Soldiers' Angels Operation Outreach

Supporting the Families of Deployed Heroes
"there is a group of people far more deserving of recognition than us soldiers. It is the military spouse. My wife is in ----------- taking care of my two beautiful daughters. Please someone give her some support."

The purpose of Operation Outreach is to offer support to military families at home. We have had many requests from our Heroes asking for items not for themselves, but for their families at home. Deployment isn't just hard on a Hero, it's extraordinarily difficult for their family as well.

Families worry, and struggle, and sacrifice, and Operation Outreach seeks to say "Thank You" to these unsung hometown Heroes. We are working to let our Heroes know that while they protect us over there, we will help look out for their families here at home.

What does Operation Outreach Do?
Although our primary request is for cards and letters of support for family members, Operation Outreach can also provide gifts to help with make a birthday or holiday special, coordinate with Angels in local areas to provide ongoing support, link military families with "e-pals" or pen pals who know what they're going through, and provide limited financial assistance.

Why is Operation Outreach Needed?
Many Heroes worry a great deal about how their families are going to get along while they're away. Soldiers' Angels adoptees often request items not for themselves, but for their loved ones at home.

Our troops will tell you, deployment doesn't just affect those who are sent, military families serve, too. Some military families have few resources, and limited family assistance local to them. These families give so much to all of us, and we want to thank them.

Here are examples of some of the requests we've received:

J. B.
I am new to the Army, My wife is pregnant, a lot of things for our new addition are difficult to find/extremely expensive in Europe...

B. H.
Ben is new to the Army. [He] is being deployed to Iraq now and [his wife] is alone...and doesn't know anyone. They are both very lonely and homesick and miss each other very much.

L.M.
I lost my brother when I was 15 and now I am the only child.It is so hard on my parents that I am deployed…Can someone please pray for their strength and drop them a line...

D.T.
…it really hasn't been easy being away… My daughter is growing so fast and my son is into everything. I have been overseas 4 out of the last 5 years. So just the fact of being gone has taken a toll on my family…I do love my job and this is the best way for me to support my family.

K.F.
I'm 22 my wife recently had our first child...All the diapers formula clothes and bills are real expensive...anything that you could send would be greatly appreciated.

K.R.
My wife...just recently got out of the Army so that we wouldn't have to do split tours. We feared that we would never see each other and with children involved it would have been a little too rough...I always feel supported and am always thanked for serving in Iraq. I feel bad though because I feel like she gets left out and doesn't get thanked for her hard work and dedication that she put in to the army. I would really like if she received a thank you...I would much rather have her receive something then myself because if it wasn't for her strength and dedication to our marriage and family I would not be able to continue the fight.

C.S.
…me and my wife are going through hard times with me being deployed just 3 months after our daughter was born. My wife really needs more than I do she is the one that has to take care of everything while I am away but anything you can do will be greatly appreciated.

What it Means to Families:
D.T.
"I don`t know what to say im at a loss for words I don't know how to thank you enough for the things you have done to help my family..."

While she was on the phone with him recently, D.T. says his wife "received two packages from you all and she was extremly happy when I got off the phone. Being apart is hard and it is great to have people that understand that the famlies of soldiers go through as much if not more than we do....Thanks for everything…"

N.C. (a military spouse)
"Thank you!! for giving my address & e-mail out to such wonderful people. Yesterday I received a letter from J------- and an email from M---------, it is funny how I got both on the same day. I emailed M------- back and like I told her, she is the first military wife I ever have contact with. She gave me great info and a personal look about what military families go through once the spouse gets back…hearing from these 2 wonderful ladies was like a blessing... I am so thankful I came across your way!!"

M.M.
"Hey! I talked to my mom today. She said someone contacted her about the soldiers' angels. She said that would be really neat. She doesn't know any other people who have a soldier in the military. Now she can have people to talk to about her situation. Very cool. Thank you again."

How You Can Help
Funding is greatly needed to keep this program running, and donations of items such as baby formula, diapers, etc., are often in need.

Donate Items:
Please email us if you would like to donate items, and we can let you know what is most needed right now.

Send all item donations to:

Soldiers Angels Operation Outreach
P.O. Box 832
Torrington, CT 06790

OR

Soldiers Angels
Attn: Operation Outreach
914 Tourmaline Drive
Newbury Park, CA 91320

Donate Funds:
A shoebox-sized box costs almost eight dollars to ship, and some families have needs that are best addressed through means other than direct shipment of items. With your tax-deductible donation, we can quickly purchase and ship exactly what is requested when our Heroes report a need, or use our resources to provide much-needed financial assistance.

Checks should be made out to Soldiers' Angels. Specify "Operation Outreach" in the memo field

100% of your donation will go toward this operation. Send checks to:

Soldiers Angels
Operation Outreach
1150 N. Loop 1604 W., Suite 108-493
San Antonio, TX 78248

You can also donate securely through PayPal:

PAYPAL BUTTON

For more information:
Email Pam at sa-outreach@sbcglobal.net, or phone the Soldiers' Angels Hot Line at (615) 676-0239.

If you are a deployed Hero seeking assistance with support for your family, please let us know how we can help.

Thank you for allowing us to help the Heroes here at home.

View Our Blog at: http://www.sa-outreach.blogspot.com