 Whether it’s decorating a tree or enjoying dear family recipes, we all have our favorite winter traditions. To celebrate this magical time of year, we asked our staff about their favorite winter traditions. Here they share what their families enjoy most during this special season. Jessica, our Executive Director, is obsessed with gingerbread. She looks forward to designing, baking, and decorating a gingerbread house each year. This year’s house featured a gingerbread doghouse in honor of their new puppy, Fergus. Jen, our Dental Program Manager, makes her mom’s special Thai chili sauce to accompany turkey during their holiday gatherings. This dish honors her family’s Thai heritage and makes the meal an extra special treat. Alex, our Program Coordinator, celebrates Christmas Eve with an “Around the World” Smörgåsbord. Their delectable spread includes good Swiss bread, cheese fondue, cold cuts, lumpia, pancit, flan, lefse, rice pudding with raspberry sauce, macaroni and cheese, scalloped potatoes, cookies, pastries, Swiss chocolates, hot cocoa, and apple cider. What are your family’s favorite traditions? Let us know in the comments. Happy Holidays!  To every veteran and their family, we thank you for your service and sacrifice to our country. We are grateful for you today and every day.
In honor of Veterans Day, we have compiled a list of businesses providing free and discount offers to veterans and servicemembers this year. Please note that not all franchise locations participate in their national chain's Veterans Day programs. Be sure contact your local franchise to make sure they are participating. King County, WA Offers Free Entrée at Iver’s for veterans and active duty military https://www.ivars.com/promos/item/741-veterans-day Free Buffet at Snoqualmie Casino for veterans https://business.issaquahchamber.com/events/details/veteran-s-day-buffet-8088?calendarMonth=2021-11-01 National Offers Applebee's: The restaurant chain is welcoming all active-duty and veteran military members to visit their local Applebee's to enjoy a complimentary entrée from a selection of items. Bed Bath & Beyond: Veterans, active-duty military members and their spouses can get 25% off their entire in-store purchase on Nov. 11. BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse: BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse will be celebrating the country's veterans and active-duty members with a free meal from their special menu of items and a free Dr Pepper beverage. Buffalo Wild Wings: All past and present armed services members can get a free order of 10 boneless wings and fries on Nov. 11. The offer is available for dine-in or takeout (online ordering excluded). Denny's: Veterans can enjoy a free "Build your Own Grand Slam" from 5 a.m. to noon Thursday, Nov. 11. Dickey's BBQ Pit: Veterans can get a free pulled pork classic sandwich at participating locations for every active duty or retired military on Nov. 11. Valid In-store, and Online/ App for Carryout, with Code VETFREE. Dollar General: Service members and their family members get 20% off the total purchase in-store or online on Nov. 11-14. IHOP: Veterans and active-duty military can get free Red, White & Blueberry pancakes from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 11. Available for dine-in only, you can RSVP on IHOP's Facebook page. Kohl's: Kohl’s is doubling its Military Monday discount of 15% to offer all active and former military personnel, veterans and their families 30% off purchases from Nov. 7 through Nov. 11. Menchie's: The first six ounces of frozen yogurt are free for all veterans on Nov. 11. Office Depot: All active-duty and retired military personnel get 20% off in-store purchases through Dec. 12, 2021. This coupon and military ID required. Red Robin: All veterans and active-duty military members will receive a free Tavern burger served with Bottomless Steak Fries at participating restaurants nationwide. The one-time offer is valid Monday, Nov. 1 through Sunday, Nov. 14 for dine-in or to-go. In order to take advantage of the offer, active or former military and veterans must register for Red Robin’s Royalty Program. Starbucks: Veterans, military service members and military spouses get a free tall (12-oz) hot brewed coffee at participating stores on Nov. 11. And for every cup of hot brewed coffee sold that day, Starbucks is donating 25 cents to be divided evenly between Headstrong and Team Red, White & Blue to support the mental health of military communities. Target: Veterans, active-duty military members and their families can get 10% off in-store or online orders. The Military Appreciation Discount runs through Nov. 13 and can be used on two separate transactions. Customers must first register at www.target.com/circle/military to confirm eligibility.  Chad served in the Army, stationed in Afghanistan, as an infantryman. Returning stateside, he faced several unique challenges with reintegration and experienced homelessness for about a year. He has worked incredibly hard to get to a place of stability, even opening his own business, using his passion for graphic design to support veterans.
The toll of the pandemic has weighed heavily on him as he was unable to go to a gym. This is something that is extremely important to his physical and emotional health and wellbeing. He was in need of equipment that would allow him to continue to make physical fitness a priority in his life. His Wingman Volunteer, Emily engaged her personal network in creative ways to accomplish this mission. She held a Facebook fundraiser and even sold flowers at her college campus to raise funds for Chad’s home gym. Through her dedication, she was able to raise several hundred dollars towards the purchase of martial arts equipment. Now Chad is able to exercise from the comfort and safety of his home. Chad said, “I am so thankful for your organization and all you’ve done for me and other veterans.” We are thankful for you, Chad! Thank you for the opportunity to allow us to work with you. We are grateful for our Wingman Volunteers, like Emily. Their willingness to partner with us to support combat veterans in need is inspiring. Become a wingman by visiting our website and clicking "Volunteers" and "Be a Wingman."  Meet the Founder and Board President of Everyone for Veterans, Dr. Theresa Cheng.
What’s the best advice you were ever given? My mother always pointed out the importance of being happy no matter how difficult things are. What’s your favorite movie or show and why? I like a lot of movies and shows, but Forrest Gump is a very memorable one. The character, Lieutenant Dan introduced me to the realistic aspect of veteran life that is all around us. What’s your favorite meal? My favorite meal is a hawker noodle dish from Malaysia. What’s your favorite vacation destination and why? There are so many great vacation destinations, however, one of my favorites is in Gandoca, Costa Rica, a beach in a low income area. We get to work with preserving turtle eggs by patrolling the beaches at night and moving the eggs laid to safe areas. It was hard work but fantastic to learn about and contribute to how the community turned the economy of consuming turtle eggs to preserving them.  What do you do at E4V?
I am the Dental Program Manager. So I assist in connecting dentists to veterans and their spouses. What about E4V interests you? My dad retired as a SMSgt in the Air Force so I feel at home being able to assist those who were in the service. What activities do you do for fun? I play chess with my son and when I have free time, love to sketch and do various crafts. What's one of your favorite memories from last year? Despite the craziness of Covid-19, we welcomed a healthy baby girl and love watching our 15 year old son with her. What's your favorite food? My mother is Thai so naturally, Thai food.  Our team is decked out in purple as a tribute to military kids on Purple Up! Day.
Jen, our Program Manager pictured bottom right, shares her experience growing up as a military kid: "A military brat is often what we kids who have parents that are in the military are called. In retrospect, I understand why civilians called us that. In their eyes, we got to travel and move to countries all around the world that most people only dream of one day visiting and all we kids did was complain about it (as well as get into a little bit of trouble). For me, it was tough moving around every few years. I was painfully shy and having to make friends only to leave them and make new ones caused a lot of anxiety. There was a constant need for a place to belong. In the end and as an adult, I appreciate the opportunities we had being thrown into so many different cultures, food, people, languages, etc. You learn a kind of open-mindedness that can’t BE without having some kind of nomadic lifestyle. Purple Up! Day is a wonderful day to recognize those new kids who put military duty before family. If you know of one, go out of your way to make them feel welcome in your town and introduce them to your friends! Help them to belong! Thank you!!!"  What do you do at E4V?
I support the direction and operational leadership of the organization, and work closely with our Board of Directors to build community relationships and partnerships. What about E4V interests you? I was born on an Army base and raised by a Navy veteran. The unique challenges that our veterans face is something that is deeply personal to me and close to my heart. What activities do you do for fun? Our family loves all things Disney and our favorite place on earth is Main Street, U.S.A. Disneyland churros are a food group for me. I also enjoy cooperative board games, like Mansions of Madness, and escape rooms. If you could choose a superpower, what would it be and why? I would go with teleportation. This choice is a little food motivated too; my favorite restaurant is over 7 hours away on the Oregon coast. Are you into sports? What team do you root for? I absolutely love college football. I also follow the IFOCE and Major League Eating events around the globe. I’ve been able to attend a handful of sanctioned professional eating competitions and they are absolutely electric!  We are very excited to share the news that E4V has been awarded Guidestar's Platinum Seal of Transparency, the highest-level of recognition for nonprofits reporting metrics.
Offering full visibility and accountability as to how we operate is not only a necessary step for us, but also the cornerstone to maintaining the trust of our supporters, partners, donors, volunteers, and communities. We are so proud and honored to be able to give back to combat veterans and earning this recognition shows us we're making a positive impact. Thank you to everyone who believes in us and our mission, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do without your support! Check out our profile: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/81-4462476 Dr. Moona Khan of South Sound Dental Care in Tacoma, Washington provided Navy veteran Nick and his wife Shannah free dental care.
Nick was deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq and worked in Logistics, which meant he was part of a team that assessed whether bases needed to be shut down. Re-integrating back to society has been challenging but is getting better with treatment at the VA and Shannah’s support. Nick graduated from the University of Maryland and is working now. Exercise is what he enjoys and he and Shannah have 4 children! We wish them the best! Sign up to provide dental care: https://www.everyoneforveterans.org/dentists.html |
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