Operation Help a Hero
Serving Those Who Bravely Serve Our Country at Home and Abroad
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OUR NEXT PROJECTS:
OPERATION RACK PACK FOR 200+ Marines and Sailors with MWSS 372, Camp Pendleton, Ca Friday, March 15th This is a field trip service project with St. John's School (RSM), but if you'd like to help our crew, please email Wendy at wruiz@operationhelpahero.org OHH Camp JOY for 1/4, 1/1, SPMAGTF CR CC and SPMAGTF 19.1 Children, Camp Pendleton, Ca Saturday, April 6th WE NEED VOLUNTEERS FOR THIS PROJECT!!! Volunteer hours: 9am-3:30pm OPERATION RACK PACK FOR 75+ Soldiers with 984th MP Company, Fort Carson, Co Monday, April 4th Volunteer hours: 5-7:30 (Volunteers will be provided pizza party with unit families) OPERATION RACK PACK FOR 675+ Marines and Sailors with 1/4 , Camp Pendleton, Ca Sunday, May 5th Volunteer hours: noon-4pm OHH Baby Shower for FOR New and Expecting Mommies with 1/1, 15th MEU and 3/5, Camp Pendleton, Ca Date to be determined end of May or June OHH Baby Shower for FOR New and Expecting Mommies, Quantico and Fort Belvoir, Va Date to be determined end of May or June For the safety of those we serve and out of respect for their families, we never plan projects on or post return dates. We never post locations or details. Only registered, base cleared volunteers receive additional information about our events. All events are subject to change based on unit needs. |
What's Happening on the OHH Front?
THANK YOU to ALL who contributed in time and gifts to our 2018 Operation Christmas Spirit Program. Together, we:
- Gave a full Christmas morning, to include gift cards to 347 families and helped an additional 4 families in the days that followed Christmas for a total of 351 families touched.
- Spread the Spirit of Christmas to families in 28 states, at 37 different bases, in 81 different units
- Served active duty families in the Army, Army National Guard, Air Force, Air National Guard, Marines, Navy, and Special Operations Forces (no Coast Guard families only because none applied for help!)
- Served families of all shapes from families of 2 (single parents) to a family of 13 with 11 children.
- Provided Christmas support and financial assistance to 42 families impacted or who continue to be displaced by Hurricane Florence.
- We provided over 2,500 toys to 7 different units for 5 Christmas parties (CO, CA and FL), and to distribute to the the children of deployed service members. In addition, we were able to collect hundreds of toys for our next Camp JOY for children with deployed parents.
- Over 2,000 single service members were surprised with Christmas gifts and gift cards in DC, VA, CO, FL, TX, NY, CA, and NC between December 20th-Christmas day by our volunteers or their leaders who enjoyed getting to do something for their men and women.
- We gave Christmas TLC to many families dealing with loss, separation, cancer, sick children, ailing parents, the aftermath of accidents, financial crisis, and circumstances we hold close. This TLC came in the form of airline tickets, financial help, gifts, gift cards, and much, much more.
- 10 families were given trips to Disneyland, 7 families were given trips to Legoland, 13 families were given season passes to their local zoos, and many donations were given to families as gifts to celebrate being together after deployment (movie tickets, local children's museums, family portraits, amusement park tickets, hotel stays, etc.)
- Several families with special needs kiddos were given assistive technology to help with their quality of life. One family was given a year's worth of therapies for their children.
- MANY (100+) small families expecting or in the throes of raising infants were extended offers of help and help with much needed baby items that can add up
- 27 Single parents were given a helping hand beyond gifts for their kiddos
- Gifts were mailed, dropped off, wired, donated online, emailed (gift cards) and even hand made for families by donors in 30 states.
- ALL families and single service members were given more than gifts and gift cards--- they were given the gift of knowing that folks all over the country care!
2019 COMING EVENTS
Operation Rack Pack for MWSS 372 and CLD 37, Camp Pendleton, Ca
Friday, March 15th. This will be a field trip and service project for St. John's Episcopal School.
OHH Camp JOY for children of deployed units, Camp Pendleton
Saturday, April 6th
Operation Rack Pack and Barracks Decorating Project for 984th MP Company, Fort Carson, Co
April 8th, 5:00-7:30
Operation Rack Pack for 1/4, Camp Pendleton, Ca
Sunday, May 5th noon-4pm
OHH Baby Shower for 1/1, SPMAGTF/CLD & 15th MEU, Camp Pendleton, Ca
Date to be determined, end of May, beginning of June
OHH Baby Shower for Fort Belvoir and Quantico, Va
Date to be determined, likely end of May or June
OHH Camp JOY for children of deployed units to include SPMAGTF and 3/5, Camp Pendleton
Saturday, August 24th
OHH Baby Shower for SPMAGTF and 3/5, Camp Pendleton
Date to be determined, September or October
Operation Christmas Spirit -- Nation wide effort
Kicks off November 15th - "Adoption" sign ups close on December 5th
Operation Rack Pack for 675+ Marines and Sailors with 3/5, Camp Pendleton
Date to be determined, end of November or early December
** Please note, out of respect for the families we serve and to protect the safety of those we serve and our volunteers, we never plan projects on or post return dates. We never post locations for events online, and only registered, base cleared volunteers receive details.
OUR RECENT PROJECTS:
OHH Camp JOY for 150+ of 2/5, 2/4, SPMAGTF 18.2, and CLD 37's Children
August 2018, Camp Pendleton
OHH Baby Shower for 37 -- 2/5, 2/4, SPMAGTF 18.2, and CLD-37 New and Expecting Mommies
July 2018, Camp Pendleton
SPMAGTF Family Appreciation Day -- volunteers, prizes and water play
July 2018, Quantico
Operation Rack Pack for 4 small units, totaling over 1,000 service members served. March-April 2018, Camp Pendleton and Camp Lejeune
OHH Baby Shower for 26 New and Expecting Mommies. March 2018, Camp Pendleton
OHH Baby Shower for 17 New and Expecting Mommies, February 2018, Quantico
Operation Rack Pack for roughly 1,200 single Service members. January 2018, Camp Pendleton
Operation Christmas Spirit 2017 served 328 families, 1,400+ single service members and
over 1,000 children at 7 different units Christmas parties. December 2017, Camp Lejeune, Fort Hood, Fort Sam Houston, Fort Drum, Quantico, Camp Pendleton, MCAS Yuma, Mirimar, 29 Palms, Washington, DC. and families all over the United States
OHH Baby Shower for 29 New and Expecting Mommies. October 2017, Camp Pendleton
Operation Rack Pack Barracks Project for 685+ single service members. November 2017, Camp Pendleton
ALWAYS ONGOING--CRISIS ASSISTANCE THROUGH OUR OPERATION ENDURING SUPPORT PROGRAM.
** Please note that for the safety of those we serve and our volunteers, OHH does not plan projects on or publish return dates. Nor do we post locations online. Only registered and base cleared volunteers receive directions.
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Donations needed:
ITEMS for New and Expecting Mommies: Help us collect these much-needed items for our July baby shower AND help us replenish our emergency stock:
ITEMS for our SINGLE heroes! We will be welcoming home over 8,000 single service members in 2018 and could use your help with our most needed items:
We could ALWAYS use welcome home posters and cards! Let's make their first hours home FEEL WELCOMING and filled with APPRECIATION! Donate online or mail packages to: Operation Help a Hero 1 Brisa Fresca Rancho Santa Margarita, Ca 92688 0 |
Upcoming Events:
Register for events through this website, and check out our Facebook page where we also post last minute behind-the-scenes volunteer opportunities.
**Please note: for the safety of those we serve and out of respect for their families, we never plan projects on or post return dates or locations online or on social media. Please join us in spreading the word about these projects while keeping Operational Security in mind. Volunteer: Click here to volunteer.
Please make sure to RSVP for these events with your driver's license, date of birth and contact information no later than a week prior to the event to enable us to get clearance for all volunteers. |
We are an ALL VOLUNTEER non-profit organization dedicated to our military heroes and those they love. Here are just some of the ways we help...
We welcome home young, single service members. Operation Rack Pack: Join us as we spend the day preparing a hero's welcome home for young, single service members returning from deployment to barracks. Volunteers spend the day light cleaning, making beds, and staging welcome home gifts & messages. We celebrate little heroes dealing with deployment and give respite to their parents on the home front. OHH Camp JOY: Celebrate our littlest heroes and give mom/dad on the homefront a well-deserved 5 hour break.. Volunteers spend a fun-filled day helping children through fun activity rotations. We shower new and expecting mommies with spouses deployed with appreciation. OHH Baby Shower: Help us pamper and love on new and expecting mommies who are shouldering the burden of having a spouse deployed. Volunteers help provide a day of fun & networking opportunities for new moms. We spread the joy and Spirit of Christmas to military families, single service members, children and unit events. Operation Christmas Spirit: Spread the Spirit of Christmas through this program, whether it's through service, sponsoring families, creating care package for singles, collecting toys for children or volunteering for unit parties. We assist families in crisis. Operation Enduring Support: Care for families in emergency situations with your donations, time and talents. Through this program we privately help families in crisis-- those dealing with death, illness, natural disasters, and emergency situations. We provide food, gently used furniture, childcare, baby necessities, household goods, gift cards and in some cases financial help. |
In their words...
"Of all the organizations I work with, you "get it right." You're compassionate, ORGANIZED, purposeful, and you ask for nothing in return." ~Regimental Family Readiness Officer
"I can't be there when my son gets back and I'm so thankful there are people like you that care for our sons and daughters when we can't. Does this mom's heart good." ~Parent of a recently returned Marine who benefited from Operation Rack Pack
"My kids had a blast! I studied, cleaned and went grocery shopping, but it was so nice to do it in peace. My husband saw the pictures online. He can't believe how quickly they are growing. Thank you to all of you! You are angels!" ~Mom of 3 kids who attended OHH Camp JOY
"I don't like baby showers. Or at least I didn't until today. I laughed and smiled the whole time. I didn't realize how much I needed that until it started. Thank you for the generous gifts and making the day so special for all of us." ~Expecting mommy who attended an OHH Baby Shower
"It makes you feel like the community really does care and understand!" ~young Marine quoted in the OC Register referring to Operation Rack Pack efforts
"We love you and your Warrior's Ethos, we should all strive to be like you, there is no such thing as NO I can't, NO I won't.........you and your amazing crew always unselfishly put others in front of yourselves =) For that we love you!!!!!!" ~A Camp Pendleton Family Readiness Officer
"We had a Christmas under the tree this morning because of OHH. What can we do to thank you? Can we volunteer? If I had though of it, I should have taken a picture of the kids when they were surprised. We are forever thankful and we want to pay it forward. Bless you." ~family recipient of Operation Christmas Spirit efforts.