More than 24 million Americans have fought for our freedom in the military. More than 22 million children live in single parent family households. One in three children will be poor at some point in their childhood. What do the people have in common? The Veterans of Foreign Wars National Home for Children.

Located in Eaton Rapids, MI, the National Home was founded in 1925 to care for widows and orphans left behind after World War I. Over time, the home has served thousands of people in crisis through both long and short-term programs for children and single parent families. Children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of VFW and Ladies Auxiliary members can live at the National Home, along with children of active duty military who can not provide care for their children through their family plan.

At VFW Post 516 in Farmingdale, we support our home because we believe in taking care of our own. The National Home is an alternative to foster care and reduces the strain on already limited government resources because it is privately funded by individuals, VFW Posts and Ladies Auxiliaries just like the one right here in Farmingdale.

March 25-31 is National Home Awareness Week and we are spreading the word about the programs and services offered by the National Home. We invite the community to learn more about our National Home by logging onto the National Home Website at www.vfwnationalhome.org.

Frank Bondietti, VFW Post 516