Gov. announces expansion of program for military families
by The Associated Press

ST. PAUL -- An effort to help Minnesota military families during deployment is expanding.

The Military Family Care Initiative was launched in 2003 by First Lady Mary Pawlenty.

It's a website that connects families with hundreds of community-based organizations willing to provide volunteer or discount services to military families.

That website is now being expanded to list businesses that want to be part of the program. They'll have to register on the site, which is run by the National Guard's Beyond the Yellow Ribbon staff.

Governor Pawlenty will be in St. Cloud today (Wednesday) at 3;15 p.m. at the National Guard Helicopter Base to talk more about this program.