Bountiful Meals and Holiday Cheer for Our Military `Ohana

Every year during the holiday season the Armed Services YMCA Hawai`i collects and distributes generous donations of food, commissary gift cards, and toys to military families in need through Operation Holiday Joy. Donations of food and gifts are collected by community partners, such as military units, businesses, civic clubs, church groups and schools, and dropped off to our offices in November and December where teams of volunteers prepare Operation Holiday Joy baskets full of delicious food and presents. The baskets are then picked up by a command representative and gifted to military families who are experiencing extreme hardship or financial difficulty.

Operation Holiday Joy is open to military families from all five service branches including the Hawai`i National Guard and the Reserves. Last year, through generous community support, approximately 3,000 military families in need were gifted Operation Holiday Joy Baskets during Thanksgiving and Christmas.

• Download the Operation Holiday Joy 2020 Thanksgiving Flyer HERE
• Download the Operation Holiday Joy 2020 Christmas Flyer HERE

Eligibility

The Armed Services YMCA Hawai`i partners with military commands, chaplains, other military family support agencies, and school counselors to identify families in need of assistance. Or you may sign-up for a basket yourself (click on sign-up button below) if you meet this guidelines:

E-6 and below

• • Single parents who are experiencing extreme hardship or financial difficulties.
  • Couples with or without children who are experiencing hardship or financial difficulties.
    
    

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  Referrals or sign-ups must be submitted to Armed Services YMCA Hawai`i no later than November 13, 2020 for Thanksgiving and December 11, 2020 for Christmas so we can provide baskets for all families in need.

Referrals from commands should include information on the referred family, a unit representative for their unit’s referrals, and the contact information for the individual(s) responsible for picking up Operation Holiday Joy basket and delivering to the families.

The pick-up date for the baskets will be on November 20 & 23, 2020, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and December 17 & 18, 2020, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at your local Armed Services YMCA Hawaii Branch.

Email Lika Baugh at MBaugh@asymcahi.org for the Operation Holiday Joy Referral Form or for more information.

Volunteer Opportunities and Donation Items

Military units, businesses, civic clubs, church groups and schools are invited to become a community partner by collecting food items or monetary contributions that will be used in Operation Holiday Joy baskets. We have a limited supply of boxes that are available on a first come, first serve basis as well as Operation Holiday Joy donation box labels. Volunteers are also needed to help assemble Operation Holiday Joy baskets for distribution.  To host a Operation Holiday Joy food/gift drive or to volunteer in assembly of Operation Holiday Joy baskets, please contact your local Armed Services YMCA Hawai`i Branch Director or point of contact.

Food Items for Operation Holiday Joy Baskets (November & December)

Suggested Gift Items for Operation Holiday Joy Baskets (December Only)

Please deliver all donations to your local branch office by November 13, 2020 for Thanksgiving Operation Holiday Joy Baskets and December 10, 2020 for Christmas Operation Holiday Joy Baskets. If you are unable to deliver your items please call us to arrange a time and date for one of our staff members/volunteers to pick up your donations.

Timeline and Contact Information

• • October 13 – November 13: Thanksgiving Operation Holiday Joy Food Drive
  • November 13: Drop off donated food and commissary gift cards to local ASYMCA Branch
  • November 13: Sign-ups and command/unit referrals (names of military families in need) due to local ASYMCA Branch
  • November 16 – 19: Volunteers assemble Operation Holiday Joy Baskets at local ASYMCA Branch
  • November 20 & 23: Command/Unit Representatives pick up Operation Holiday Joy Baskets for Distribution
  • November 18 – December 10: Christmas Operation Holiday Joy Food Drive
  • December 10: Drop off donated food, commissary gift cards, and toys to local ASYMCA Branch
  • December 10: Sign-ups and command/unit referrals (names of military families in need) due to local ASYMCA Branch
  • December 14 – 16: Volunteers assemble Operation Holiday Joy Baskets at local ASYMCA Branch
  • December 17 – 18: Command/Unit Representatives pick up Operation Holiday Joy Baskets for Distribution

Armed Services YMCA Hawaii Branches

• • • Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam: (808) 473-3398 and jbphhom@asymcahi.org
    • Marine Corps Base Hawaii: (808) 254-4719 and kaneohe@asymcahi.org
    • Wheeler Army Airfield: (808) 624-5645 and wheeler@asymcahi.org