This weekend, Charmaine Lloyd-Skinner’s three kids participated in what is becoming a tradition for this military family: Santa’s breakfast at the Southeast YMCA.

The event, held exclusively for children of military parents, is one of several bright spots the Y has offered Lloyd-Skinner and her children in the last two years. Lloyd-Skinner’s husband, a soldier at Fort Carson, left in October for his second tour in Iraq since the family moved to the Pikes Peak region in 2007.

He will be gone 14 months, during which his wife will use every opportunity presented by the Y for support and distraction.

“They do a lot of functions for military families, which is great and it is free usually for the military. A lot of times you don’t even have to be a member at the Y, military can still go to the functions,” Lloyd-Skinner said.

Indeed, programs and services are open to all military members and their families. The Southest Y, also called the Armed Services YMCA, is one of 15 area charities receiving grants from The Gazette-El Pomar Empty Stocking Fund.

Lloyd-Skinner joined the Y with a free year-long membership offered to families with a deployed parent. She renewed after that expired because of the reprieve it offers her family, especially in her husband’s absence.

Before she began working, Lloyd-Skinner took advantage of the Y’s free childcare so she could work out and have a break, something she says Fort Carson’s recreational facilities don’t offer.

“It is one thing I can use to get the kids out of the house. We can all go and we can all have fun,” Lloyd-Skinner said.

Last month, she brought her 9-, 7- and 5-year-olds to the Southeast Y’s annual Military Appreciation dinner, a catered event with games. Lloyd-Skinner also plans to take the Y up onits free childcare offer so spouses of deployed soldiers can get holiday shopping done

“I didn’t know about it last year and I actually had to take my kids with me to do Christmas shopping,” she said.

Barbara Swaby oversees a reading clinic recently at Fremont Elementary School. Photo by KEVIN KRECK/The Gazette