I am so thrilled to invite you to visit the new WE Support website, www.wesupport.ca.gov.
As California’s First Lady, one of the first things I wanted to do was honor the service and sacrifice of our brave service members and their families – because they serve too.I have had the great opportunity to meet with so many military families across the state and I have learned so much from them—about their lives, their hopes and dreams as well as their challenges.I am always amazed by their strength and resilience.
The WE Support website was created for military families, including their loved ones who courageously serve our country.Here, military families will find resources and tips that may help them deal with issues from deployment and relocation to finding employment opportunities.The “Take Five” section highlights individuals and organizations who are making a positive difference for military families—check out their interviews and learn about their work.There is also information for Californians who want to support military families, either through service or donations.
One of the biggest challenges for our service members in transitioning back into civilian life is entering the workforce. Through her WE Support Program, First Lady Maria Shriver has partnered with Talbots to provide women veterans with gift cards to help them purchase professional attire.
Starting on May 17, 2010, The California Department of Veteran Affairs will begin distributing these gift cards through veteran program service providers across the state. Each gift card has a value of $200 that can be used in stores or online. This program targets women veterans who are recently separating from service and meet the eligibility criteria.
Veteran program service providers interested in requesting gift cards should visit http://www.cdva.ca.gov/Resources/Women.aspx. For questions, please contact Barbara Ward Deputy Secretary, Women and Minority Veterans at (916) 653-2327.
To learn more about the First Lady's WE Support program visit www.WEsupport.ca.gov.
United States Army Veteran Jessica Oliff, one of the first women veterans to receive a gift card, said, "When you're a woman fighting overseas for your country, you can't imagine how heartwarming it is to know that people back home support you. And my new outfit makes me feel very cared for."
