2025 Holiday Adopt -A-Soldier

The 2025 Holiday Adopt-A-Soldier campaign wrapped up with 106 placements and over 200 willing hosts.  This was an outpouring of gratitude and appreciation for our military and an indicator of CaRMA’s reach.  Special thanks to Channels 6 and 12 for publicizing the program and to CSM Nikea Harris and her Garrison team for coordinating the heartfelt effort.

Testimonials from our hosts:

"I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. It has been an honor to adopt and host the Airman. We have loved meeting them and having them. I will send you some pictures and videos from yesterday shortly." - Kristyn Browand

"Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to host soldiers (2) at our home for Christmas. The young ladies were delightful and we thoroughly enjoyed our time with them. My family wishes you and your command continued success in all endeavors. Seasons greetings and best wishes for 2026!" - Dr. Sharon Cheatham

“All of them were very polite and respectful in their interactions with my family. My sons and wife enjoyed asking them questions about their experiences in their military training and about their lives on the base. We look forward to hosting more military personnel as a part of the Future Heroes program” - Richmond Police Chief Bowen

"I hosted 2 AF gents at my home today, 1/1/26 & invited a few other retiree friends and everyone had a great time fellowshipping, eating and played a few holiday games and started a fire pit (bonfire) outdoors.Personally, I think I enjoyed being a host and following with the military community as I am also a female veteran and recently relocated from Ft Campbell, Ky to Virginia. It was an awesome experience. I might add that it takes good leadership to organize the event and the AF gents were very helpful.

So, thanks again for this opportunity. " - Carol Cherich

Hello, we really enjoyed our day with our soldiers. They very much enjoyed a shopping trip, and then we went to the Chrysler Museum of Art. We also stopped in the glass blowing workshop, and they were happy to see that. I don't think they had seen that before. After, they said they wanted to see Christmas lights, so we went to the USS Wisconsin, but they said it was too cold, so we did a drive through show at Newport News Park. They very much enjoyed that! Thank you for the chance to do this. I hope the tradition continues. They were all appreciative, and said they had a good time, and said "I hope I get adopted tomorrow too!" - Amanda and Rick Sanford