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Dear ,
Home Front Hearts is excited to share our monthly "From the Heart" newsletter with you!
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The Day Everything Changed
I didn't know what I had almost lost until my husband called to tell me that he was okay that morning ten years ago. I was too busy doing the early morning scramble with small children to have even turned on a television or radio. Ian had been working for the Counter Drug Taskforce at the time and had been due at the World Trade Center for an early morning meeting.
Because he'd taken some time off the week prior (we always walk our elementary-school aged children to and from school that ever important first week each year), Ian had gotten the okay to catch up on some paperwork at the New Jersey office before heading into the city. To this day, my two eldest children (now 16 and soon to be 15), remind Daddy that they saved his life that day - they were the reason he was safe from harm on 09/11/2001.
But that day still changed his life and all of ours as a family significantly. We have grown by two in the time since - one of our little ones incidentally will celebrate his 8th birthday on the 10th anniversary of that fateful day. He'll do so without Daddy, who is currently stationed in Afghanistan. For our family, and military families across this great nation, September 11th isn't a day we think about once a year. We serve 365 days a year.
We hold in our hearts those who died that day, those who carry the scars of that day, and those who serve EVERY day so that such a tragedy doesn't again befall our country.
-- Randi Cairns, Executive Director/Founder, Home Front Hearts | |
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In Remembrance of 9/11
It was a day in early September and after all the hot and humid weather I had experienced during this summer, I thought this day was different; at least where I lived, it was perfect. It was more like a fall day, the sun, the sky, the clouds, the trees and the breeze. And I thought to myself, what a beautiful day!
Just as I had that thought, a chill went through my body. For I remembered another such day in September years ago that had the same start, but a very different ending. It was 9/11.
We all know where we were that day and what happened. We all remember, as the bumper stickers that quickly emerged stated "WE WILL REMEMBER". We are now at yet another anniversary of that fateful day. Let us take a moment to remember and honor all the victims in the buildings that fell; the firefighters and policemen who gave their all, some paying the ultimate price. Let us also not forget the pilots, flight attendants, and passengers in the airplanes who kept on fighting when all hope was gone, as well as all the union workers who were there to help... the iron workers, electricians, plumbers, carpenters and all others, too numerous to mention, who did not make the media spotlight. And all the brave people who stayed well after to help in the cleanup.
Still, because of that day in September, America was thrust into a domino effect of military actions in many places around the world. Whether you think we belong in these wars or do not belong in these wars, really does not matter. The reality of it all is we are in them.
Please help Home Front Hearts continue to give our troops and their families the hope, the moral support, and the financial support they need to keep going on and moving forward!
Thank you and God Bless!
-- Dee Lukas, Home Front Hearts Volunteer and Military Spouse | |
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Help Change the Lives of Military Families!
In-Kind Donations and Services Currently Sought by Military Families | |
Here are some ways you can help military families right now:
DONATED PARTS AND LABOR: Donated parts and labor to do much needed repairs on the homes of military families across the country.
GIFT CARDS: We are always in need of gift cards that can be used to help cover unmet needs such as food, clothing, and groceries for military families in need. We're gratefully accepting gift cards for major franchises (Toys R Us, Target, Walmart, large chain eating establishments, etc).
NEW GAMING SYSTEMS AND GAMES: Many of our wounded warriors find gaming a helpful way to decompress when feeling stressed. For many of our military families, this is also an opportunity for family time in households where injuries limit family outings.
POSTAGE NEEDED: We need your help with postage as we ship to military families across the country and also (at the request of our deployed soldiers) to children in Afghanistan. You can make a monetary donation (and earmark it for postage) or send us your stamps!
If you can assist in any way, please let us know by filling out our Contact Form. |
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. The Real Warriors Campaign offers free, confidential resources for military families, including 24/7 help via a crisis hotline at 1-800-273-TALK. Home Front Hearts is happy to be partners with The Real Warriors Campaign, an initiative launched by the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) to promote the processes of building resilience, facilitating recovery and supporting reintegration of returning service members, veterans and their families.
The military lifestyle can oftentimes be very stressful. Are you looking at an upcoming change in status, new orders, or relocation or return to civilian life? The Real Warriors Campaign also offers assistance with transferring psychological health care to a new provider, pair service members with a personal coach, and link military family members to local support groups. For more information, visit their website at http://www.realwarriors.net/.
Remember that you are not alone. | |
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Home Front Hearts' Media Alert | |
Randi Cairns, Founder and Executive Director of Home Front Hearts, was featured in The Confident Mom's Blog! Read her interview here:
http://www.theconfidentmom.com/09/faith-and-family/home-front-hearts/ |
SAT and ACT Test Prep Programs
Donated to Military Families | |
This valuable donation from eKnowledge is in alliance with the Department of Defense and supported by patriotic professional athletes from Major League Baseball and the National Football League.
Eligible recipients include service members from all branches of the military who are active duty, retired, veterans, Guard, Reserve, DoD employees, and civilians performing military support. Also eligible are relatives and dependants of anyone who otherwise qualifies from the prior list.
The SAT and ACT PowerPrep™ programs come in a single DVD and include more than 11 hours of video instruction, 3000 files of supplemental test prep material, sample questions, and practice tests. Students select the training they need and study at their own pace.
Over the past six years, eKnowledge has donated more than $36 million worth of SAT and ACT Test Preparation programs to military service members and their families worldwide at no profit to the company.
The eKnowledge Sponsorship covers the complete $200 purchase price* for the standard SAT or ACT Test Preparation Program. The service member pays only a nominal charge of $17.55 for registration, customer support, and worldwide shipping.
Requests to receive the sponsored educational programs can be placed now by visiting:
www.eknowledge.com/HomeFrontHearts or by telephone at 951-256-4076
For further information contact: Lori Caputo, eKnowledge, VP/Military Donation Program
LoriCaputo@eknowledge.com, 951-256-407
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About Us | |
Home Front Hearts was born of the desire to honor those who serve and their families. At Home Front Hearts, it is our intention to give voice to the families who also serve when their loved ones are called to duty; and to call to action the communities in which they live.
The mission of Home Front Hearts is to serve the families that serve our country by: providing support and resources to the families of service members, increasing public awareness of the struggles and sacrifices of military families, and engaging both individuals and businesses in building communities that are responsive to the needs of these families. |
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Would you like to help Home Front Hearts serve military families? Then spread the word about our organization or click here to see how you can get involved!
Sincerely,
Randi Cairns
Founder/Executive Director
Home Front Hearts, Inc.
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to show your
support to our servicemembers
and their families!
Your donation of services, goods, and/or funds can make a HUGE difference in the life of a military family! | |
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Home Front Hearts, Inc. (EIN # 26-1661564) is a non-profit organization exempt under the 501 (c)(3) section of the IRS code. | |
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