During the entire month of March, Stroller Warriors® hosted our first Global Outreach Event of the year supporting Operation First Response, Inc (OFR). This mission of OFR is to serve all branches of our nation’s Wounded Heroes/Disabled Veterans, Gold Star Families and First Responders with personal and financial needs. Services are provided from the onset of injuries or illness, throughout their recovery period and along their journey into the civilian world. Financial aid varies as each case is based on individual needs ranging from rent, utilities, vehicle payments, groceries, clothing, and travel expenses.
Operation First Response provides a variety of programs:
Family Assistance Program and Last Mission Project: In several cases, the VA process can take over a year or more to help Combat Wounded Veterans support their families- leaving families feeling helpless and unheard. This is where the Family Assistance Program steps in by providing the amount of assistance the individual will need to continue through the VA process claim. They also support by assisting with basic needs like groceries, utilities, rent, vehicle payments, and mortgage payments. Additionally, Last Mission Project helps alleviate those stressors to individuals suffering with PTSD.
OFR Backpacks: Imagine being wounded and showing up to a combat hospital with no belongings. OFR Backpacks are filled with personal hygiene items, undergarments, socks, and other necessities to provide a little bit of comfort from home to those that need it the most.
Operation Final Salute: Artist, Kaziah Hancock, has created over 580 portraits of fallen service members— ranging from combat veterans to retired service members. Portraits are given to the families to cherish and respect with one “Final Salute”. This program has been provided by financial donations given to Operation First Response.
Project Specialized Training: Operation First Response has collaborated with Veterans Institute of Training and Technology to provide Cisco Certified Network Associate Routing and Switching certification. The training course, books, and reimbursement of the exam are all covered by OFR. This certification allows service members to seek employment with the knowledge of designing, building, and maintaining business networks and networking hardware.
Random Acts of Kindness Initiative: Small cards are made with the information and picture of a fallen service member. Individuals then take part in an act of kindness for their fellow friend, neighbor, and or stranger and provide them with the card. The card says it was “NOT a random act of kindness but done in “honor” of the fallen service member. It is a way to give back to those around you while honoring a hero who gave back to our country.
Through our global outreach events, many of our Stroller Warriors chapters supported Operation First Response by hosting a dedication run and/or donating supplies:
Due to wet weather, Stroller Warriors Virginia Beach, Virginia held a run on April 1st. All their miles were collectively dedicated to Operation First Response.
Operation First Response provides a variety of programs:
Family Assistance Program and Last Mission Project: In several cases, the VA process can take over a year or more to help Combat Wounded Veterans support their families- leaving families feeling helpless and unheard. This is where the Family Assistance Program steps in by providing the amount of assistance the individual will need to continue through the VA process claim. They also support by assisting with basic needs like groceries, utilities, rent, vehicle payments, and mortgage payments. Additionally, Last Mission Project helps alleviate those stressors to individuals suffering with PTSD.
OFR Backpacks: Imagine being wounded and showing up to a combat hospital with no belongings. OFR Backpacks are filled with personal hygiene items, undergarments, socks, and other necessities to provide a little bit of comfort from home to those that need it the most.
Operation Final Salute: Artist, Kaziah Hancock, has created over 580 portraits of fallen service members— ranging from combat veterans to retired service members. Portraits are given to the families to cherish and respect with one “Final Salute”. This program has been provided by financial donations given to Operation First Response.
Project Specialized Training: Operation First Response has collaborated with Veterans Institute of Training and Technology to provide Cisco Certified Network Associate Routing and Switching certification. The training course, books, and reimbursement of the exam are all covered by OFR. This certification allows service members to seek employment with the knowledge of designing, building, and maintaining business networks and networking hardware.
Random Acts of Kindness Initiative: Small cards are made with the information and picture of a fallen service member. Individuals then take part in an act of kindness for their fellow friend, neighbor, and or stranger and provide them with the card. The card says it was “NOT a random act of kindness but done in “honor” of the fallen service member. It is a way to give back to those around you while honoring a hero who gave back to our country.
Through our global outreach events, many of our Stroller Warriors chapters supported Operation First Response by hosting a dedication run and/or donating supplies:
Due to wet weather, Stroller Warriors Virginia Beach, Virginia held a run on April 1st. All their miles were collectively dedicated to Operation First Response.
Stroller Warriors Virginia Beach
Stroller Warriors McConnell, Kansas hosted a run supporting Operation First Response on Wednesday, March 30th.
Stroller Warriors Lewis-McChord, Washington hosted a run supporting Operation First Response on Monday, March 28th.
Stroller Warriors Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii dedicated their C25K Graduation miles to Operation First Response! The group ran 32.24 miles on March 25th and had a great turnout that morning of runners, cheerleaders, and other support volunteers. In their event, members shared information on the global outreach.
Stroller Warriors Lewis-McChord, Washington hosted a run supporting Operation First Response on Monday, March 28th.
Stroller Warriors Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii dedicated their C25K Graduation miles to Operation First Response! The group ran 32.24 miles on March 25th and had a great turnout that morning of runners, cheerleaders, and other support volunteers. In their event, members shared information on the global outreach.
Stroller Warriors Kaneohe Bay
Stroller Warriors Iwakuni, Japan was honored to support the Operation First Response Global Outreach Event for the month of March. They had twelve runners dedicate a total of 479 miles throughout the month! This included a run on Wednesday March 23rd that was specifically for Operation First Response. All their members attended the event wearing blue and gold!
Stroller Warriors Iwakuni
Stroller Warriors Okinawa, Japan was able to donate underwear, t-shirts, socks, band-aids, and over the counter pain relievers from Operation First Responses’ amazon wish list. They also collectively dedicated 112.92 miles!
As always, our members went above and beyond supporting this wonderful organization. Congratulations Warriors on a job well done!
If you are interested in learning more and supporting Operation First Response please visit their website at https://www.operationfirstresponse.org/.
As always, our members went above and beyond supporting this wonderful organization. Congratulations Warriors on a job well done!
If you are interested in learning more and supporting Operation First Response please visit their website at https://www.operationfirstresponse.org/.
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