Air Force Family Grateful for Meals, Support
Lanea had not thought of what it would be like to be a military spouse, but after meeting her now-husband just one week before he left for boot camp, she was all in.
“I sent him a letter every day he was gone,” she said. “Three months later we were married.”
Twelve years and two children later, Lanea’s husband still serves in the Air Force. He has requested his name not be used. He has deployed once to Afghanistan, and the family has gone through 14 temporary training duty assignments, resulting in missed birthdays and other milestones.
Lanea is understanding about the separation because her husband enlisted in the military to “make the world a better place,” she said. “He really is all about service.”
The family has been stationed in Utah for about seven years, and Lanea seeks out chances to connect with other military families. Operation Homefront’s family support events provide those opportunities. She first heard of Operation Homefront when they were stationed in Little Rock, Arkansas.
“We are incredibly thankful. The support we feel when we go to these events is absolutely amazing. Thank you to everyone who donates and volunteers.” – Lanea Molina, military spouse
Since then, she has participated in Operation Homefront’s Back-to-School Brigade® and Holiday Meals for Military® (HMFM) events. She most recently attended an HMFM event in Plain City, Utah.
Thanks to generous donors such as Kent’s Market, which hosted the May event, families received not only food, bottled water, and household supplies, but also a $50 gift card to Kent’s. The drive-thru event had 400 military families registered.
Volunteers lined up to pack vehicles with donated supplies.
“The event helps us provide more for our kids and even the neighbor kids,” she said. “It’s not just about the products but also about the support we received. From the moment I drove into the parking lot, there were smiles and cheering and people thanking us for our service. To feel the support from the community is a huge deal.”
Knowing there is support for military families helps Lanea feel less isolated.
“We are incredibly thankful,” Lanea said. “The support we feel when we go to these events is absolutely amazing. Thank you to everyone who donates and the volunteers. Without this I wouldn’t feel such a sense of belonging in the community and sense of support.”
