Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsea Thomas.
Hi Chelsea, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In August 2024, I found myself once again faced with the never-ending logistical nightmare of traveling to see my military husband. We had been living apart since March 2022, I reside in Florida, and he is stationed in Mississippi. The distance had always been a challenge, but that month, flight prices surged by an extra $100 per ticket, making an already expensive situation even worse.
Frustrated and annoyed, I had to make the tough decision to drive the 10+ hours each way instead. While this saved money on flights, it added wear and tear to my car. Before the trip, I had to replace a tire and get an oil change which was yet another unexpected expense. It felt like there was no easy or affordable way to travel back and forth without sacrificing either my time, my budget or my vehicle.
The reality is that long-distance military relationships are incredibly tough. The constant travel, the financial burden and the emotional strain are overwhelming. So many people are geo-baching and don’t know that there are many others out there who are in the same situation. Hundreds of miles apart from your spouse, often left managing a full household alone, trying to figure out the best way forward. This is how Family in Flight was born.
It was during one of those 10 hour drives where I came up with the idea of Family in Flight. In the military there is a lot of support, sometimes you have to go digging but if your spouse is deployed or on a TDY or you are PCSing, there is a group out there that can help. Except for when it comes to geo-baching. There was nothing and I felt very alone. So in August of 2024, I came up with the idea to help provide support and travel grants for those currently geo-baching. And since then, we have taken off and haven’t slowed down since! We have had people submit for grant applications, attend month support groups and reach out for help. We have held a virtual 5K so that you could run “together” with your spouse no matter the distance. Family in Flight is here to help fill the gaps when you need it the most.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Like many small or new nonprofits, we’ve faced our share of challenges, from building awareness about who we are and what we do, to finding consistent donors and funding opportunities. Getting our name out there has been a real struggle, especially since we’re competing with so many other worthy causes for people’s time and resources. There have been moments when we felt like we were shouting into the void, trying to prove our impact and mission. But despite the challenges, we’ve learned a lot, found incredible supporters, and remain deeply committed to helping military families. Every step forward no matter how small, it reminds us why we started this in the first place.
As you know, we’re big fans of Family In Flight. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
How We Help Military Loved Ones
Travel Assistance:
We offer grants to military significant others and families who wish to reunite with their military members away from home. These grants can be used to cover various travel expenses, including but not limited to:
– Flights
– Gas and mileage for car travel
– Train tickets
– Bus fares
– And more
Our goal is to ease the financial burden that often prevents families from being together during critical times. We know that travel costs can add up quickly, and we want to remove that barrier so families can focus on what matters most—being together.
Compassion:
We understand that every situation is unique. Whether the separation is due to deployment, relocation, training, medical needs, or other circumstances, we’re here to help. We take the time to listen to each applicant’s story, ensuring that no family or relationship is left without the chance to reunite. We treat every request with empathy and care because we know that behind every grant is a real person with real challenges.
A Sense of Community:
We strive to be more than just a grant provider. We aim to build a lasting community of support for military families. Through collaborations with other military-focused organizations, we provide a network of encouragement, resources, and shared experiences. We believe that no one should navigate the challenges of military life alone, and we work hard to foster connections that strengthen resilience and bring comfort.
Relief During Difficult Times:
By providing financial assistance and emotional support, we aim to ease the burdens military significant others and families often carry alone. Our mission is to bring loved ones back together when it matters most—whether it’s for a homecoming, a medical emergency, or simply to spend time together during a deployment. We want every military family to feel seen, supported, and valued.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I listen to books all the time! But for military life specific, there are so many other organizations out there that have helped me on my spouse journey. Wives of the Armed Forces is a great resources for spouse and learning to ropes. Homefront Heros is a wonderful faith based organization that provides support and is world wide. Deployed Love is another organization that helps those specifically with spouses deployed and have chapters on several different bases. These are all smaller groups that have made a big impact on my journey. Lastly would be Blue Star Families which is also nationwide and has many chapters located all over the country. They have a great site with so many resources and support for not just spouses but families too.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.familyinflight.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/family_in_flight
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/familyinflight
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/family-in-flight/
Image Credits
Professional photo was done by NTP2 Photography.
