- The Utah chapter of Blue Star Families is supporting Utah military families as the government shutdown drags on.
- Military support organization reports that nearly 1 in 4 military families face food insecurity.
- Utahns encouraged to connect and support their neighbors in uniform.
Under the best of circumstances, many military families often face day-to-day money worries.
Now add to those worries the fast-approaching possibility of going without a paycheck or two during the ongoing government shutdown.
“Missing even a single paycheck can put service members and their families at financial risk, as it would for most any of us,” Marcie Valdez, the executive director of the Blue Star Families — Utah Chapter, told the Deseret News.
One in three military families, she added, have less than $3,000 in savings — and nearly 1 in 4 struggle to put food on the table. Many could find themselves relying on credit cards or high interest payday loans to meet basic family needs.
“These are issues that our military families face yearlong — but they are certainly compounded by the potential of missing that paycheck, " said Valdez.
Blue Star Families is a national nonprofit organization serving military and veteran families by fostering connections with civilian communities — while providing support resources and advocacy.
The group’s Utah chapter serves military families stationed at Hill Air Force Base and other local military installations — as well as local families with a spouse or relative on a military deployment.
The government shutdown, said Valdez, is already troubling many Utahns with military ties. “We are hearing from families who are very concerned and being proactive about looking for resources.
“We’re working to ensure all of our social media channels and our website are up-to-date with good information on how to direct people.”
Linking military families with Utah’s community
Community and business partnerships, said Valdez, will be vital to military families facing shutdown hardships. “We’re so grateful that we have an amazing community that rallies around our military families during times such as these.”
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Catholic Community Services and the Bountiful Food Pantry are counted among the community organizations working with Blue Star Families — Utah Chapter.
“If families miss that paycheck next week, one of the first impacts will be to their ability to buy food, gas for the car, and issues with child care,” said Valdez.
The chapter’s first priority is ensuring Utah’s military families are meeting their basic needs.
“We don’t want anyone going without food,” said Valdez. “And we’re also offering mental health and emotional support.
“A lot of the things that we do at Blue Star Families is about connecting our community … just to help people feel supported and cared for during this difficult time."
How can Utahns support their neighbors in uniform?
Military family support organizations such as Blue Star Families, of course, welcome financial donations.
But Valdez said Utahns can also support those who serve by simply connecting.
Start first by getting to know your neighbors in uniform. Many military families stationed at, say, Hill Air Force Base are new to the Beehive State. They often have young families and may feel alone and unseen during the government shutdown.
“If you know that there’s a military member in your community, reach out and offer support and let them know that you’re there as a friend and a neighbor.”
Defending those who serve
Kathy Roth-Douquet, the CEO and co-founder of Blue Star Families, warned that the government shutdown is putting military families on the front lines of “needless hardships.”
“This isn’t just about delayed paychecks — it’s about readiness, trust and the future of our all-volunteer force,” said Roth-Douquet.
“Undermining them weakens the very backbone of our national security.”
Blue Star Families and more than two dozen other military and veteran service organizations also dispatched a pointed missive to congressional leaders, urging passage of the appropriations bills needed to keep paying members of the armed forces.
“We ask that Congress immediately ensure the financial stability of our dedicated service members and their families by protecting their pay during a government shutdown,” the letter noted.
“Regardless of the broader funding debates, the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces and their families must not suffer because Congress cannot agree on funding the government.”