Able Forces of Front Royal seeks donations for 9th annual ‘Adopt a Warrior Family for Christmas’

For the ninth consecutive year with, as he put it, “Christmas around the corner”, Front Royal’s Skip Rogers is amid planning his 2020 holiday cheer program for needy military families in Warren County and the Washington metropolitan area.

Rogers, whose Able Forces Professional Services on Chester Street has for 15 years assisted veterans in their quest for worthwhile employment in the civilian world, in 2009 established his Able Forces Foundation, a non-profit to help military and veterans in immediate financial crisis, including over the December holidays.

Starting in mid-October he begins seeking community financial support extending through December 15 and expects this year to be servicing up to 60 military families, including up to 20 in Front Royal and Warren County. Twelve local families benefited from last year’s community support.

Santa and his elves help some military children look forward to Christmas season. Courtesy Photos Able Forces Foundation

The families in need are identified by Advocates for each of the five military service branches and by Veterans’ Administration (VA) hospitals. But instead of “acting like Santa Claus and delivering Christmas trees, children’s gifts and food packages” with his wife, Kathy, Skip will provide gift cards to the veterans.

Rogers said the cards, redeemable locally at Walmart and Target, became more practical as demand increased, and also more personal. “The moms and dads can go shopping for themselves and their kids, and it feels much more like Christmas to them if they can choose the children’s gifts and pick out their own trees and food for the table,” Rogers said. The families are assessed for their needs and gift cards can total between $100 and $500.

It’s more like Christmas when families can shop for themselves

He stressed that 100% of all donations go directly to support the program. “There are no administrative or overhead fees taken out of donations,” he said.

To donate: by check, mail to Able Forces, 115 Chester Street, Front Royal, VA 22630; or online, go to  http://www.ableforces.org/adopt  For further information, call (540) 631-9600.