Navy Family Looks Forward to Holiday Toy Drive Nearly a decade ago, Senior Chief Petty Officer Fred Donguines and his wife heard about Operation Homefront and since then have taken part in its family-friendly events like the Back-to-School Brigade and Holiday Toy Drive. This past Christmas, the family enjoyed participating in the Holiday Toy Drive … Continued
After 28 years of service, Army Sgt. Maj. Donald Robertson transitioned to civilian life facing a world changed by rapidly evolving technology and a global pandemic. Both added to the stress of medical retirement. Donald worked in operations and project management in the Army, and he knew he would need to update his technology skillset … Continued
Three years ago, Army veteran Bright Oppong was living with chronic pain and facing a shattered dream. Today, he and his family are settling into a new house, and he is working full-time and pursuing a master’s degree. Bright and his wife, Patience, moved into their newly built house in Yorkville, Illinois, in April. He … Continued
Veteran and Family Celebrate New Baby, New Home, and Program Completion As Air Force veteran Christian Gerhart and his family marked major milestones this year, they also reflected on their journey over the past three years as they transitioned to civilian life from military service. Christian joined the Air Force in 2012 to serve his … Continued
On a recent February day, Army veteran Timothy Vasquez and his wife Melissa arranged for a rideshare service to take them to one of their many medical treatments. This treatment was for her brain tumor, diagnosed in 2019. Upon arrival, they discovered they had been scheduled at the incorrect location and missed the treatment. They … Continued
Shanice Dansby turned to the military because she was ready for a new perspective on life. “I’m originally from the San Francisco Bay area and although I loved it, I felt stuck and wanted a new perspective outside of California.” Her dad was a retired chief in the Navy and encouraged her to enlist, which … Continued
Scholarship Supports Military Spouse’s Dream to Help Military Children Codie Maile is a helper. Whether as a military mom and Army spouse, a volunteer for Operation Homefront, or in her former job as a hairstylist, Codie wants to make sure the people around her have what they need to thrive. As a cancer survivor who … Continued
Navy veteran Jane Calloway has twice been shocked by an unexpected and crushing chain of events. The first was in college when she played soccer on a scholarship. She tore her ACL and could no longer play. The second was more recent when she was diagnosed with epilepsy which forced her to leave her military … Continued
As a military spouse and mom of three, Renee Van Allen has turned toward a variety of Operation Homefront Recurring Family Support programs throughout the year. Her family has participated in the Back-to-School Brigade, Holiday Meals for Military, and Holiday Toy Drive. She first heard about Operation Homefront in 2017 when she and her husband, … Continued
Military Family Grateful for Drive-Thru Star-Spangled Babies Event to Help During COVID-19 Pandemic Christina and her husband, Shane, lead very busy lives. Along with managing their kids’ everyday activities, the couple owns two businesses – a martial arts studio and a hobby toy shop. Shane also has a position in the Army that includes both … Continued
