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They are young with only a few months experience as a Marine and most often away from home for the first time. They sign up for AFAF’s Adopt a Marine for Thanksgiving as a way to fill the void of being away from family on this most American of holidays.
Each Thanksgiving, AFAF partners with Coachella Valley country clubs to bring hundreds of Marines into local homes for a memorable holiday of connection and gratitude. Host families welcome Marines stationed at Twentynine Palms and share a day filled with community, celebration, and appreciation for their service. If you’re interested in hosting Marines during this meaningful tradition in 2026, please email us info@afafusa.com.
AFAF also hosts a special dinner for about 500 Marines stationed at Twentynine Palms on the weekend before Thanksgiving. This celebration of gratitude and camaraderie is meaningful to Marines away from their families during the holidays.
AFAF partnered with eight Coachella Valley country clubs to host about 325 Marines on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2025. The Marines, who were away from their families while completing a four-month training at the Marine Corps Communications Electronics School, were transported from the Twentynine Palms Marine Base on chartered luxury coaches. The buses arrived at the following participating country clubs: Hideaway, Indian Palms, Indian Wells, Rancho La Quinta, The Lakes, The Reserve, Toscana, and Palm Valley.
Organizers at each club arranged for grateful civilians and veterans to welcome the visiting Maines. Flags, signs and banners were displayed, and some clubs had patriotic music playing as service members arrived. Volunteer families hosted two or more Marines, and each club arranged its own activities, including golf, pickleball, and swimming, to make the day memorable for the Marines. Of course, each Marine was treated to a family-style Thanksgiving dinner, and in many cases, they went back to the base with leftovers.
Partnering with host families from seven country clubs, AFAF welcomed 275 Marines into Coachella Valley homes for Thanksgiving while training at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms. Host families greeted two or more Marines, and each club offered activities to make the day memorable.
AFAF also ensured that another 500 Marines who stayed on base enjoyed a full Thanksgiving meal and festive programming. Football viewing and festive door-prize-style drawings were some of the activities organized and sponsored by AFAF at the base.
Now in its 16th year, AFAF coordinated families to host Marines stationed at the Twentynine Palms Air Ground Combat Center for Thanksgiving.
“We are grateful to the men and women serving our country, so it is especially fitting that we can express that gratitude by hosting nearby Marines on Thanksgiving Day,” said Walt Van Benthuysen, president and co-founder of AFAF.
