Expectant Parents Appreciate Support at Baby Shower
Being a military spouse is a new experience for Angela Midro. She met her husband, Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jesse Midro, in 2022, about two years after he was stationed at Luke Air Force Base, outside Phoenix, Arizona.
Angela was a single mom and did not expect to find love with someone in the military, but she and Jesse got married and are now expecting their first child together.
The Air Force Family Readiness Center has helped Angela as she learns to navigate military life. She realized that there might be other groups helping and connecting military families. During an online search, she and Jesse found Operation Homefront’s Star-Spangled Babies® program, dedicated to supporting service members and their growing families.
They attended their first event in May, when Operation Homefront collaborated with event sponsor Runbeck Election Services Inc. to execute the Phoenix Star-Spangled Babies shower.
“The generosity; you can’t explain how it makes you feel.” – Angela Midro, Air Force spouse
“I was really blown away,” Angela said. “They had experienced volunteers. The games were fun, the food was very generous, everything was so thought out but effortless for us. I thought it was just wonderful.”
Jesse was one of three expectant fathers at the event. He said there was a lot of information to absorb and he liked chatting with other families. He appreciates that there are donors who support service members.
Jesse has been in the Air Force for 17 years and has no plans on leaving yet. He has deployed to Kuwait and Jordan.
The Star-Spangled Babies shower is one of two family support service programs in which the Midros have participated. The other is the Back-to-School Brigade® for Angela’s daughter, 11.
Having a second child brings more financial responsibility to the family, which is why both Angela and Jesse are so grateful for the gifts they received, including a car seat.
“The impact of this program is just ease of mind,” Jesse said.
“The generosity; you can’t explain how it makes you feel,” Angela added.
Operation Homefront’s Star-Spangled Babies program has provided vital baby supplies to over 21,000 military moms since 2008.
