Washington National Guard Supports During Shutdown 

According to a National Guard story, the National Guard Association of Washington recently hosted a food drive for the local military community. The group has traditionally held food drives twice a year, once for Thanksgiving and once for Christmas in collaboration with local non-profits, but for this event they organized everything independently and got spectacular responses from the community. 

“It is so representative of the heart of our organization to see how quickly our community mobilized through donations, volunteering, or even just calling to ask, ‘what can I do?’” Col. Angela Gentry with Joint Services Support said. 

Veteran-Run Barber Shop Gives Back to Community 

Veteran James Robert Beaubien’s barber shop in Lansing, Michigan has been bringing veterans together since it opened in 2024. Beaubien served four years in the Marine Corps, but after returning home in 2014 he spent years building a new community to be a part of. He attended barber school and connected with other veterans who encouraged him to open his own place. Spartan’s Edge Barbershop now serves their community and provides discounts to first responders and veterans, East Lansing Info reported. 

Washington National Guard photo by Joseph Siemandel