Operation Holiday Joy

Holiday Support for Military Families

Operation Holiday Joy was initially established in collaboration with Woman’s Day Magazine and their readers to raise awareness and funds for military service members and their families during the holidays.

Since 2004, Operation Holiday Joy supporters have donated more than $1.9 million to make the holidays brighter for military members and their families. Your generosity has allowed us to purchase and distribute more than 321,000 toys as well as deliver approximately 26,000 baskets of food for Thanksgiving and Christmas to junior enlisted families in need.


Operation Holiday Joy 2024

Operation Holiday Joy gift baskets (bags) are distributed by referral. Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) partners with military commands, chaplains, other military family support agencies, and school counselors to identify families (E1-E6) in need of assistance. Each military unit or command provides one point of contact to submit referrals to ASYMCA.

Operation Holiday Joy’s command referral period ends on November 8, 2024.

Referral forms were distributed to Commands in mid-October. If you did not receive one and need one, please contact the branch closest to you and connect with a helpful ASYMCA staff.

  • Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (808) 448-1972 or BranchDirectorPH@asymcahi.org
  • Marine Corps Base Hawaii (808) 254-4719 or kaneohe@asymcahi.org
  • Wheeler Army Airfield (808) 624-5645 or wheeler @asymcahi.org

 

Looking for volunteers to assist with the following:

  • Collect food donations and/or coordinate and execute Food Drives (or Food Ruck Marches)
  • Organize donated food items for easy and efficient packaging.
  • Pack and prepare bags for Thanksgiving distribution between November 18 and 21.
  • Pack and prepare for Christmas distributions between December 9 and 13.

 

Operation Holiday Joy 2024 Calendar

Contact an Armed Services YMCA Hawaii branch near you with any questions:

  • Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (808) 448-1972 or BranchDirectorPH@asymcahi.org
  • Marine Corps Base Hawaii (808) 254-4719 or kaneohe@asymcahi.org
  • Wheeler Army Airfield (808) 624-5645 or wheeler @asymcahi.org

Thank you for supporting Armed Services YMCA Hawai`i as we continue Strengthening Our Military Family®.

Give the Gift of Holiday Joy

We help as many junior enlisted families as possible, but many more will go without. Help us make the holidays brighter for more military families.

Make a Gift