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HOMEFRONT HUGS USA
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January 5, 2010
Welcome to Homefront Hugs USA:
a somewhat corny name for an awesome organization with a heart
and a passion to give unconditional support to our troops,their
families and our veterans ...
Bottom line- you can help us from home- and you can do anything
from writing a card to our wounded troops and their angels
who care for them,adopting a deployed hero or heroine,a wounded
veteran now home, or a family dealing with one of many
long deployments.
You can even be one of the first to start a Homefront Hugs Kids or
Teens Club in your school or community, base or place of worship,
supporting our heroes.
Just come visit the new FACEBOOK page with photos,brochure examples,
and our pledge that exemplifies our philosophy !
All kids and teens are welcome under the supervision of an adult
of course- an excellent inclusive club to implement in schools,bases and spiritual
places of worship....giving thanks for our freedoms:
OUR CLUB SLOGAN: FREEDOM ROCKS !!
We hope everyone a merry holiday season, wonderful Hanukkah,
a peaceful Ramadan and a blessed Christmas !!
Let's pray for peace in this new year 2010 and beyond...peace
everywhere- in our hearts- families-neighborhoods- and countries.
Savor the moments. Life is short.
Freedom Endures.
 CHECK IT OUT - WE ARE ON UTUBE ! WATCH OUR VOLUNTEERS AND MISSIONS...MESSAGES FOR
THE TROOPS THERE TOO...
OUR PHILOSOPHY FOR OUR MISSIONS:
Where Freedom Means Sacrifice and Freedom Endures
Where our Heroes are Supported Without Conditions
Where we honor and dedicate our missions to USAF Gulf
War veteran pilot Steve S of Charlevoix, Michigan
whose dedication and ability to beat the odds and meet any challenge inspired ****
me to begin Homefront Hugs.
Steve was a laid back highly intelligent man who also had the compassionate,
kind heart of his Mom : Claire Genia Schmidt. Steve made me so proud privately
and publicly, once my sweet husband /my best friend when we were far too
young to be married,like so many military couples.
We met in college at U of M- Ann Arbor...two young Psychology students ready for
life,adventure,very much in love. Memories linger which are impossible to erase,
memories Claire taught me to see as gifts. Steve and I were both silly romantics,
something Steve remembered well when we said our last goodbyes.
"SAVOR ."
The realization of what I lost came too late but Claire's love , friendship and
faith sustained me .
Claire was an angel in our midst- a woman and mother with strength
and dignity I try to follow as a mother now. Steve and I both looked forward
to being parents together because we both loved kids- and each felt the
other would be an amazing parent. I am sure wherever he is now- he is an
incredible Dad. He sure knows the 12 days of Christmas well ! (private joke)
Claire agreed and yet she was there when life turned out differently.
Now as a mother- I wish she was here. She would have been an incredible
mentor and grandmother figure.
She left this earth far too early. She taught me that a real love story never
ends..sometimes across lifetimes.
I realized that silly phrase that it is better to have loves and lost, than
never to have loved at all, corny but made sense finally. Though there have been
a few romances, just as Claire predicted, I never could remarry.
(Click soon on "Claire's Gift" tab above to learn more about an amazing woman
and mother of a veteran- still being written . Mothers of veterans are in their
own league )
Where we honor CW5 Dennis R. Bryson, USCG retired, who helped
inspire our missions at Homefront Hugs by helping us remember the Coast Guard,
their sacrifices abroad and here during hurricanes and natural disasters.
Where each and every serviceman and woman has served us with honor
no matter what decisions our leaders make as they serve with courage
and faith in our freedoms and principles.
Where Americans will never forget 9-11-2001 and remember
what it means still to so many . We thank our 9-11 families who
have continued to support Homefront Hugs since its inception
8 years ago after 9-11 and our heroes.
 HUGE THANKS TO OUR YOUNG VOLUNTEERS WHO SENT THE BEST
HOLIDAY CARDS WRITTEN TO BRAVE HEROES ....
Lyme ..Old Lyme, Connecticut- you are incredible ! What talent !!
Arkansas, Columbus Ohio, Michigan,Florida, wow....we are so lucky
to have children who care so much to have done this with their
teachers and community leaders. We read some of your cards out
loud in the videos above... WOW !!!
Santa sure is proud of YOU .
You are important and you can make a difference. Kids Rock !!
   BRAVO MRS.HARVEY and her 5th Graders !Guess what they are doing to make the holidays bright for
needy military kids? Homefront Holiday Hugs !
They are collecting toys for our kids of deployed vets and needy military
children remembering what the holidays are all about.
 Bravo to Temple Emmanuel and their Sunday School class !
The children under the guidance of Debbie Herman have adopted
a medical unit in Afghanistan where other children get treated when
caught in the cross fire ! Beanie Babies and cards and items of comfort
are being sent monthly....Mazeltov !
 How about Grandma Ruth of central Florida and her abundance of
grandchildren- guess what they are doing?
The children under the love and guidance of their Grandma have
adopted a wonderful Hispanic Mom who misses her children and
husband....until she comes home ! What a super family project.
 How about Tabatha and Sadie in Connecticut who were the first team of sisters to sign up with their Mom Liz to start
a Homefront Hugs Kids Club ?
Way to go girls ! You are such awesome patriots already with the
wonderful cards you made for use for different troop missions
including Homefront Holiday Hugs! We are excited to have you start
the very first club in New England !
 How about Casey in New Jersey who had her 3rd fundraiserfor Homefront Hugs this December !
Casey- we're so proud of you !
We think Casey would be a great leader for the first New Jersey
Homefront Hugs Kids Club ! We know her Mom Karen would be great at
helping with this cool club and getting it started to salute our troops !
How about all our Homefront Holiday Hugs helpers
wrapping and sorting gifts in Florida this December !
Many thanks to Victoria M of Gulf Breeze HS,The Liess siblings, the Aylstock brothers,
Nicole and Kayley ,the Schroeders of Navarre, Eve and Lliam Knight and their Mum,
Ashley and Alex Etheredge ( our creative engineer) and their Mom Kim .
 How about all our Homefront Holiday Hugs helpers
who sent cards from the Webelos and friends in Arkansas,the
kids in Columbus ,Ohio who sent cards including snowflakes,
our friends in Lakeland, Florida, and all the families and our
friends in our favorite town- Ann Arbor, Michigan?
Many thanks all of you who made our gifts so special with your super cards to kids and
Dads and Moms waiting for a loved one's safe return. The snowflakes were beautiful and
you truly remembered what Christmas and Hanukkah are all about !
 How about all our Homefront Holiday Hugs card writers in Lyme and Old Lyme Connecticut?
WOW.
You truly understand the sacrifices.
And let's not forget the Burnet Hill Elementary School in Livingston,New Jersey- did you hear?
The whole school remembered how fortunate they were this Hanukkah
and Christmas ! They made gift bags and cards to be given to McGuire
Air Force Base children of deployed heroes- our Homefront Holiday
Hugs program . Mazeltov ! Congratulations and special thanks to
Hope Feldman-Glassgold for making this happen. You are all heroes.
Thanks to Karen Schweiger- our New Jersey rep,for helping make this a successful
delivery to our heroes !
 Another group we don't want to forget:Bear Cub scout Pack #112 of New York- listen up !
They made a huge Thank You banner for our troops to be sent
over to the warzone as a reminder our Homefront Hugs volunteers
never forget. Thanks to Rosemary Danielewicz for helping make this
happen....our New York State rep...
HUGE THANKS
HOMEFRONT HUGS WAS IN DESPERATE NEED OF DONATIONS TO
PURCHASE A NEW PC LAPTOP COMPUTER AND WITH THE HELP OF EVERYONE
ESPECIALLY A FEW VERY GENEROUS DONORS- WE NOW BELIEVE WE HAVE
THE FUNDS ! YOU MADE OUR HOLIDAY MIRACLE HAPPEN...FOR OUR TROOP
MISSIONS TO CONTINUE.
 NOW WE STILL NEED SUPPORT AND DONATIONS BUT AT LEAST OUR BIG
DILEMMA IS NOW SOLVED. NEVER STOP BELIEVING. WE HAVE THE BEST
VOLUNTEERS AND SUPPORT...EVEN IF IT IS NOT ALL ABOUT MONEY - YOUR
ENTHUSIASM AND EFFORTS AND KINDNESS MADE THIS HAPPEN.
CLICK HERE: PAYPAL
Just imagine if everyone helped just a little bit - especially as Homefront Hugs
is funded by donations . No one receives a salary here.
Where do my donations go?
First, donations go straight to our missions
and helping meet the needs of the troops.
We are all volunteers from the top on down.
You can also designate what program...
$5.00 helps us save towards a new printer or wherever you designate
$11.95 mails one large flat rate care package up to 70 pounds !!
$15.00 helps us save towards a new printer
$30 gives us 3 AT&T phone cards so they can call home to loved ones.
$50 allows us to acquire supplies and morale boosting items for our heroes
$35 purchases a King James Bible digital version on a key chain for our troops or a torah
You can always send tax deductible donations
to:
Homefront Hugs USA, Inc.
1449 Tiger Lake Drive
We collect no salaries here. Every penny goes to our missions for the troops
Check us out on GUIDE STAR. Check us out on Volunteer Match.
You've come to the right place and we need you.
Finding the funds for a new computer
is an incredible relief.... .
MANY MANY Thanks to the incredible Leviten family ( SHALOM !), the Harts,
Keith Sager,Linda Cooper, and Miller Masonry.
TO MAKE A SECURE DONATION TO HELP WITH
CARE PACKAGE POSTAGE AND OTHER SUPPLIES NEEDED AS
OUR MISSIONS CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR PLEASE :
CLICK HERE: PAYPAL
Our troops are weary, tired and stressed. Huge new deployments are occurring in the New Year 2010
and are already beginning now as troops and their
families are signing up daily with us for support.
Support is more critical then ever.
It's our turn, America. It's time for all of us to realize there is still
a war going on and we need to be there for our servicemen
and women... making sure it will not come here on our soil.
Make a difference today as our kids above have done or just
email us for our latest needs and newsletter.
Just email: Info@HomefrontHugs.org
with subject " news" or "volunteer".
If you ever wanted to thank someone
who serves up close and not from a distance-
with a personal touch- you've come to
the right place...Homefront Hugs .
We remember our heroes and try to help make their sacrifices more bearable.
If you have any time to volunteer from home - join our incredible volunteers
from all over the USA from all walks of life,ages and abilities !
You can adopt a hero or if time is limited...donate to our missions.
 To adopt or to become adopted you can email
with the word "adopt". If you are a veteran in need,wounded vet, or deployed hero,
we would be honored to spoil you and share some TLC.
If you are a family member and would like to submit your loved one- please do !
Please don't be shy ! Adoptions@HomefrontHugs.org
 We are very proud and grateful of our continuous support from the
Department of Defense :Click here: Urgent Help for Troops
 Major Maggie's 1st Press Release:(approved by General George ) BE A HERO....ADOPT A HERO ( Major Maggie's Trademark !)
If you think you might be interested in adopting a soldier or heard
about us on CNN, FOX News, WEAR ABC TV, Gulf Breeze News,
Navarre Press, Potomac Journal, or even the
Department of Defense news, send us an email to:
AND DON'T FORGET TO SIGN UP FOR OUR BIMONTHLY NEWSLETTER
PARENTS AND TEACHERS !!
JUST EMAIL US AT INFO@HOMEFRONTHUGS.ORG
WITH SUBJECT "NEWS" AND YOU WILL GET UPDATES
ON THE TROOPS TOO...
A huge salute,hug and thanks to Jack Denney
of the Tampa VA -
a Korean War veteran and retired Florida state trooper who is now
adopted by our family at Homefront Hugs.
He brings sunshine to any room and was a special guest at
Fantasy of Flight's Roar N' Soar thanks to entrepreneur,dreamer,
famous aviator and patriot: Kermit Weeks.
If you ever have a chance to go to Fantasy of Flight- an incredible fun
and stimulating aviation and racing venue...don't miss it- especially
if in Florida and thank Kermit for always honoring our veterans.
Jack loved the show and stole our hearts with his knowledge
of aviation and living life to the fullest despite his battles with cancer.
Our veterans never cease to serve this country even after their
military service especially when it means coming to the aid of
their fellow heroes. God bless our dear friend and supporter
former State Trooper and vet Jack! A special
salute from Ed- my son- who has adopted Jack as
his adopted "Grandpa". Jack lives on Paradise Island or
as others call it the 3rd floor of the Tampa Va...with many
veterans who are spending their last days there.
Join us and help us make their last days as special as possible
under Operation Healing Angel. And Jack, if you are reading this,
your buddy sends you a big salute and hug!
 Have you see our most recent special story at Volunteer Match?
We have the most beautiful letters to treasure now going into our 9th year of service.
LETTERS FROM THE ADOPTED TROOPS TO ALL OF YOU
Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 09:14:29 -0800 (PST)
To: CEO of Homefront Hugs
Subject: Re: Homefront Hugs care packages
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