WILLIAMSBURG — The Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee launched Home for the Holidays in 2021, aiming to help service members stationed at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, the Marine Corps Security Force Regiment, and Coast Guard Training Center Yorktown spend the season with their loved ones.
The program provides travel stipends of $300 and since launching in 2021 has helped 198 service members reunite with their loved ones over the holiday season.
Service members must apply for the stipend, sharing with the committee how the stipend will help them. According to Ann Bowe, liaison to the GWCC’s Military Affairs Committee, some of the applications are quite emotional.
“When you go through these applications, some of them just catch your breath because it could be anything from wanting to go home to see a loved one who has received a terminal diagnosis or someone who hasn’t had the opportunity to meet their grandchild yet. It’s things like that and having the money to go home would mean everything to them,” Bowe said.
The program began accepting applications for 2025 travel stipends earlier this month and this year sees a record number of service members looking for support.
“From what we’re seeing on the applications, the government shutdown has really impacted our service members,” Bowe explained.
Bowe and the Military Affairs Committee are reaching out to the public for help.
Donations can be made in $25 increments online through the Chamber’s website or dropped off at the Chamber’s office. Sponsorship opportunities are also available for $100, $300, $600 and $900 levels.
“We would love to be able to send all of them home, that’s the most important part,” Bowe said.
Donations will be accepted until early December. Any donations after the 2025 deadline will be allocated towards the 2026 Home for the Holidays program.
The 2025 window for service members to apply for the stipend will close on Nov. 26. Interested military service members can speak to their master chiefs for more information.
To learn more or to donate, visit williamsburgchamber.com.