Strengthening Connections: How United Through Reading Helps Military Families Thrive

United Through Reading (UTR) is a national nonprofit dedicated to strengthening military families’ emotional bonds, literacy, and general well-being through the power of reading. Penney Letrud-Samons, United Through Reading’s Director of Special Programs, discusses how the organization’s free storytime video recordings help deployed servicemembers stay connected to the military children in their lives. But the program isn’t only for deployments - UTR helps encourage reading anytime, anywhere. Penney tells us all about the many literary resources that UTR offers and all the incredible developmental benefits reading offers to our military kids. Penney also announces the 2025 Book for the Military Child!

Show Links:

• United Through Reading

• United Through Reading App

• United Through Reading Resources

• United Through Reading Upcoming Events

Show Takeaways:

• Every year more than 100,000 military parents deploy leaving nearly 250,000 military children at home. UTR gives military families a way to connect despite the distance they may face through deployment.

• UTR also benefits servicemembers by allowing them to maintain close emotional bonds with their families at home.

• UTR’s storytime recordings videos can be viewed on-demand and have many developmental benefits for the military child. For every storytime recording a servicemember makes, they receive a free copy of that book. Servicemembers can make unlimited recordings that are reliable, repeatable, and accessible anytime for the military children in their lives.

• UTR’s other resources include reading trackers, literacy guides for all ages, read aloud tips, and a podcast.

Let’s Connect:

• NSFL Website

• NSFL Facebook

• NSFL Instagram

Your Health, Your Benefits: Exploring the New HCFSA Initiative

Show Notes:

Show Notes: Ron Garner, Assistant Director of Military Compensation Policy, explains the DOD’s new Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HCSFA) initiative. March 3rd - 31st is the first opportunity for eligible members of the uniformed services to enroll in an HCFSA during this special enrollment period.

Show Links:

• Office of Financial Readiness - Understanding the HCFSA

• Knowing your Benefits

• Healthcare FSA

• Applying for FSA

• Eligible Expense Guide

Show Takeaways:

• The new FSA initiative is a way to save untaxed income for eligible medical, dental, and vision care costs..

• • Eligible expenses include OTC medicine, acupuncture, braces, contact lenses and so much more!

• A special enrollment begins March 2nd and ends March 31st.

• Members of the uniformed services in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force and U.S. Public Health Service are eligible to sign up for an HCFSA during the Special Enrollment Period.

• • Members of the regular (active) component.

  • Members of the reserve components of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force performing Active Guard Reserve (AGR) duty.

  • Members of the National Guard performing Active Guard Reserve (AGR) duty.

  • Members of the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, including Reserve Component Managers, performing active duty for more than 180 days.

• Contributions come straight from the service member’s paycheck and can be $100-$3,300 per year.

• If you choose to re-enroll during Federal Benefits Open Season, (typically mid-November through mid-December), you may carry over up to $660 in unused HCFSA funds to the next plan year.

Let’s Connect:

• NSFL Website

• NSFL Facebook

• NSFL Instagram

Holiday Shop with Spouse-ly featuring Monica Fullerton

Spouse-ly is an online marketplace powered by military and first responder vendors. Founder Monica Fullerton talks about how she created this company, why it's important to create employment opportunities for military spouses, and how to shop small to make a big impact. Get some holiday shopping inspiration (along with retirements, homecomings, promotions, and more!), or find out how to join this community of creators and entrepreneurs if you want to become a seller.

Show Links:

• https://spouse-ly.com/gift-guide/

• https://www.instagram.com/spouse.ly/

Show Takeaways:

• Air Force Spouse Monica Fullerton founded Spouse-ly as a central marketplace to support military spouse creators and entrepreneurs.

• Spouse-ly is a military-owned and operated community that provides military and first responder families with flexible, income-generating opportunities wherever they are located.

• Shop small and make a big impact! With the holidays around the corner, Spouse-ly is a great place to find gifts while supporting our fellow military families.

• Interested in becoming a seller? Spouse-ly has multiple plans to choose from to meet your needs best, and has resources to help educate you on starting and growing a business.

Let’s Connect:

• NSFL Website

• NSFL Facebook

• NSFL Instagram