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If you ever wanted to thank someone who serves - you have found the the right place...Homefront Hugs USA - where we remember our heroes and help in the missions which serve them every day to make their sacrifices more bearable. UPDATE as of December 29,2008: This organization is in need of help to complete its missions and all donations are tax deductible - please consider helping even with a small sacrifice so that we can send our care packages for our wounded and deployed heroes in the new year. Our Christmas and Hanukkah packages have gone out thanks to so many of you and other wonderful Americans. Yet our programs and monies are depleted and we continue to send care packages as needs come in including several large units of heroes in the warzone and 7 hospitals . Thank you from the bottom of our hearts .
HOW CAN I HELP ? There are so many ways to help including how to donate money quickly right below. But if you would rather not- if you would like to adopt a hero, write our wounded, help the families of the deployed or help in disaster relief....just keep scrolling down- because we need everyone in one way or another ! You are so welcome at Homefront Hugs USA where we have the best volunteers in the world. You can also just email us with the subject " news" and sign up for our monthly newsletter while you decide. Our email is HomefrontHugsUSA@aol.com.
HOW CAN I HELP EASILY just by donating funds ? CHOOSE FROM 3 EASY WAYS TO HELP OUR TROOPS BY HELPING OUR MISSIONS, SO WE CAN CONTINUE OUR MISSIONS THIS NEW YEAR in 2009*****
WE ARE A PUBLIC CHARITY,A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION IN NEED OF HELP= ESPECIALLY WITH DONATIONS SO LOW THIS SEASON- THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING HELPING US.
Our troops,veterans and families will not be forgotten because of you. 
At Homefront Hugs, we salute all our veterans, troops and families every
day. Our children sleep safe at night because of your sacrifices.
SPECIAL WELCOME HOME TO MITCH ROLLINS OF GULF BREEZE,
FLORIDA... who came home after his 6th tour from Afghanistan !
God bless you and thank you for your incredible sacrifices and give that
Mom of yours a huge hug for all her unwavering support ! This country
owes you a huge debt of gratitude !
**
**
You, our heroes, have already earned the honor and respect as have your fallen
and wounded brothers and sisters .
You can rest assured that everyone who claims to support our
heroes, from the right, from the left, from the oceans to the shore,
without condition, knows and believes :
**
Freedom Endures. Honor is Yours.
We are here to thank those who serve you !
Our wounded can be reached through directly through us
through Operation Healing Angel...every day of the year
despite the media reports, and they would love to hear from you.
We need cards- pesonalized- not just signed- with a photos,
a joke, your day to day events,etc...all the time for our hospitals
and medical combat units. Just send them to our address above
or below- seal them- but let us know who they are for....if they
are for a nurse,doctor, or wounded hero- and they will get
into the hands of a hero. If you can, include some for the medical
staff heroes who care for them in 2009. We have been receiving wonderful letters
and cards this season- so creative and warm and just what they need. Thank you!
****
December 29, 2008 It is time to SUPPORT OUR TROOPS now that elections are over - it is because of their sacrifices that we were able to vote at all and enjoy our holidays whatever each of us celebrates this season, in freedom and peace . We really could use everyone's help this early winter in all parts of our great country. Your president of this organization underwent huge surgeries to help me walk again and they unfortunately were not as successful as I hoped. I am still in recovery mode. The needs of our troops have just catapulted. Only together we can see that our missions succeed and continue. With our current recession, donations are at an all time low . We need urgent help. I am asking every American who reads this to pick something they can do to help our missions not just for the holidays but beyond. Help so our troops are not forgotten- monetary donations, and volunteers to adopt over 462 troops please- many from Eglin AFB in Florida but from all over the USA.
Your country needs you. Let us remember our generations from World War II and let us emulate them. No one receives a salary here. This is a time our country must heal from our divisions and join together in service to those who matter including our most incredible troops and veterans who come from all walks of life and politics. As Senator McCain said, it is time to support our new President Elect Obama and work together -(as we do at Homefront Hugs USA) to reflect the best of America and heal. Let us be the first to congratulate the Obama family wishing them all the best and thanking the McCain family for their sacrifices. The best is yet to come as our country heeds their call to service. Freedom Endures. United we stand.
Right now, as of December 29th, 2008,we have care packages which need to be sent for the new year 2009 ... and cost about $10 a piece (as flat rate packages to APO addresses) to send. We met our holiday goal thanks to all of you. We are on FACEBOOK too so if you wish to donate there- you can . They have adopted us as one of their causes. There are photos under my name in FACEBOOK and under Homefront Hugs USA of our missions and work.
A Special Angel at the Postal Service We just mailed 78 two days ago thanks to the Gulf Breeze post office who came like angels to pick them all up at our small home as my legs were in too much pain and by a wounded veteran himself- an angel named Bill Dossey. A Special Angel who is a Wounded Hero We would also like to thank all the angels including another wounded veteran Ronnie Lundberg- for their quick response through donations in making sure these packages went our yesterday when our funds were too low. Ronnie even adopted a deployed hero himself through Homefront Hero Hugs. Special Thanks to Philosphy Beauty Company, Museum Tour Toy Catalog Every year they have helped us with Homefront Holiday Hugs and we hope to add many more businesses by the end of this month...to thank for helping our troops and military families. Please Show your support for these businesses by shopping for their high quality products. We welcome the Popcorn Factory to this list this year and hope more busineeses will join ! Items are still needed for our New Years missions as requested by the troops and wounded... such as socks,Ipods,mp3 players, travel pillows and blankets,digital cameras, travel games, travel size laptop computers,paperback books, shower slippers,New Years calendars,microfiber towels and cloths,body lotion,head flashlights,sun lotion,sunglasses. icepaks and heat packs,etc. If you know any business which can help- please refere them our way ! ****** Did I mention we have the best citizens in the world and the best volunteers at Homefront Hugs? * Six years ago , Homefront Hugs was founded outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as a small group of volunteers in tribute to our troops being deployed to Afghanistan to make sure 9-11 never happened again, that the dismal Vietnam homecomings never happened again.... with the help and support of many 9-11 families. We hoped one day we might close our doors, the war would end, and we could just have one huge homecoming celebration for our heroes just like in World War II. Yet as you well know, our work continues and the biggest work with our wounded coming home and offering comfort and support to our veterans and families of the fallen... We are a legitimate 501-3c non-profit organization with integrity-incorporated as of July 2007 which was generously arranged by a wonderful local law firm dedicated to our veterans and families run by Attorney Bryan Aylstock of Gulf Breeze.Florida. His own boys and family have continued to help our troops in many ways- incuding those handmade cards for our wounded. Thank you Jacob,Jon, Lisa (his beauitiful wife), Bria and Lauren ! . Our work has never stopped as more troops were deployed all over the world including Iraq and still and most important Afghanistan where the toll seems heavier daily as our troops are transferred there from all branches. We give tribute to those who served without question in every war - with honor and courage . We never forget the sacrifices at Homefront Hugs.
** ***How can you help say thanks to those who serve ? Join us at Homefront Hugs USA. You can do as little or as much as you want from the comfort of your own home. Share this webpage with those you know who could help in big or small ways. *****************
Sign up too for our monthly newsletter too-just email/contact us
with subject "news" and we'll make sure you receive our newsletter full of ideas, projects we have completed, and letters or news from the families and troops serving us with honor.
Click here: United in Tears at Homefront Hugs USA  
Homefront Holiday Hugs was our heartfelt program for military children and homemakers dealing with deployments or hardship during the holidays. We collected and wrapped gifts for these homefront heroes and dispersed them to various bases and families who were designated as in need of support. This year, the Navarre Press wrote a lovely story about this special program and our bases around and families who signed up were so excited about their holiday surprises !
Our commitment to all volunteers: Every volunteer, young and old, receives a registered volunteer card and a certificate as well for your group or school or church or synagogue or business or....neighborhood, etc,etc,etc,...just join us and you will be joining some of the best volunteers and volunteer teams in the world where it comes from the heart with no conditions ! ASK ALI program Are you a veteran or deployed hero - or dependent keeping the home fires burning ? OPSEC and confidentiality are strictly adhered to as required by law. Ali is a crisis intervention counselor having worked in the military herself as a counselor and education specialist, and now sharing some of her time answering daily letters and providing referrals and resources when needed . Though you will not have daily sessions with her, she can help you to help yourself and make sure you and your family are in a safe place and know where the help is. We recognize the challenges you have as families and in coping with 3rd and 4th deployments and the marriages that are under a great deal of stress- and we are here to help. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. CALL OR WRITE. You are not alone.
Life is short...as my best friend Steve always said,
" savor" - no regrets. Listen to your angels. Be true to yourself
and know we are a grateful nation.
Read our latest freedom tribute to an amazing woman, mother of a veteran : We wish everyone a wonderful beginning to winter as fall slowly ends and hope you have a warm, and relaxing holiday season- and all the best in warmth,laughter and success in 2009 .
Sincerely in peace and hope,
**
Alessandra Kellermann
President and Founder
Homefront Hugs USA, Inc. - a
University of Michigan/Ann Arbor Alumnus - Go Blue !
1449 Tiger Lake Drive
Gulf Breeze, Florida 32563
412-498-3855
* "be the change you wish to see in this world..."
( Ed Kellermann- Co-President with Mom above) THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS ! We are in the news....our first national award...thanks to all of our incredible volunteers: http://www.gulfbreezenews.com/news/2007/0628/Front_Page/004.html
(slideshow above- pause here)
Thanks so much to all the wonderful students at OBE
and Gulf Breeze Middle School who helped this holiday season to reach out to our families of
deployed heroes this holiday season. You are all heroes too...some of you have even adopted
a hero to send care packages to all year ! WOW !
Being a volunteer makes you very special Americans
and God is proud of you too !
O
Our adopted largest combat hospital in Iraq is thrilled we have them hugged after 2 years still ! Join us in keeping their morale high. The poster behind them was made by 2nd grade classes in Florida. Support them by adopting your own duck with a personalized message to send to a wounded hero ! Send a smile and a Homefront hug in style !
These ducks are anxiously waiting to be adopted. Go to the Healing Angels page for more info...
Despite the news reports, you can help and write our wounded...and here is how... You are needed. Read a super email we received and join us please !:
Homefront Hugs,
Thank you very much for sending all of the wonderful care packages filled with coffee, snacks, and supportive letters. I want you to know that the troops here really appreciate it. We have many wounded that come through the hospital and I want you to know they receive the cards you make and the goods you send. Your support is appreciated and needed. Alessandra always leaves a note that says, "Let us know if you need anything." One thing we could really use is a coffee grinder!! We receive all the wonderful Starbucks coffee beans, but have no way of grinding the beans. If we could get a coffee bean grinder that would be awesome!!!! Oh, and possibly some sort of basket or something to put all the candy in? Thank you!!!! Thank you Homefront Hugs!!!! Very Respectfully,
Kristina M. Decot, SrA, USAF
 You CAN write ANY WOUNDED HERO at: Operation Healing Angel Homefront Hugs USA 1449 Tiger Lake Drive Gulf Breeze, Florida 32563 We'll make sure it gets to our heroes directly into their hands... and send it on...to our heroes and their healing angel caregivers...to American combat hospitals in the sandbox and medical centers worldwide which truly need your support. We cannot release our addresses of the medical hospitals in the war zone that have asked for our support due to security but we'll make sure your cards and help get to our heroes . Thanks for understanding...and caring. We have been entrusted with these assignments because we have supported our wounded now for a long time and with OPSEC intact. Just read all about it: Click here: Volunteers offer hand in healing to injured soldiers | Neighbors | pnj.com (news article)
Click here: Guardians of freedom get guardian angels (news article)
THANKS FROM THE SANDBOX : All,and packages that we received from the 9-11 families. Amazing! Although we are away from home, this Christmas will be a great one to remember for all of us. Some of the contents of the packages were used as gifts for our Christmas party which was a huge success, but the majority was distributed throughout the organization and Above all, we are so humbled by the incredible support from those who have lost so much. Knowing the 9-11 families are supporting us here in Iraq is more than we could ever ask for and inspires us all. Of special note, the Christmas cards from the children, to include a few toys, will always be cherished. Reading the cards really touched us and brings back memories of our own children when they were small and even memories of making cards every family for their support. No words will ever communicate our appreciation for your support but we look forward to expressing our gratitude and thanks for all you have done Attached is a picture of our group personnel. Of course this does not consist of our entire organization, it is the best I can do for now until we get access to our USB ports and we can download pictures of the rest of the crew from our external drives. The personnel shown are assigned here in Baghdad, I am standing holding the guidon. The group represents only a small fraction of our 360+ personnel spread out across Iraq. Also, attached is a tri fold of our season. If you would like to communicate directly with any of our members, send your info and I will coordinate and get you information to correspond. It is an honor and privilege to
//SIGNED-elw//
(stationed at Eglin AFB, Florida when home)
...**
Thank you to the Etheredge Family of Gulf Breeze ! Alex and his sister Ashley (below) just helped bring some beanie babies for our Homefront Holiday Hugs and troops this month ! They are dedicated volunteers with Mom since 2004 ! Check out the latest story about us in the Navarre Press December 18th ! Alex is in the interview..
 Thanks to some wonderful volunteers this weekend and week who
helped us wrap and get out care packages and gifts to our deserving heroes...
The Begley family- Kim,Kate, Jack, Bob, and our VP Carrie Begley who is
too shy for the camera but my right hand....though she will never admit it!
She also kept my sunshine while I was in the hospital each time and this
Mom will never forget....Carrie's Mom Ann Bell is also a secret angel
who never wants to be thanked but needs to share her secret to
wrapping sometime !
The Kagan Family- Colin and Alex have been absolute wonders in coming
over to write dozens of cards for our wounded troops this Veterans Day
and their Dad- a veteran himself- helped to spread the word about our
missions this holiday season without even being asked because he believes
in us. Mom - Kathleen, is always ready on a moments' notice to help...
God bless you !
The Boudreaux family- a loving Tiger Point family whose Mom despite her
own challenges this season- helped us in many ways- with my hospitalization
and at the Mistletoe Market to bring care packages to all !Donna also runs
the Optimist club with another angel Joy Shulz. Thank you too for making
cards this season for our troops and wounded - OBE Optimist club kids !
We can't wait to do more with you in 2009.
The Richards and Phillips families- they come together almost to help any time
they are needed...and remember these troops and families should never be
forgotten. Robyn Phillips has been a longtime volunteer of Homefront Hugs
and has a heart of gold. Robyn and Donna are Moms that give back all the
time and their kids are learning well from this.
The Sampson and Bryant families - who have helped with a smile and energy
I wish I could find every day ! Thanks to Jamie who did a super job with a super smile !
The Robinson family whose Mom, Laura, also won volunteer of the year for Santa
Rosa schools...a well deserved somewhat late award...for a Mom who has yet to learn
the words.,.." not now- I need to take care of me !"
The Mastrangelo family- a navy family who always gives back and helps us get the
gifts to the Nacy families from Homefront Holiday Hugs each year !
Victoria and Nicole Parks- who volunteered and helped wrap presents quietly with their beautiful smiles!
Brandon Christian- an ROTC USAF high school student who volunteered and came to
help all hours without a break ! wow...he surely will do well in the military !
...** INr
Remembering Charlie- our friend and hero...
...**
A Very Special Thanks to Melissa and her Gulf Breeze United Methodist angels
who made some lovely pillowcases, helped stuff them, wrote cards to the wounded,
and donated monies to send them to our hospitals in Iraq...
this Christmas season. God bless you all. You are all heroes too !
s
Go Forward With Courage
Thanks to some wonderful fellow University of Michigan Alumni who help us out every time we need packages sent and more ! Go Blue ! A Thousand Thanks to our countless Michigan families and school kids who helped with our Homefront Hurricane Lunchbox Hugs and our smiles for our troops and WWII veteran Charlie ! GO WOLVERINES ! ****
Special Thanks to the 2nd Graders from Florida who made some wonderful
posters on their Discover America day for our wounded and their doctors
and nurses : Operation Healing Angel !
We were also in the News....in the Eglin Air Force Base Newspaper...AIM HIGH ! EGLIN DISPATCH reports on Homefront Hugs for our Wounded To join the fun and bring a smile and support: 
Both mother and daughter above have been deployed and adopted by the same wonderful volunteers....
Sign our special guestbook today if you have lost a loved one to this war or on 9-11 and remember this country stands with you...and never forgets. Sign this guest book if you wish to express sympathy and support as our families of the fallen also read this and when you care- and thank them- and say it out loud- it matters. 
****
Sign up for the monthly newsletter by emailing HomefrontHugsUSA@aol.com with subject "news". To link to us, please use this banner : 
Homefront Hugs USA : A Resource Site for Troops and Families;
Support Without Conditions- Where No Hero Is Forgotten
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" There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle.
The other is as though everything is a miracle. "
Albert Einstein
Homefront Hugs USA and its programs does not endorse any political party or candidate. We are here strictly to provide support and comfort to our service members,veterans and their families, regardless of political or religious affiliation. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, or politics in accordance with our United States constitution and in honor of our troops and veterans worldwide who come from all walks of life to serve our country with honor, great personal sacrifice and courage.
Special thanks to a fantastic law firm dedicated to our veterans and their needs helping Homefront Hugs USA pro bono to achieve non-profit status : A local Pensacola law firm which serves clients nationwide, Aylstock, Witkin, Overholtz & Kreis, PLLC, whose Justice Attorneys specialize in Pensacola personal injury and Gulf Breeze personal injury cases, has lended its hand to seeking Justice for Military Veterans in making Veterans Benefits claims and Veterans Disability claims. Check out their website at http://www.awkolaw.com/ if you need any legal help . " Savor life for it is fleeting. Honor our troops by making the best out of your life." Sandria Schmidt
To contact us: info@HomefrontHugs.com |
AP Photo by S.Veder-1974
*
