Spreading the Spirit of Christmas to those who serve asking for nothing in return.

Operation Christmas Spirit is Operation Help a Hero's annual project which supports local military families in the form of holiday support

SCROLL DOWN THE PAGE TO SEE OUR CURRENT ANGEL TREE WISHES!

This year, OHH will "adopt" 100 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, a little TLC or they simply deserve a special thank you from the citizens they serve.

Please note that all recipients for the 2012 Operation Christmas Spirit project have been selected. Submissions and requests are no longer being accepted.

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 OR host an angel tree at your business or Christmas party. Contact Cindy at cfarnum@operationhelpahero.com
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.

Operation Christmas Spirit 2012 will support families from the following units: 1/5, 2/5, 3/5, 2/4, 1st CEB, 1st LAR, 5th Marines HQ Co, 1/1, 2/1, 3/1, 1/4, 3/7 and 1st Recon.

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 in 2011.

HOW to Help...

To donate:

Make online donations through our website through PayPal.
Send check, cash, and gift card donations to: Operation Help a Hero, PO Box 80996, Rancho Santa Margarita, Ca 92688
Drop toys and gift cards to the City of Rancho Santa Margarita's Bell Tower Community Center: 22232 El Paseo, Rancho Santa Margarita, Ca 92688

To "Adopt" a family with your small group, business or church group:

Contact our "adoption" coordinator, Kristen Lanham at kristenlanham@me.com .
Our goal for each adopted family: Gift cards ($300-$500 in gift cards to enable families to purchase their own gifts and needed items), 2 gifts per adult, 3 gifts per family member, 1 gift for the whole family (to do together) and a Christmas themed basket full of home made goodies from members of the community.
On December 16th, groups that "adopt" families will have the chance to "shop" our general collection of donations to put towards their family gifts, join us for a wrapping party and meet others working in support of our military heroes.

To purchase an item from our Angel Tree:

Contact our Angel Tree coordinator, Cindy Farnum at cfarnum@operationhelpahero.com
Visit a "live" Angel Tree to peruse needed items at St. John's School 30382 Via Con Dios, Rancho Santa Margarita, Ca 92688 each morning and afternoon, November 12th- December 7th.
Check back on THIS PAGE for an updated Angel Tree wish list, which will be posted each date staring November 14th through December 16th.

Here is a basic timeline for our 2012 Operation Christmas Spirit Drive:

End of September: OCS Committee met to go over requests and select unit recipients
Beginning to mid October: wish lists distributed to chosen units (deploying units only)
November 1st: Wish lists due from units
November 7-30th: families assigned to donors/ angel trees
December 13th: Camp Pendleton Pick Up
December 14th and 16th: Early Bird Adoption Drops and Gift Wrapping Parties. 1-4pm at St. John's School on December 14th. 6-9pm at RSM City Hall/Bell Tower Ballroom #2 on December 16th.
December 17th: Gift distributions and Christmas parties

Operation Christmas Spirit Coordinators and Contact Information:

Michelle Walters, RSM gift pick up coordinator mimi.walters@cox.net
Kristen Lanham, Family Adoption coordinator, SJES Coordinator kristenlanham@me.com
Cindy Farnum, Angel Tree coordinator, Community Outreach coordinator, volunteer coordinator, "green side" coordinator cfarnum@operationhelpahero.com
Cindy Campbell, SJES site coordinator, SJES middle school coordinator ccampbell@stjohns-es.org
Wendy Ruiz, SMCHS OHH Club coordinator ruiz01@cox.net
Michele Chenault, Saddleback Valley Christian School drive coordinator mrschenault@cox.net
Christy Wrightson, decorations and brunch coordinator SJES location wrightsons@cox.net
Connie Thompson, luncheon coordinator RSM location
Robin Grier and Chris Vallis, decoration coordinators, RSM site
Camp Pendleton gift pick up coordinators: Cindy Farnum (email above) Sarah Quail and Kelly Bohne
St. Margaret's family adoption coordinator, Cheri Santora

To contribute homemade goods:

If you would like to contribute a home made item to add to our Christmas Baskets, please contact Cindy Farnum at cfarnum@operationhelpahero.com
We are currently looking for -blankets, -holiday decorations, -ornaments, -holiday cookies, -holiday treats
We also are looking for groups to assemble holiday craft kits for families to create together

To donate your time/talents to a family:

Contact our "adoption" coordinator, Kristen Lanham at kristenlanham@me.com to discuss which family your donation of time will best serve.
We are looking for photographers, stylists, personal trainers, and massage therapists who might be willing to donate their services as gifts.

To volunteer for our Gift Wrapping and "Prep" Day:

Contact Cindy Farnum at cfarnum@operationhelpahero.com to sign up for our 1-4pm event at St. John's School on December 14th.

Contact Michelle Walters at mimi.walters@cox.net to sign up for our 6-9pm event at the RSM Bell Tower on December 16th.

Angel Tree Wish List and Large Items Requested

The following is a list of items currently needed for Operation Christmas Spirit 2012

Computer chair

Glider chair

Twin bed (for a child)

Amusement park tickets for a family of 4 (six flags)

Gas Gift Cards for injured Marine commuting to hospital each day

Kitchen table (we need one more!)

Space ship toy

High chair

Children's book shelf

Boy's twin bedding (loves sharks)

Gas gift cards or airline voucher for family to travel to Illinois (from California) to be with family for Christmas

Couch for family of 6

Car cleaning supplies

Action figure toy

Disney tickets

Queen size bedding (mom loves brown)

Grocery gift cards

Men's clothing size M

Men's shoes size 9 1/2

Children's bike

Woodworking tools for Marine

Wood wicked candles

Crockpot

Men's clothing size XL

Dresser for 14 year old girl

Women's clothing size Lg, pant 12

Gift for a Marine -- anything having to do with hunting