WE ALL SAID THAT AT LEAST ONCE DURING THE YEAR 2020.
IN SOME FORM OR FASHION, WE HAVE ALL SAID IT…... ”2020 WHAT A YEAR!”
Here at OPERATION:H.O.M.E., it was the same. After 2019, a year of firsts, our expectations of opportunities for 2020 seemed vast.
CHRISTmas 2019 brought to OPERATION:H.O.M.E. the chance to; assist a US Marine for the first time, assist a US Sailor for the first time, and OPERATION:H.O.M.E., for the first time received a nomination from a US Soldier (who we assisted in 2015) for another US Soldier in need of financial help to travel home.
During the CHRISTmas season, as we were helping other nominees, we came to the realization we had helped (or were helping) service members part of the US Army, US Navy and US Air Force . THEN we realized we had never helped anyone from the USMC. Not one Marine in 5 CHRISTmas seasons.
We began to call Marine bases seeking the possibility to help. At one Marine base that incurs expensive travel cost….we were told to expect several nominees. After remaining in communication and seeking nominees we only received ONE. I asked our contact chaplain why only one applicant had been submitted and he said…”that is all that was approved.”
Because of the help of our supporters we fulfilled our promise to send Marine LCpl Wolf home for CHRISTmas. At OPERATION:H.O.M.E., we did not understand why no more nominations came our way but were honored to help whoever we could. In our conversations with the Chaplains there seemed to be uncertainty as to why more nominations were not approved to be provided to OPERATION:H.O.M.E.
Then the reason WHY was revealed to us.
During a regularly scheduled meeting with Base Command the Garrison Chaplain’s office updated Command with the information that LCpl Wolf had left for home to be with his family for CHRISTmas. Those sitting around the room had a questioning look on their faces as to why this information was shared. Many Marines from that base had taken leave for CHRISTmas. The Chaplain reminded them several Marines financially could not afford to go home for 2019 CHRISTmas leave but OPERATION:H.O.M.E., had offered to help. Only LCpl. Wolf had been approved to be submitted to our organization.
Command asked the Chaplains it they were sure OPERATION:H.O.M.E. had funded the airfare for LCpl. Wolf. Chaplains confirmed. Command explained more Marines were not approved for nominations because of past scams and fraud. We were told later that the Base Command was “shocked” at what OPERATION:H.O.M.E. had done. They expected it to be another unfulfilled promise.
However because we strive to be good stewards with the gifts given by our supporters and because we did what we promised for the military members who needed help from us -- we were told to “expect 15-20 nominations next CHRISTmas(2020)” from that particular base.
The most military personnel OPERATION:H.O.M.E. has ever funded in one year is 27 from multiple military branches. In 2020 we received 73 nominations from multiple bases. We were able to send 39 of those nominations HOME. Thank you to ALL of our donors who made that happen.
OUR GOAL IN 2021 IS TO SEND 70 INDIVIDUALS HOME…..WE CAN DO IT WITH YOUR HELP! PLEASE HELP US MEET THAT GOAL.
Considering everything that happened in 2020 we were blessed to have the support to help 39 individuals. As things get back to normal we believe we can meet the need of 70 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines.
