Military Women Transformed – A Wonderful Day

by Linda Franklin Shining Service Worldwide

One video is worth a million words.  What a fabulous and emotional day!  Everybody was touched by these fabulous women.

Shining Service Worldwide is a charitable organization that supports all women who are part of the military family. Our goal is their successful re-integration back into civilian life. We do that with our transitional homes for veteran moms and their children, our makeover missions, The Shining Service Bracelets corporate and private donations.

Women Veterans -Their Biggest Challenge

by Linda Franklin

We produced this video to bring attention to the every increasing plight of women veterans.  Too many are falling through the cracks along with their children.  It’s time to protect them as they have protected us.

Shining Service Worldwide is a charitable organization that supports all women who are part of the military family. Our goal is their successful re-integration back into civilian life. We do that with our transitional homes for veteran moms and their children, our makeover missions, The Shining Service Bracelets corporate and private donations.

 

Fleet Week Makeover 2013

by Linda Franklin

What a celebration we had last night.  Here’s just a taste of our wonderful tribute to military women.  It was held at the fabulous Julian Farel Salon on Fifth Avenue New York City and covered by WPIX.  More coming soon.

Shining Service Worldwide is a charitable organization that supports all women who are part of the military family. Our goal is their successful re-integration back into civilian life. We do that with our transitional homes for veteran moms and their children, our makeover missions, The Shining Service Bracelets corporate and private donations.

Veteran Mom Refused Shelter

by Rebecca Miller Pringle

Dawn Barber a Desert Storm Veteran who served her Country, was bounced from church conference room to church conference room for months with her little boy, because she was not allowed to stay in a veteran’s shelter/home – CHILDREN NOT ALLOWED!

This happens all the time and is the reason Shining Service is stepping in. “The Shining Beacon House” will be for veteran moms and their children.

Shining Service Worldwide is a charitable organization that supports all women who are part of the military family. Our goal is their successful re-integration back into civilian life. We do that with our transitional homes for veteran moms and their children, our makeover missions, The Shining Service Bracelets corporate and private donations.

Dr. Oz Salutes Women Veterans

by Linda Franklin

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Dr. Oz went on a mission to uncover our military servicewomen’s greatest health issues and raises the question of whether our infrastructure is doing everything to recognize and address their problems. 

The show put a face on the problem of female military sexual trauma as one veteran shares her story of survival and her coping mechanisms. The question of whether female soldiers respond the same ways to war as men is answered with surprising results. The show also discusses women’s battle with post traumatic stress disorder and whether female soldiers respond to duress differently than men. In addition the show lends insight to our servicewomen’s difficulty of re-integration into family life. For some female soldiers, returning to their roles of wives and mothers from deployment differs from the experience of male soldiers drastically.

Then, Dr. Oz uncovers an alarming problem facing female veterans today: homelessness. Dr. Oz visits the Beacon House, a shelter for homeless female veterans in Long Island, New York and spends a day in the life of four homeless veterans who are fighting their way back to a normal life. With nearly 13,000 estimated homeless female veterans, Dr. Oz and his guests discuss why so many have fallen through the cracks after protecting our nation and address what can be done to help them.

“As women have moved into roles traditionally occupied by men in our military such as combat, we are now beginning to understand how post traumatic stress ravages those who so bravely gave their time and their health to keep us safe. This problem is new, and the Department of Defense should be commended for taking that first important step in dealing with its vast scope: talking about it. These women are heroes in the truest sense and will inspire you and touch your heart,” said Dr. Mehmet Oz.

To see the video he show click here.

Shining Service Worldwide is a charitable organization that supports all women who are part of the military family. Our goal is their successful re-integration back into civilian life.art. We do that with our transitional homes for veteran moms and their children, our makeover missions, The Shining Service Bracelets corporate and private donations. 

March Makeover In Stony Brook

by Linda Franklin

Here are some wonderful pictures from our latest makeover in Long Island.  The women were lovely and the artists who made our beautiful women even more beautiful were amazing.  Great big hearts all around.  Thanks so much Cactus Salon and Spa.   

I also want to thank TGI Fridays for hosting a wonderful lunch for our military gals.  This is the second lunch Fridays has hosted and looking forward to the third.  You support our miltary women and we love you for that!

One of our makeovers Wendy, cut 10 inches off her hair and donated it to Locks of Love.  She was given a gift that day and she wanted to pay it forward.  That’s how wonderful our women are.

Take a look at more pictures from our makeover mission – they will warm your heart.

Shining Service Worldwide is a charitable organization that supports all women who are part of the military family. Our goal is their successful re-integration back into civilian life.art.  We do that with our transitional homes for veteran moms and their children, our makeover missions, The Shining Service Bracelets corporate and private donations. 

New York Times Reports On Female Vets Struggling Back Home

by Linda Franklin

This morning I read this article in The New York Times  by Patricia Leigh Brown and it confirmed everything female veterans already know and are dealing with on a daily basis.

Even as the Pentagon lifts the ban on women in combat roles, returning servicewomen are facing a battlefield of a different kind: they are now the fastest growing segment of the homeless population, an often-invisible group bouncing between sofa and air mattress, overnighting in public storage lockers, living in cars and learning to park inconspicuously on the outskirts of shopping centers to avoid the violence of the streets.

While male returnees become homeless largely because of substance abuse and mental illness, experts say that female veterans face those problems and more, including the search for family housing and an even harder time finding well-paying jobs. But a common pathway to homelessness for women, researchers and psychologists said, is military sexual trauma, or M.S.T., from assaults or harassment during their service, which can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder.

Female veterans are far more likely to be single parents than men. Yet more than 60 percent of transitional housing programs receiving grants from the Department of Veterans Affairs did not accept children, or restricted their age and number, according to a 2011 report by the Government Accountability Office.

These statistics are much more than mere numbers to me. Since I started Shining Service Worldwide, which is all about successful integration for female veterans, l have been all to aware of the challenges these women and their children have to endure.

Just yesterday, one of our makeover veterans and her two kids faced living on the streeets.  But, with the assistance of our partner United Veterans Beacon House and Congressman Israel’s office she is getting the help that she needs.  Now the real help can begin -getting her back on track – with healthcare shelter and a job.

Our Shining Service Makeovers are so much more than a day of beauty.  These women become part of our family and we do whatever we can to help them with their many challenges.

Shining Service Worldwide is a charitable organization that supports all women who are part of the military family. Our goal is their successful re-integration back into civilian life.  We accomplish that goal through our homes for veteran moms and their kids, our Shining Service Makeovers and our Shining Service Bracelets. Help us help our women in service!

President’s Day Makeover Rocked NYC

by Specialist Gisselotte Ventura , N.J. National Guard

On Monday February 18, 2013 five of my Army National Guard battle buddies and I were chosen to partake in the “President’s Day Makeover” organized by Shining Service Worldwide  It was billed as a salute to “First Ladies” and was their reward for our hard work as first responders during Hurricane Sandy.

We were chosen by one of our sergeants for a job well done. Sergeant Brito and Pamela Kulisek both informed us of what Shining Service was putting together for us. On our way to the makeover we were filled with excitement, nervousness and we did not know what to expect. From the minute we entered Riccardo Maggiore’s Salon everyone was very welcoming. For the first time we were the ones being rescued and catered to.

We had gotten a breakdown of what our day would consist of but believe me, it far surpassed our expectations. Everything was so well organized. The stylists and Fox 5, who filmed the event for the evening news broadcast,  were eager to know more about us and where we came from. Being in the military we very seldom find people who are genuinely interested in who we are, it has mostly been about what we have done.

Words cannot express our gratitude for being granted the opportunity to meet so many inspiring people.  It was as if we were queens of the city. We were complemented from the minute we arrived and even after we said our goodbyes. All the stylists kept us engaged in conversations about what they were doing to our hair, nails and make up, providing us a real level of comfort.

Then it was time for our big reveal.  We changed into our party attire ready for the final  piece to an amazing day. Linda Franklin and Trish Rubin welcomed us to Shining Service Worldwide and provided us with a beautiful Shining Service bracelet and gorgeous red pashminas.  It was a very emotional moment for us. I was even more excited because this same week marked my fourth year in the military and what better way to celebrate your service.

Then if was off to TGI Fridays for lunch.  We were greeted royally and ushered to a special section just for us.  Then it began.  Champagne toasts, followed by a delicious lunch and an open bar for our pleasure.  The manager of Fridays at 56th and Lexington Avenue and the server, were at our beck and call with fabulous service.

Our combat boots were taken off, children were left at the babysitters, and professors and employers were notified of our absence. It was as if we were part of a fairy tale – only it was real life.

Linda, we learned so much about your organization and we praise what you all do for women in the military. Again thank you not only for the makeovers, the delicious meals, or the toasts but for introducing us to your organization and what you do.  – Hooah

Shining Service Worldwide is a charitable organization that supports all women who are part of the military family. Our goal is successful re-integration back into civilian life.

Military Moms Rock!

by Linda Franklin

They are right!  One picture is worth a thousand words.  This is why Shining Service is devoted to helping women in the military.

Shining Service Worldwide is a charitable organization that supports all women who are part of the military family.  Our goal is successful re-integration back into civilian life.

Military Families and Financial Resiliency

 Janine Boldrin, Military Spouse

Over thirteen years as a military spouse, I’ve messed up a lot. Most of the time my mistakes were because I just didn’t know any better. For instance, I bought a huge couch that was hard to fit in every house from the day we bought it. We moved that couch to five different states and (finally!) just got a new set that is much leaner and more easily fit into the many places we call home. That first couch may not seem like a big deal to most people but a poor decision made me anxious to buy something new because I was tired of reconfiguring every living room we lived in around that one piece of furniture. The choice to buy a big sofa cost my family money.

Then there was six years ago, when my husband went back to school. We moved to a college town where the mass transportation system was awesome. He could ride the bus to school every day and I could walk to the grocery store and local playground. It was ideal situation for us to own only one vehicle for two years and cut down on car payments and insurance costs.

Too bad I only found this out several months into living at our new home. And it was really too bad that we already purchased a huge SUV and a new station wagon within weeks of arriving.  This decision was one of the biggest financial errors our family has made and it cost us for several years afterward.

All of these lessons were ones that I wish I had learned early on in my life as a military spouse so I could have saved our family some financial heartache. There are certain subjects we share as military spouse friends but financial suggestions seem to be one that we often skip or, even worse, may inadvertently lend some bad advice.

If we bought a house, we often recommend to a friend that buying is a good option for them. However, each military family has a unique situation that requires a huge amount of evaluation. If we buy a new car, a friend may start thinking about buying a new one too because you got yours at a military sales event that only goes on until Friday. Your neighbors have puppies and she says there are two more in the litter and they are moving in two days, can you take one? Maybe you decide to get a dog.

As military families, we need to think differently plus be making better decisions than we have in the past. Why do I feel this is an urgent need? There are too many of us drowning in debt. Too many of us with houses we can’t sell. Too many of us in foreclosure or operating as accidental landlords. There are too many shelters filled with pets that are abandoned around military installations.

We are facing a huge amount of uncertainty with the drawdown in Afghanistan, the looming budget issues, the present day budget cuts, and the possible change in troop composition and distribution. Our families need to become more financially resilient in anticipation of change. Whether you are a new spouse or a seasoned one, examine how you make purchasing decisions that impact your financial well-being. If you’re not considering your mobile, military lifestyle when making a purchase, start now. Change is coming. Will your financial house hold up to a storm?

• Want to learn more on how to do this? Check out my book, The Thinking Spouse’s Guide to Military Life: How to make better buying decisions for your mobile family, where I talk about homes, vehicles, home furnishings, pets, and more! 

Shining Service Worldwide is a charitable organization that supports all women who are part of the military family.  Our goal is successful re-integration back into civilian life.