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Note: This list will be updated daily for the duration of COVID-19.
The Coronavirus has definitely affected the traditional society norms we are used too. Many of us are home from work, forced to stay indoors, and have no outside activities to keep us occupied.
Luckily many companies are stepping up to the plate to offer Americans freebies, deals, and access to online activities to keep people from being bored and mentally upbeat.
While not all these deals are specific to military, they can definitely be useful and maybe you can help a civilian friend by sharing them as well.
Books
MWR Digital Library For Military And Dependents
The Morale Welfare & Recreation Library offers free access to military personnel and dependents. Their collection is filled with tons of entertainment from movie collections, books, audio books, ancestry records and more. The best part it’s free to you here.
Complimentary Subscriptions For Military From Blue Star Families
Here are four membership-based subscriptions that you can use from home. All of which are complimentary to you as a valued Blue Star Families member:
- Caribu ($59.99 Value) – Scheduling Caribu video calls with loved ones to read, color, or play games together can help ease the isolation blues. Stay connected to friends and family by registering here.
- Thrive Market ($59.95 Value) – Using Thrive Market to fuel your family can help you access healthy and affordable food without leaving the house. Secure your membership here.
- Headspace ($95.88 Value) – Meditating with Headspace can help with anxiety, stress, focus, and sleep during uncertain times. Subscribe and get started here.
- Tinkergarten (Keeping your kids entertained? Priceless!) – Incorporating DIY activities into your daily routine can help your littles (and you!) stay focused and lower anxiety. Subscribe to receive weekly activities in your inbox here.
Military Financial Assistance
Penfed Military Assistance
if you’ve been displaced by the Coronavirus then you may qualify for financial relief from the Penfed Military Heroes fund. Active Duty military NG, Reserves, and Veterans are eligible.
The grant amount will support 1 month of payment up to $1500 in the following areas:
- Rent
- Mortgage
- Auto Loan/Lease
- Utilities (Electric, Water, Heat)
All checks will be sent directly to the creditor or landlord after the grant is approved. The Foundation can only support one emergency financial request per household.
First Command Financial Relief
To mitigate the impact of these challenges, relief programs being offered to clients by First Command include:
Loan assistance, with 6-12 month single-pay loans available to clients who qualify at a reduced rate. No monthly payments are required, and the principal and interest are due in a single payment at the end of the term.
Payment relief assistance for eligible credit card and consumer loan clients, with First Command Bank offering deferments of monthly payments.
Penalty-free early CD withdrawals, with First Command Bank waiving any bank-generated penalties for early withdrawal.
Secured lines of credit, allowing eligible clients to use their non-tax qualified mutual or managed fund as collateral for a reduced interest rate up to 12 months. Only interest payments are required monthly, with flexibility to pay down the principal balance at any time.
Special handling of credit card accounts, with First Command Bank’s Visa cardholders offered priority processing of application requests to increase credit limits and waive cash advance fees.
Military STAR Card
MILITARY STAR cardholders affected by the COVID-19 situation and need assistance with their MILITARY STAR account are encouraged to email MilitaryStar@aafes.com. Read more on how MILITARY STAR is supporting military shoppers: https://wp.me/p9Q7PG-1iJ.
TV and Entertainment
Netflix Party
Social Distancing doesn’t mean you can’t still hang out. You just have to do it different and Netflix is making that possible with their new Chrome Extension called “Netflix Party“. This Chrome browser extension allows you to host a movie night with a group of your friends together via your computers, chat in a private room and sync or rewind so that everyone can watch and follow along at the same time.
Frozen II and Star Wars: Rise of The Skywalker
You won’t have to buy Frozen II or Star Wars: Rise of The Skywalker on Blue-ray or DVD if you already have a Disney+ subscription. Disney recently announced they will release both movies early. Frozen II is already streaming on the platform and the most recent of the Star Wars saga should be available shortly.
Universal Pictures Releases Theater Movies On Demand At Home
Universal Pictures is doing something incredible. They will release movies to home screen on the same day as they were scheduled to be released in theater.
The first movie to be released will be Dreamworks pictures “Trolls World Tour” scheduled for April 10th. As early as this Friday you will be able to watch movies already in theater including thrillers ” The Invisible Man”, The Hunt” and the period comedy -drama “Emma”. Movies will be released on several streaming platforms and cost $19.99 for a 48 rental period which is a steal considering the cost of movie tickets these days. Learn more here.
A Night At The Metropolitan Opera (from Home)
Through March 22nd, the NYC Metropolitan Opera will offer a live encore performance that will be available for 20 hours after it’s streamed. Performances begin at 7:30pm every night. You can watch on Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV.
Food
Free Chipotle Delivery
Tired of scrapping together meals, but can’t go out. If Chipotle delivers in your area you can receive free delivery now through March 31st. You will need to order online or through the app to receive this deal with a $10 minimum order. Details here.
Uber Eats Free Delivery
Save on delivery fees and get food from your favorite restaurants when you order from an independent restaurant through their app. Try using the code eats-krystels29ue to receive $7 off your order.
Door Dash
Is also offering free delivery where available.
Free Kids Meals With Any Purchase From Burger King
Starting March 20th you can receive (2) free kids meals with any purchase made through the Burger King app everyday until April 6th.
HomeChef
is giving $100 off your first order. This is a great way to avoid the grocery stores and get some fresh ingredients in your systems. Also, get a $35 credit here.
Red Lobster
In areas where Red Lobster delivers customers can receive free delivery with a $30 minimum order placed through the website.
Domino’s Pizza 50% Off
Through March 22nd, Dominos Pizza is offering 50% off all pizzas at menu price.
Fitness
Free 90 Day Peloton Subscription
Just because you don’t have a Peloton bike doesn’t mean you can’t be part of the Peloton family. Peloton is currently offering free 90 day subscriptions to it’s live stream workout classes. Users can choose from classes like meditation, yoga, strength training, treadmill running and more. Sign up free here.
Planet Fitness
Planet Fitness is joining in on the freebies by live streaming a free workout class everyday at 7pm on their Facebook page.
Education & Learning From Home
Scholastic News
Is offering free courses for kids at home of all ages. They are releasing up to 3 hours worth of FREE content daily for grades Prek-6+ on their ‘Learn from Home” website.
EdHelper.com
Is offering free math and reading worksheets for elementary students.
Free lessons from ABCMouse.com
ABCMouse.com is offering free lessons in a variety of subjects like math, science and reading. Simply go to ABCmouse.com/redeem and type in the code “AOFLUNICEF“.
Google Virtual Museum Tours
Take your kids on a virtual museum tour thanks to Google. The search engine giant is offering virtual tours of over 1,200 museums worldwide here.
Khan Academy
Is creating daily schedules for students ages 4-18 to keep them learning. here.
Free Live Online Classes From Out School
Outschool is offering $100 worth of free classes for families affected by school shutdowns at public schools. The company offers over 10,000+ live, online classes for students from ages 3 to 18, via video chat, with teachers that are background-checked and curriculum that is carefully vetted.
U-Haul
has announced 30 days of free self-storage to all college students who have been impacted by schedule changes at their universities.
Internet & Phone
Comcast Internet For Low Income Households
Low income households can possibly qualify for (2) months of free internet by applying here.
Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile have signed on to the FCC’s “Keep Americans Connected Pledge.”
These companies will help customers in three ways for at least the next 60 days:
1) Not cut off service to residential or small business customers who can’t pay their bills due to coronavirus disruptions.
2) Waive late fees incurred due to outbreak conditions.
3) Open Wi-Fi hotspots to “any American who needs them.
