego.org

San Diego Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) Holiday Programs The ASYMCA SuperParent Holiday Toy Program is their annual celebration of San Diego’s brave military moms and dads. SuperParents selected through a lottery are provided the opportunity to choose two free toys for each of their children. ASYMCA is a non-profit serving 6,000 San Diego military families a month with over 40 absolutely free family bonding and social networking programs. For more details and other programs visit: www.militaryymca.com

Toys for Tots Toys for Tots will collect new, unwrapped toys and distribute them as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community. To request toys for your children or to donate toys, visit their website: http://san-diego-ca.toysfortots.org/ For additional information about food donation resources or free toy programs, call 2-1-1 or contact Military OneSource at 1-800-342-9647. Both organizations are open 24 hours a day to help connect you to resources!

CNRSW Fleet & Family Support Center ☼ San Diego * FFSC does not endorse the above, provided for informational purposes only.* Centralized Scheduling: (866) 923-6478 http://navylifesw.com/sandiego/families/ffsc/

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MWR Family Holiday Party Celebrate the Holidays on Saturday, December 7 from 9:00AM-1:00PM at Admiral Robinson Recreation Center (Naval Base San Diego). Admission and activities are free. Seasonal fun for the whole family! Food vendors will be available. Free LEGOLAND California ticket in Santa’s Village for all kids, while supplies last! Event presented by MWR and LEGOLAND California. For more information visit: http://navylifesw.com

San Diego Military Outreach Ministries (SDMOM) For assistance this holiday season check out Military Outreach Ministries. San Diego Military Outreach Ministries (SDMOM) is a community supported charity that reaches out to young enlisted military families in San Diego with a broad range of helping services, including furniture and food resources. For more information visit: www.sandiegomom.org or call 619461-4164.

Operation Homefront Are you a military family in San Diego in need of a little extra support? For more information about holiday programs and support visit: www.operationhomefront.net or call 858-282-0960.

Support the Enlisted Project (STEP) STEP provides emergency financial and transition assistance grants to active duty and recently discharged enlisted military and their families in Southern California. For more information on their programs visit: http://www.stepsocal.org/ or call (858) 695-6810.

Navy Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) When you’re having trouble meeting urgent financial needs, NMCRS may be able to provide an interest-free loan or grant. Through financial counseling they can also help you plan for better financial stability. For more information visit: http://www.nmcrs.org/ or call 619-767-6800.

Free Programs for Deployed Military Operation Uplink This great program is brought to you by Veterans of Foreign Wars and provides “Free Call Days” to deployed troops and hospitalized veterans. The call days are three designated days each month during which deployed Service Members can make free phone calls from their overseas MWR center or military DSN line to the U.S. and other home base location land lines. For more information and the 2012-2013 Free Call Day Schedule visit: http://www.vfw.org/nms/

Treat the Troops Send cookies to deployed Service Members! Treat the Troops takes orders for cookies to be sent out to the troops. Troops are also welcome to request cookies. Find more details about ordering or requesting cookies on their website at http://www.treatthetroops.org/

Mil-Kits Families of deployed Service Members can receive FREE packaging materials from the US Post Office. For more details, call 1-800-610-8734 and order through Customer Service. CNRSW Fleet & Family Support Center ☼ San Diego * FFSC does not endorse the above, provided for informational purposes only.* Centralized Scheduling: (866) 923-6478 http://navylifesw.com/sandiego/families/ffsc/

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Holiday Events around San Diego The events in this section are not sponsored or endorsed by the Department of Defense and are provided for information purposes only.

Knott’s Berry Farm Military Tribute Days Knott's annual tribute to our Military, past and present, starts November 4th. FREE admission for Veterans or current serving military personnel and one guest with proper I.D. presented at turnstile plus purchase up to six additional tickets for just $22 each until November 27! November 28 - January 5, 2014, up to six additional tickets can be purchased for only $27 each. Proof of military service (DD214, Veterans Administration Hospital ID, or Active Military ID) is required. https://www.knotts.com/what-s-new/promotions

Julian Events Check out the many activities happening in our neighboring city of Julian from November until the end of the year. For more information visit: www.julianca.com

Mother Goose Parade In El Cajon on November 24th at 10:00AM, the 67th Annual Mother Goose Parade will officially start off the holiday season in San Diego County. The Mother Goose Parade is the largest parade in San Diego County, and the largest of its type west of the Mississippi. For more information visit: www.mothergooseparade.org

Balboa Park December Nights December 6, 5:00pm to 10:00pm and December 7, noon-10:00pm. San Diego’s annual kick-off to the holiday season will take place for the 35th consecutive year. In the spirit of the holidays, participating Balboa Park museums open their doors free of charge from 5:00-9:00PM both evenings. This is the largest free community festival in San Diego. For more information visit: www.balboapark.org/decembernights

Jingle Bells at the San Diego Zoo

December 15th through January 6th, 9:00 am – 8:00 pm except December 24th the San Diego Zoo is transformed into a magical winter wonderland. You'll find a nightly tree-lighting ceremony, bell ringers filling the air with music, and lighted animal figures dotting the grounds. Active Duty military receive free admission to the San Diego Zoo and dependents can purchase discounted tickets through the MWR ticket office. For more information visit: http://www.sandiegozoo.org/junglebells/activities.html and http://navylifesw.com/sandiego/recreation/tickets/

42nd Annual San Diego Bay Parade of Lights Sponsored by the Port of San Diego, boaters will light up the harbor with festive lights and decorations. Parade times are December 8 and 15, 5:30-9:00PM. This year’s theme is “Our 42nd Anniversary, USS Santa Claus”. For more information visit: http://www.sdparadeoflights.org.

Spirit of Christmas Get in the Christmas spirit at this special event on Saturday, December 7 from 3:00-9:00PM on Maine Avenue. Photos with Santa, entertainment from Lakeside school children, games, food, and lighting the Community Christmas Tree. For more information visit: http://lakesidechamber.org/page/Spirit_of_Christmas.

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Free Events for Single Service Members

For more information & events visit: http://navylifesw.com/sandiego/about/wavewinds/

Thanksgiving and Christmas Buffets Looking for a place to enjoy a free holiday meal? Stop by or call your base Liberty Center for more great events and information. Buffets are open to enlisted active duty and geographical personnel. Don’t be late, good food only lasts so long! The HUB, NBPL, Main Base 619-553-9138 Frozen Turkey Bowling, November 17th 4pm Day after Thanksgiving Buffet, November 29th 3pm Ugly Sweater Contest, December 8th all day Day after Christmas Buffet, December 26th 3pm Liberty Hall, NBPL, NMAWC 619-524-6587 Ugly Sweater Party, December 24th 5pm Liberty Rec, NASNI 619-545-2878 Thanksgiving Day Buffet, Thursday November 28th 2pm Cookie Decorating Contest, December 23rd 2-8pm Holiday Buffet, December 25th 2pm Q-Zone, NAB 619-437-3190 Thanksgiving Day Buffet, Thursday November 28th 2pm (E1- E6) Christmas Buffet, December 25th 2pm (E1- E6) The RECYARD, NBSD 619-556-5078 Thanksgiving Day Buffet, Thursday November 28th 2pm Gingerbread House Day, December 12th 5pm Christmas Cavalcade, December 24th 6pm Christmas Dinner, December 25th 5pm

Free Holiday Gift Wrapping At Your Liberty Center December 1-25, Active Duty Service Members can wrap gifts for FREE at base Liberty Centers. Supplies include paper, tape and bows. Check your local Liberty Center for availability.

Holiday Gift Bags Calling all Command Recreation Reps! Don’t forget about your Service Members standing watch or working on Christmas Day. Let them know you remembered them! MWR and your local Liberty Center have Holiday Gift Bags stuffed with useful, fun and tasty treats available to those working on Christmas Day. To reserve bags for your Command, complete the online form at http://navylifesw.com by December 6.

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