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Adopt-a-Marine on Thanksgiving 2023

The Villa Park Adopt-a-Marine event is back and will be held on Thanksgiving Day. The Villa Park Marine Thanksgiving Committee invites you to join the community in sharing Thanksgiving Day with Marines who are unable to get home to their families for the Thanksgiving Holiday.

  • For the hosting families, Thanksgiving Day starts off early at the Ralphs shopping center where complimentary coffee and pastries are provided.
  • Immediately following the refreshments, a member of each hosting family gets into a limo for the ride to Camp Pendleton to pick up our guests.
  • Upon returning to Ralphs and following a brief photo session, each family will take their guests home for Thanksgiving Day and dinner festivities.
  • Additional activities are available in Villa Park for those who wish to participate.

There is a fee payable to Villa Park Community Services Foundation (VPCSF) which covers most of the cost of the Marines’ gifts and limousines while the remaining balance is funded by donations. The money is used to pay for the limos and to purchase gifts, usually a nice watch, for each Marine. These are purchased in volume and wrapped ahead of time by the Committee.

At the end of the day, a member of each host family will return their guests to Ralphs where they will join them in the limos for the ride back to the base. Hosting spots are limited, so if you’re interested in participating don’t wait until it’s too late! 

The Villa Park Adopt-a-Marine Thanksgiving is a program that hosts Marines on Thanksgiving who  cannot travel home for the holiday. This program provides the opportunity for Marines to share thanksgiving with a surrogate family and for host families to open their homes up to Marines.

For more information visit The Villa Park Adopt-a-Marine page.

You can also make an online donation directly to the Camp Pendleton ASYMCA at: https://camppendleton.asymca.org/give/338501#!/donation/checkout

About the Thanksgiving Marine Event

Camp Pendleton Marines on Thanksgiving

The day begins on Thanksgiving where one member from a host family drives to Camp Pendleton via limo to pick up the Marines. Upon the arrival at the Villa Park Town Center the Marines can find a welcome sign, snacks and the Villa Park Community Band. There is a brief photo event then they are off to the host families for Thanksgiving festivities and dinner.

At the end of the day, a member of the host family and Marines take the trip back to Camp Pendleton.

To be a host family apply through the Villa Park Adopt-a-Marine program. See past photos on the official VP Marine Thanksgiving Facebook page.

The Villa Park Marine Thanksgiving annual event is supported by volunteers and The Villa Park Community Services Foundation.  Additional support comes from the Villa Park Rotary and local merchants who donate items and services for the event. The founders of this event are Rick & Bonnie Barnett.

About the Camp Pendleton ASYMCA’s Adopt-a-Marine Program

The Villa Park Adopt-a-Marine program is part of the Camp Pendleton ASYMCA’s Home Hospitality program which started in 1975. Typically over 1,000 Marines are hosted by the community each year. Participating Marines are mostly from the School of Infantry who have just graduated from boot camp. However, any active-duty service member stationed on Camp Pendleton can participate in the program.

Program Guidelines

  • Students must travel in pairs since they are new to the Marine Corps
  • A minimum of two Marines per household
  • Marines are not allowed to drive thus community members must pick them up and drop them off
  • Pick-up times are usually set between 7:30 – 9:30 AM
  • Return time is between 5:30 – 7:30 PM
  • School of Infantry (SOI) Command does not allow times to be modified

If you’re outside Villa Park but would still like to Adopt-a-Marine call the Armed Forces YMCA at 760-385-4921.

Tips for Hosting a Marine

Do:

  • Give them time to warm-up, relax and offer to let them take a nap (it’s a long day).
  • Suggest they bring a change of clothing given they will be in uniform.
  • Thank them for their service.
  • Provide a tour of the house and location of restrooms and where to relax.
  • Turn the television on in order to watch football, basketball, etc.
  • Offer to let them call home and allow them privacy to make their call(s).
  • Incorporate any of their Thanksgiving traditions and customs, if possible.
  • Take pictures and videos, share them but get permission before posting on social media.
  • Share photos and videos of past Thanksgiving dinners with Marines.
  • Have food available upon their arrival since dinner may be several hours away.
  • Keep in touch, connect with them on social media or get their contact information.
  • Ask them if they would like to take leftovers home.

Don’t

  • Try to do too much like cook their favorite meals. They’re away from home and their families and they will be appreciative of a Thanksgiving Day in your home.
  • Offer tobacco or alcohol products.
  • Pepper them with questions and conversation all at once. Let them get acclimated and relax.
  • Make the conversation about you and all of your service experience.
  • Stay clear of sensitive or derogatory subjects e.g. politics.

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