In 2009, Our Military Kids, a program dedicated to providing the children of deployed National Guard and reservists with money to pursue enrichment activities, issued just over $3 million in grants across the country. The grants, which are $500 maximum per child, are issued for a variety of lessons or activities, from sports to acting classes or camp fees and tutoring costs.

The most remarkable part of the program is how it reaches out to military families that often, due to how geographically spread out they are, fall outside the parameters of many established military support programs. Along with the hardship of having a parent away for months at a time, many Guard and reserve families are so financially stretched they cannot afford the fees for these programs that are proven to help kids cope with deployments.

"I think it is a simplistic process, and the uses for the grant are almost endless. If the sign-up fee is less than $500, the family can even work with the organization to pay for additional items like soccer cleats or uniforms, for example," said Robbin Seeberger, state youth coordinator for the Washington National Guard.

Children are eligible for two grants per deployment as long as the following requirements are met: the deployment is 365 days or more; the servicemember has at least 60 days remaining on the orders at the time the second application is submitted; it has been six months since the first grant award. Eligible families apply for a grant and typically receive a confirmation within days notifying them of the award. Then a check is sent directly to the service provider.

Seeberger was quick to clarify that family income is not a consideration in determining whether a child is eligible to receive a grant. Also, the $500 limit applies to each child not to an entire family.

In response to the many requests the organization received last year, Our Military Kids expanded its eligibility to children ages 3 to 5, instead of starting with kindergartners. Children are eligible until they graduate from high school, but the grants given to kids ages 6 to 11 account for about 50 percent of the program.

Michelle Nelson, director of Family Programs for Our Military Kids, reported that 2009 was the biggest year for Washington, which was directly proportionate to the large number of National Guard members deployed.

"Currently things are slowing down, but it is important that families be aware of this opportunity before facing the next deployments," said Nelson.

Our Military Kids is a nonprofit organization funded by donations from individuals, corporations, foundations, and government entities. Donations are fully tax-deductible. To apply for a grant or to learn more about donating, visit www.ourmilitarykids.org.