Monday, May 9, 2011

Needed: Active-Duty Soldiers/Recent Army Veterans in the Washington, D.C. Area

Mission: To Volunteer as Mentors at the TAPS Good Grief Camp Helping Children of our Fallen Military Over Memorial Day Weekend 2011

The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) is a nonprofit organization that provides immediate and long-term support and care to Families of our Nation's Fallen Heroes.  In less than a month, we will be holding our 17th Annual TAPS Survivor Seminar and Good Grief Camp for children and teens near Washington, DC over Memorial Day Weekend.  What makes our camp unique are the service members and recent veterans that volunteer to individually mentor children of service members who made the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives for this country. 

As of right now we have close to 450 kids registered for this year’s TAPS Good Grief Camp and only 254 mentors signed up!  If you have been a mentor in the past, or even if you haven't but can do some quick math, you know those numbers don't match up at all.  : (

What is even more alarming?!?  We only have 52 Soldiers signed up to mentor...but the majority of the children attending this year’s camp lost their Dad, or a big Brother, who was serving in the ARMY.

We know it is no small favor - we are asking you to give up your Memorial Day weekend and to volunteer. But as our returning Good Grief Camp Mentors will tell you, bringing a smile to the faces of our nation's youngest Heroes and reminding them that they are not forgotten and will remain a part of the Army family, always, is worth more than any backyard barbecue!   Our Mentors tell us all the time that it is comforting to know that if anything were to happen to them, that TAPS would be there to take care of their families.

You may think you don’t know what to say to a child who has lost a loved one who served in the military - but you just need to be willing to listen and support a child. We provide training to help you learn how to be a companion to a child. You will not need to lead or be responsible for any activities...only connecting with the child you are assigned and following the lead of your group facilitator(s).

If you know any Service Members, but especially Soldiers (prior-service, too!) that may be interested, please ask them to register on our website...registration will be open through May 10, 2011.  If you need a letter requesting the time off, we can provide one (request from Vanessa@taps.org).  Any help would be greatly appreciated...these children need to know the ARMY has not forgotten their loved ones' sacrifice!

To register visit: http://bit.ly/ledPqs
The Schedule for the weekend will be:
Mandatory Training May 25 from 6:00-9:00 PM OR May 26 from 10:00 AM-1:00 PM.
May 27 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
May 28 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM
May 29 8:30 PM - 5:30 PM
May 30 Optional to attend Arlington Ceremonies with mentee

Your role: You will be matched up with a child who has lost a loved one in the military.  The children are 4-19 years old but you can pick the age group you would prefer to work with.  You will be placed in a group along with 25 or so other children and their mentors - this group will be led by an experienced and trained grief facilitator.  You will not need to lead or be responsible for any activities...only connecting with the child you are assigned and following the lead of your group facilitator(s).  Friday will be a day of grief work and getting to know each other at the hotel.  Saturday is field-trip day - starting with lunch at the Fort Meyer DFAC and then sightseeing around the National Mall area...we will provide bus transportation for all kids and mentors.  Sunday is another day of grief work before wrapping things up.  You must be available all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday according to the times listed in the schedule above.  Monday is optional but encouraged...

Uniform:  Is casual...shorts, jeans, sandals, tennis shoes, etc.  We will provide each Mentor with 2 TAPS t-shirts which will be worn Fri-Sun.

Cost:  There is no cost to you!  During the camp you will eat with your mentee...lunch on Friday, lunch and dinner on Saturday and lunch on Sunday.  There is a fee for parking at the hotel but we will provide parking vouchers at the end of each day...we do encourage Mentors to carpool.

Venue:  The Good Grief Camp and the Trainings will take place at the Marriott Crystal Gateway in Crystal City, VA.

To register visit: http://bit.ly/ledPqs

For more information about volunteering as a TAPS Good Grief Camp mentor, please call 1-800-959-8277 (TAPS) and ask for Vanessa Gabrielson or email vanessa@taps.org.