April is the Month of the Military Child. From our neighbors to celebrities who grew up in military families, such as Jessica Alba, Priscilla Presley, and Bruce Willis, many have their own stories of struggles and heroism they can share. In fact, according to the National Center for Children in Poverty at Columbia University, there are 1.76 million children and youth in military families in the country. Almost 80% of them are age 11 or younger. What’s more, they report that military children have higher rates of mental health problems, including psychological stress, depression, and academic problems.
“Military families, especially children in military families, need extra love and care from their community and from civilian families across the nation,” explains Nicole Motsek, executive director of the EOD Warrior Foundation. “Their experiences often leave them needing some additional assistance, and we are a group that is honored to be able to provide for them.
