BY AMANDA HENDERSON |

SAN ANTONIO — A project is helping our San Antonio military families by focusing on their children, who are impacted by the sacrifice their parents have made.

As is the case for any military family life can have its twists and turns.

“When I was in high school, my dad deployed overseas to the Army National Guard,” said Marketing and Communications Manager and former grant recipient from Our Military Kids Michelle Criqui.

As Criqui knows, having a parent deployed overseas can be difficult for service members and their families.

She said one thing that eased their time apart is the services Our Military Kids provided.

“It was a chance for all of us to take part in activities that we’d either been in,” said Criqui.

The group pays for military children to do extracurricular activities if they qualify through any of the following ways.

If a parent or guardian is overseas with the National Guard.

If a parent or guardian is deployed with the Reserve.

If a parent or guardian is recovering from severe injuries in a post 9/11 overseas mission.

“The first thing that always goes is the extracurricular activities, you know, the things for the kids the extras that are a financial burden when one parent is deployed overseas,” said Criqui.

Executive Director Kara Dallman said this started in 2004 with increased deployment overseas.

“We love the fact that we’re able to focus on those families and help them build community,” said Dallman.

The services have benefitted San Antonio families as well such as Master Sergeant Walter Taylor.

“I did not want to leave when it was my time. Unfortunately, a rocket hit me in the face,” said MSG Taylor.

MSG Taylor’s five children are seen in photos he provided to us.

They all got the chance to continue doing things they love.

“It was a great experience to know that I could do these things and not be able to, I guess be limited in a way.”

MSG Taylor said the group gave the family a chance to move forward.

“Kids lose so much when a parent is hurt. They’re not there in their own life and things they want to do. It just takes away. So, to see all of them get to get their milestones and move forward in life is really fulfilling,” said MSG Taylor.

If you are interested in the program or know someone who might qualify you can find an application to apply here.