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THE DELEGATE WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2016 7 While many men and women of the armed forces return to their families and their civilian lives, not every one will have that chance. The families left behind are forever changed. Snowball Express remembers the fallen military heroes who will never return, honors the supreme sacrifice their families have made, and especially supports the children who will never be reunited with their mom or dad. Since 2006, Snowball Express has provided hope and new happy memories to the children of fallen military heroes who have died while on active duty since 9/11. By bringing children together from all over the world for a four-day experience filled with fun activities like sporting events, dances, amusement parks and more, Snowball Express helps families begin to heal. Parents of children of the fallen often express that their child is reserved, withdrawn, or unwilling to talk about their loss. Snowball Express seeks to change that by making children feel special and giving them an opportunity to share their feelings about losing something as precious as a parent. The children who attend the annual event walk away knowing they are not alone, and that we as Americans honor the sacrifice their parent made while serving our country. Children often return year after year to reunite with the friends they have made through Snowball Express, creating a network of support and healing. The 2016 event – the 11th annual – is scheduled for Dec. 11-15 in Dallas. ✪ SNOWBALL EXPRESS: We Remember, We Honor, We Care Veterans Village of San Diego (VVSD) is a non-governmental organization that has dedicated itself to serving all veterans since 1981 through their mission statement of "Leave No One Behind." VVSD is the only program of its kind in the United States and is nationally recognized as the leader in serving homeless military veterans, each year providing services to more than 2,000 military veterans at its five locations throughout San Diego County. VVSD assists homeless veterans who have substance abuse and/or mental health issues, including men and women who have recently returned from Iraq and Afghanistan. At the heart of VVSD's programs are five pillars of success: prevention, intervention, rehabilitation, aftercare, and employment services. VVSD provides a safe place for veterans to live with mental health counseling, focused support in overcoming addiction, housing, food, clothing, and legal services. In addition, VVSD provides assistance in securing life-sustaining employment for our nation's veterans so they can begin the next chapter in their lives as part of the local community. ✪ VETERANS VILLAGE OF SAN DIEGO: Leave No One Behind Homefront San Diego is a non-profit organization that provides a hand to local military families in their time of need. Roger Hedgecock started the charity shortly after 9/11 when he heard about the ongoing needs of military families in San Diego, home to the nation's largest concentration of military personnel. A majority of service men and women in combat zones are often distracted by concerns over the well being of their families at home. When one is fighting a war, there cannot be distractions. By taking care of the families back at home, Homefront San Diego enables soldiers to focus on their mission. The charity helps with everything from emergency food and gas, to car repairs, furniture, computers, and everything else a family might need. Because each family is unique, Homefront San Diego does not limit its assistance to a set list of services, instead utilizing resources to do everything possible to help. Assistance is available to enlisted military families, deployed or not. Since its beginning nearly a decade ago, Homefront San Diego has been able to help over 10,000 families in San Diego and will continue to assist as long as United States soldiers and their families need a helping hand. ✪ HOMEFRONT SAN DIEGO: Supporting Military Families in Need

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