Military deployments and other aspects of military life challenge families. That’s why The Comfort Crew for Military Kids (CCMK) provides resources to help.

The Barry Robinson Center (BRC) began partnering with CCMK in 2017 by sponsoring and assembling deployment kits for military families. Now, the partnership extends to include BRC’s Activities Director Allyson Hagan, MS, CTRS, who recently joined the Hampton Roads Military Advisory Committee for The Comfort Crew for Military Kids.

Hagan is a self-described “Navy Brat” whose father served for 20 years. Today, she’s a Navy spouse who brings a very personal level of understanding and deployment experience to this new role. Hagan also works closely with all BRC residents, who come from military-connected families, where she hears directly from them about their parents’ deployments.

“I’m very excited. This is a really cool opportunity to be invited to join the committee,” Hagan said. “I hope we will continue our tradition of doing the CCMK project here on campus again soon.”

Last September, Hagan helped organize a project for all BRC residents to assemble CCMK deployment kits for military children. This was the second time BRC residents assembled kits.

More than two million children have a parent serving in the military. The Hampton Roads region of southeastern Virginia is home to one of the largest populations of active duty and retired military personnel in the nation.

“CCMK creates a world where kids feel supported while managing the challenges of today’s military life including multiple deployments, reintegration, moving, visible and invisible injuries and grief,” wrote CCMK Co-Founder and Executive Director Ronda Englander, in her invitation letter to Hagan.

Englander highlighted an April 2019 spring service project and fundraiser with Second Lady Karen Pence that raised more than $50,000. This enabled CCMK to assemble more than 500 deployment kits. So far, they’ve distributed 300 of them to families in Hampton Roads.

As a member of the advisory committee, Hagan will help with several activities, including:

• Serving as an ambassador for CCMK
• Supporting programs and advising on best practice standards
• Assisting with event marketing and promotion
• Identifying and assisting with opportunities for kits to be distributed to families in need