Operation Help A Hero
Providing for those who serve at home and abroad
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Operation Help A Hero
 Operation Help A Hero is an IRS approved 501 (c) (3) public charity dedicated to the well-being and care of our American military members. Our programs support military units and families as they prepare for separation, while they endure the challenges of deployment, and as they transition back to the US. Ou projects uplift our military heroes and send a clear message of support to their entire family. Operation Help A Hero connects communities with service members and provides real opportunities to make a difference in the lives of those who serve our country. We are an all volunteer organization. All board members and directors volunteer their time to focus all donations on our projects and the military heroes they serve.  Every cent contributed to Operation Help A Hero is used to serve our military community, and every project is based on real needs



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       Click here for a one-page overview of Operation Help a Hero's work for military heroes.
       What does OHH do for military families? Click here for an overview.
 
All donations made for our projects are directly made to Operation Help a Hero in support of the units we commit to serving. No military units directly solicit for donations for our projects.
 
TO SIGN UP FOR OUR E-NEWSLETTER WITH VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, PLEASE FILL OUT THE FORM AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE. A CONFIRMATION EMAIL WILL BE SENT TO YOU BEFORE YOU WILL RECEIVE OUR OHH UPDATES.

 

 


   
 
 
                                     

Operation Rack Pack Barracks Project
 
 
We are currently preparing for our FALL barracks season. Here are our barracks projects for this fall:
1. Operation Rack Pack for 600 Marines/Sailors from 1/1, returning from serving on the 13th MEU. Project date: Sunday, September 25 from 9am-1pm. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

2. Operation Rack Pack for 650 Marines/Sailors from 1/5, returning from Afghanistan. Project date: Saturday, October 8 from 9am-1pm. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

3. Operation Rack Pack for 400 7th ESB Marines/Sailors returning from Afghanistan. Project date: November 13th and again on December 2nd
 
Please email Cindy Farnum at cfarnum@operationhelpahero.com to sign up to volunteer or involve your school, business or group.  
 
Want to help us prepare for upcoming barracks projects? We could use your help!
 
  • Sign up to volunteer for one of our grocery store drives this summer on  OR initiate a drive of your own.
  • Host a door-to-door drive in your neighborhood. Click here for a sample door-to-door flyer you can use to reach out to your neighbors in support of this project.
  • Help us collect a specific item on our wish list... have a poster making party, host a new and gently used DVD drive, a pillows for patriots drive, etc.
  • Host a BBQ or party this summer and ask each guest to bring an item from our wish list.
  • Start a letter writing campaign... of thanks. Try to get everyone you know to write a welcome home and thank you letter for us to include in our gift bags.
  • Start collecting gently used men's magazines (no older than 3 months please). Sports Illustrated and Men's Health are favorites.
  • Host a yard sale and donate proceeds to OHH to purchase needed items.
THANK YOU to the following schools who are hosted drives for ORP this school year: Ladera Ranch Elementary School, Oso Grande Elementary School, St. Margarets, Saddleback Valley Christian, Aliso Viejo Christian, Laguna Hills High School, Las Flores Middle, Robinson Elementary and St. Johns Episcopal School.
 
 Please note, for the safety of the Marines/Sailors in these units, we do NOT coordinate our projects on return dates or share them with the public. We consider actual return dates to be something that should remain private within the families of these units.
 
 
click here to see a list of companies, groups, schools and individuals who generously donated their time and resources to our 3/4 project. THANK YOU!
 
Operation Help a Hero hosted drives for FOUR different units that from deployment  this spring/early summer serving over 2,000  Marines and Sailors.
 
1.  April 10th: ORP for 650 Marines/Sailors from  Darkhorse 3/5 
2. May 4th: ORP for 600 Marines and Sailors of 2/1, who returned from Afghanistan
3. May 20th: ORP for 200 men and women of HMLA 169, who returned from Afghanistan
4. May 29th and June 3rd: ORP for 675 men from BLT 2/5, who returned from the 31st MEU/Japan disaster relief

 
 
 
 
 

Operation Christmas Spirit 2011


NOW UNDERWAY
November 14th-December 7th

This year, OHH will "adopt" 83 military families and make their Christmas wish lists a reality.
 
The families who benefit from our annual OCS drives are identified by leadership in chosen, deploying units as those who could use Christmas assistance OR  the command feels they deserve a special thanks. 

Operation Christmas Spirit 2011 will support families from the following units: 1/5, 2/5, 3/5, 2/4, 1st CEB, 1st LAR, 5th Marines HQ Co, 2/1, 3/1, and 1st Recon.

Visit our Operation Christmas Spirit Page for more detailed information and a LIST OF INDIVIDUAL ANGEL TREE WISHES (this will be updated nightly).

Here is a basic timeline for our 2011 Operation Christmas Spirit Drive:
  • Mid-October: OCS Committee met to go over requests and select unit recipients
  • End of October: wish lists distributed to chosen units (deploying units only)
  • November 1st: Wish lists due
  • November 7-30th families assigned to donors/ angel trees
  • December 6th: Gift wrapping and early bird adoption "drops"
  • December 7th: Gift distributions and Christmas parties
  • December 13th: Arroyo Vista Holiday Care Packs
10 Ways YOU can support a  military family this holiday season:
1. "Adopt" a family with your group, school or business. Email "adoption" coordinator, Kristen Lanham at kristenlanham@me.com
2. Purchase a wish list item from our Angel Tree. 
3. Donate gift cards for families to purchase their own Christmas gifts and needed items. 
4. Donate toys for children ages 1-12.
5. Make and donate handmade holiday goodies -- blankets, crafts, ornaments, cookies, etc. for us to add into our Christmas baskets.
6. Assemble and create holiday craft kits for families to assemble together. 
7. Donate online (link at top of page) with a note for OCS, and we'll do shopping for you.
8. Donate gifts families can use together -- games, movie tickets, amusement park tickets, photo sessions, etc.
9. Donate your services and talents -- hair stylists, photographers, self defense lessons, etc.
10. Donate a holiday meal -- box up and decorate goods for a family to cook up a holiday meal of their own or donate grocery gift cards.
 

OHH would like to thank St. John's School and the City of Rancho Santa Margarita for graciously hosting gift delivery and pick-up sites. A very special thank you to Guazzos Catering and Tutto Fresco who provided breakfast and lunch to our special recipients.

 

 



 

OHH Baby! 
(Operation Help A Hero) Baby Showers
 
Help Us Pamper and Unite 2/4's New and Expecting Mommies During Their Afghanistan Deployment 
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! 

 We are hosting a  shower benefitting up to 25 mommies from 2/4 on November 6th.

Can't help with 2/4's Shower, help us out with our baby shower for 2/5 in April. 
 
Click here to see our baby basket and shower wish list. 
 
This is especially helpful for office, church and school drives. 
 
Click here to go to our OHH Baby Shower Page
 
Want to "adopt" your own mommy? Contact OHH's Baby Shower co- Coordinator,  Laura Hopper at ttalhopstop@aol.com
 
To volunteer your time or talents for our OHH Baby showers, contact OHH Baby's shower co-Coordinator, Cindy Farnum at cfarnum@operationhelpahero.com
 
 
Items we could ALWAYS use for our
 OHH baby showers:
  •  Diapers and wipes (sizes newborn through size 4)
  • Baby blankets                                                      
  • Baby books and parenting books                              
  • Larger items that can often be a huge financial burden on our military families like: car seats, strollers, cribs, bouncers, swings, high chairs and pac n'plays
  • Gift cards to Babies R'US, Target and Walmart which will enable mommies to purchase needed registry items     
  • Baby bjorn carriers and floor mobile gyms
  • Formula and bottling supplies           
  • Baby toys and teddy bears
  • Diaper bags
  • White onesies
Here are just some of the mommies/units we have helped through our OHH Baby Showers this year:
1. A shower benefitting 31 mommies from 3/5 on January 23rd. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
2. A shower benefitting 27 mommies from 2/5 on March 20th MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
3. A shower benefitting 37 mommies from 1/5 on June 26th MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
4. Shower for HMLA 168 -- 18 mommies
5. Baby Shower for 23 mommies from 7th ESB on September 13th -- MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Our Projects

 Operation Rack Pack (Barracks Project)
 Operation Christmas Spirit
Operation Mom's Day Off
OHH Baby Showers
 OHH School Clubs
 Unit Support Events 
 Operation Bedtime Stories(book recording project) 
 Operation Enduring Support for Families in Crisis ACTION ALERT!!!!! 9/30/2011
  
 
Current projects, recent accomplishments and how you can help:
 Upcoming Events:
Please note, due to the nature of our projects/assistance, some events have months locked on but no dates until closer to the project. Reminder: our barracks projects are NOT coordinated on return dates. Actual return dates are not given to us for Operational Security precautions.

NOVEMBER
  • OHH Baby Shower for 2/4's new and expecting mommies: November 6th, Camp Pendleton 12-3pm 
  • Rack Pack for 400 7th ESB Marines and Sailors, November 13th
  • Operation Christmas Spirit for 80+ Camp Pendleton Families. Project Launch November 14th. Operation
DECEMBER

  • Rack Pack (barracks project) for 7th ESB Part II, December 2nd
  • OHH Ho Ho Christmas Party and Operation Enduring Support (crisis assistance) Fundraiser, December 3rd
  • Operation Christmas Spirit for 83 Camp Pendleton families end date: December 7th
  • Arroyo Vista Christmas Care Packages, December 13th
JANUARY 2012
  • Operation Bedtime Stories for 2/5 Marines and Sailors: Tentatively set for January 5-6, 2012 before they deploy to Afghanistan. 

FEBRUARY 2012

  • Mom's Day Off Kiddie Camp for HMM 268 
  • Operation Bedtime Stories for CLB 5
MARCH 2012

  • Operation Rack Pack for 2/4
APRIL 2012
  • OHH Baby Shower for 2/5
MAY
  • Operation Rack Pack for 3/1
  • Mom's Day Off Kiddie Camp for CLB 5
JUNE 2012
  • Operation Rack Pack for HMM 268
JULY 2012
  • Fundraising month -- no projects planned
AUGUST 2012
  • Operation Rack Pack for 5th Marines HQ
SEPTEMBER 2012
  • Operation Rack Pack for 2/4
OCTOBER 2012
  • Operation Rack Pack for CLB 5
NOVEMBER 2012
  • Month still open for project in EARLY November
DECEMBER 2012
  • Operation Christmas Spirit
 
 Job Well Done and Thank You!
OHH would like to thank all the generous donors and volunteers who made the following projects successful since we officially went non-profit in 2009 (although we've been doing this since 2001!):
  • January 2009:Assistance with 15th MEU post deployment family day
  • February 2009: Build your own care package event for deployed 1st Marine units
  • April 2009 Baby shower for 3/5's pregnant mommies with daddies deployed
  • May 2009: Assistance with spring carnival on CP at Lake O'Neill
  • July 2009: Baby shower for 1/5's pregnant mommies with daddies deployed
  • November/December of 2009: Barracks project for 1/5 (600 single Marines newly returned from Afghanistan)
  • December 2009:Assistance with the City of Rancho Santa Margarita's shopping event and winter wonderland for family members of 2/5's deployed Marines
  • December 2009: Operation Christmas Spirit benefitting 40 Camp Pendleton families from 1/5, 2/5, 3/5, CLB 5 and the SOI.
  • January 2010: Donated banner party supplies for 2/5 families preparing for their Marines' returns
  • February 2010: Operation Bedtime Stories for CLB 5
  • April 2010: Operation Rack Pack for 600 3/4 Marines who returned from deployment in Afghanistan.
  • May 2010: Banner Party for 2/5 Fox's Return and Reunion Brief
  • June/July 2010: Operation Rack Pack for 2/5 Marines who returned from Afghanistan
  • June 2010: Coordination of volunteers/attendees for the NFL's 2010 Rookie Symposium
  • June/July 2010: Operation Rack Pack  for 300 Marines and Sailors returning from Afghanistan from 2/5
  • July 2010: OHH Baby Shower for 25 of CLB 5's new and expecting mommies
  • August 2010: OHH Baby Shower for over 25 of the School of Infantry's new and expecting mommies
  • September 2010: "Have a Ball" fundraiser for 2/5 in partnership with the City of Rancho Santa Margarita and Philly's Best
  • September 2010: Albertsons and Pavilions Drives to benefit ORP and OES programs
  • October 2010: Operation Rack Pack for CLB 5 and attachments
  • November 2010: Operation Rack Pack for 3/1
  • November 2010: OHH Baby Shower assistance for HMM 167
  • December 2010: Operation Christmas Spirit for 55 lucky Marine Corps families and a truckload of support for 2/1
  • January 2011: OHH Baby Shower for 3/5
  • March 2011: OHH Baby Shower for 2/5
  • April 2011: Operation Rack Pack for 3/5
  • May 2011: Operation Rack Pack for 2/1
  • May 2011: Operation Rack Pack for HMLA 169
  • May/June 2011: Operation Rack Pack for 2/5
  • July 2011: OHH Baby Shower for 1/5
  • July 2011: Family day carnival for 2/5
  • August 2011: Kiddie Camp for 2/5's Jane Wayne Day 
  • September 2011: Patriot's Day Fundraiser 
  • September 2011: OHH Baby Shower for 7th ESB
  • September 2011: Operation Rack Pack for 1/1
  • October 2011: Operation Rack Pack for 1/5
  • October 2011: Operation Rack Pack for 7th ESB
  • November 2011: OHH Baby Shower for 2/4 
  • November 2011: Operation Rack Pack for 7th ESB
  • November 2011: Operation Christmas Spirit Part I
In addition to the events sponsored and coordinated by OHH, our Operation Enduring Support Ministries for families in crisis was able to provide 3 months rent to a wounded warrior's family in need of extended shelter outside of Walter Reed hospital; money to cover moving costs for a family of 5 who moved using their PCS funds and then ended a long distance family situation; funeral costs (headstone purchase) for a former combat veteran Marine (who was with 3/5) who died of health issues just a year after getting out of the Marine Corps; assistance for a family struggling to stay together as a famiily unit despite severe financial troubles; and furniture donations given to well-deserving military families. OES has served military families in many other circumstances and situations. Please consider donating to this program to help OHH have the resources to support our heroes in crisis.
 
None of our projects, programs or efforts would be possible without your support. THANK YOU for showing our men and women in uniform that you appreciate their sacrifice, bravery and dedication; your efforts help our American military heroes to know they are not forgotten. 
Want to volunteer or get more involved with OHH? 
We feel that it takes a village to support our troops, and the more hands we have, the more served. 
We welcome you to get involved and learn more. 
Here are some suggestions to get started:
1. Sign up for our e-newsletter using the form at the bottom of this page. 
2. Check out the list of upcoming events above.
3. "Like" our Facebook page for daily opportunities and reminders
4. Email our volunteer coordinator, Cindy Farnum at cfarnum@operationhelpahero.com with the following information:
    -- The date of the event you're signing up for in the subject line
    -- Your full name and the full names of any other volunteers you'll be bringing with you. 
   -- Good contact informaion
    -- If you are signing up with a small group, troop, school, business, church, etc.
5. Can't commit to an event but want to give an hour or two a couple times a month? Send an email to Cindy (email address above) with your availability, and we will take you up on the help! 
6. Have special talents to share? Let us know... We could especially use the talents of graphic artists, massage therapists, photographers, handymen, stylists and childcare providers.
7. If you have a small group, business, school or church that would like to get involved, let us know. Our coordinators will contact you and set a meeting to go over possibilities and ways we can support your efforts. We can even plan events around your group's schedule with enough participation. cfarnum@operationhelpahero.com 
 
                                     


Copyright 2010, Operation Help a Hero, Inc.
Operation Help a Hero is an IRS approved 501 (c) (3) public charity. Tax ID #: 27-1438256. Your donations are tax deductible. 
Operation Help a Hero, formerly known as Operation Sweet Dreams, has served Marine Corps units in Southern California since 2001. 
We now have a nation-wide school chapter program and plans to support units in all military branches. Sign up for our e-nnouncements below to learn more about our programs, keep up with volunteer opportunities and spread the word about our drives/fundraising to support our men and women in uniform.
P.O. Box 80996, Rancho Santa Margarita, Ca 92688
 
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