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Team Up To Brighten the Holiday Season for a Veteran's Family

Thank you for your interest in our Adopt a Caregiver for the Holidays program. Below is a list of commonly asked questions to familiarize you with the program. If this does not answer your questions, please feel free to contact Denise Gula Weller at denise@vetsouse.org or Megan Cain at megan@vetspouse.org.
​

​1.  How many Caregivers can we adopt? 
You may adopt as many caregivers as you think you can support. We require that businesses, church groups or community organizations adopt a minimum of two (2) families. If your organization only wants to adopt one caregiver, you can register as an Individual/Team Leader Sponsor.

2. What am I expected to provide the caregiver? 
For each caregiver adopted, you are asked to provide a minimum of $100 food gift card or prepaid VISA toward a holiday meal. For the caregiver, we ask you to purchase a minimum $50 gift/gifts. Gifts must be new and holiday wrapped. You will need to ship the presents to the caregiver you have been matched with and mail with enough time to receive prior to the Christmas/Hanukkah holidays. (We recommend mailing no later than Dec. 11.)

3.  How soon do I need to tell you that I want to adopt families? 
Our goal is to match caregivers as soon as possible. Pairing will begin Nov. 15 through Dec. 1, 2019.

4.  Can I specify the location of the caregiver? 
You can specify the location of the caregiver and we will make every attempt to match you with a caregiver in your community. We cannot guarantee that veteran families will be close to your city or location as we have caregivers who register across the United States. Since you will need to mail your package, we ask that you maintain the tracking number of the packages mailed in case there is a problem with delivery.

5. Do I contact the caregiver? 
Yes, you will be given the address, phone number and email of each caregiver. You are required to contact the caregiver within 48 hours of pairing. It is then your responsibility to verify the information provided and get additional information that will help you with your holiday purchases.

​6. How will I know what to buy? 
The caregiver will provide a wish-list as part of their application. Once you make contact with the caregiver, You can ask for more specific details, sizes (if clothing is requested), color preference, etc. We ask that you not provide gift cards as presents.

7. Can I wrap the gifts? 
Yes, please wrap your gifts.

8. Can I ask the families to our place of business or invite all of our families to a party we are having? 
No, many families may not feel comfortable with this situation or it may not be conducive for the service member if he/she has physical or other disabilities. Our veterans suffer from posttraumatic stress and/or Traumatic Brain Injury and new situations or people may make them uncomfortable. We want to ensure a positive experience for everyone.

9. If the families are in my area, can I make the families dinner and bring it to them? 
No, for the liability, safety and comfort of our veteran families, we ask that you provide a gift card for the meal. If the family does not wish to cook, you can purchase a cooked meal from a local grocer or restaurant and have the family pick up the meal. Please make sure that you check with the family on any dietary needs or allergies of the family.

10. How do you screen the families? 
All families are screened for participation in our Adopt a Caregiver for the Holidays program. Proof of service and disability are both validated before a caregiver becomes eligible for adoption.

11. How long does it take for me to be matched with a veteran caregiver? 
​Following Nov. 15 and once we receive your application on-line, we will begin the matching process. Caregivers are made available for adoption as soon as they are screened and approved for the program. Our goal is for you to have a positive experience with your participation in this program. If you have any problems or concerns, please contact Denise Gula Weller at denise@vetspouse.org or Megan Cain at Megan@vetspouse.org. Thank you!
 
SPONSOR APPLICATION FORM
Business, Church Group or Community 
Organization
​1.  I WILL PURCHASE AND MAIL THE GIFT
​With this application I am agreeing to sponsor a cvaregiver with a minimum $50 gift and  a $100 gift card to help with the holiday meal and I agree to gift wrap package and mail my gift directly to the spouse.

​PLEASE FILL OUT FORM BELOW AND SUBMIT.
OR
2.  I WOULD LIKE HEARTS OF PATRIOTS TO PURCHASE AND MAIL GIFT FOR ME. I wish to sponsor a caregiver but prefer to have a Hearts of  Patriots volunteer purchase, gift wrap, package and mail the gift on my behalf directly to the spouse.
CLICK HERE
Do not fill out the form below.
    COMMENT: ​
    ​Please indicate if you would like to adopt a caregiver in a specific geographic region or any other special requests for our staff to take into consideration. We cannot guarantee you will be paired with a caregiver that matches your request.

    Once you are paired with a caregiver we will email you the caregiver's contact information and wish-list. We request that you reach out to the caregiver within 48 hours of pairing. Please mail wrapped gift and grocery card or prepaid gift card to the caregiver no later than Dec. 11 to ensure that it is received in time for the holidays. 

    I understand that I am not guaranteed a caregiver in my local area and agree to support the caregiver assigned to me no matter their location in the U.S.

    ​I Agree to mail gifts to the caregiver no later than Dec. 11th and to hold on to tracking number in case there are problems with delivery.

    ​I Agree and acknowledge the requirement that my gift will be a minimum of $50 and the Food gift card will be a minimum of $100 value.
Submit

Hearts of Patriots a 501 (c)(3) non-profit and all volunteer organization.
​Donations are tax-deductible by the donor.

About Hearts of Patriots
When veterans return suffering from PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury or both, their transition into civilian can be especially difficult. Co-founded by the wife of a Marine who served in Iraq, Hearts of Patriots understands the challenges faced by caregivers of veterans with invisible wounds of war.
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Our mission is to provide education, resources and support to these hidden heroes. We are committed to helping spouses of veterans with PTSD and TBI care for themselves, because we know that self-care is essential to caring for others.

Contact

email denise@vetspouse.org
​PHONE: 440-477-4704

MAIL: Hearts of Patriots
101 Denison Ave., Elyria, OH 44035


South Carolina Location
email: megan@vetspouse.org
MAIL: Megan Cain
3842 Sawmill Ct., Awendaw, S.C. 29429
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  • DONATE
  • ABOUT US
    • OUR STORY
    • WHAT WE DO
    • OUR LEADERSHIP
    • IN THE NEWS
    • CONTACT US
  • CAREGIVER PROGRAMS
    • CAREGIVER MEMBERSHIP
    • HOLIDAY ADOPT A CAREGIVER >
      • 2021_Caregiver Holiday Application
  • EDUCATION
    • BLOOD STRIPE l A SPOUSE'S STORY
    • LIVING WITH PTSD AND TBI
    • PTSD AND TBI STATISTICS
    • CAREGIVER RESOURCE DIRECTORY
  • Volunteer
    • BECOME A VOLUNTEER
    • CARING FOR CAREGIVERS FAQ
  • Crisis Call Center
    • VETERANS CRISIS LINE
    • HELP FOR HOMELESS VETERANS
    • VETERANS CHAT
    • VETERANS TEXT 83255
    • VET CENTER PROGRAM