SAN ANTONIO — Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit serving America’s military families, will hold several Star-Spangled BabiesTM showers across the nation in 2017 in which military moms-to-be and new military moms will receive donated gifts for the baby and will acquire educational information to help them in their new role as a mom. The first Star-Spangled BabiesTM shower was held in Chesapeake, Va., on April 22, during the Defense Department’s observance of the Month of the Military Child.
In addition to receiving essential baby items and learning about area educational resources for new parents, the guests of honor at Operation Homefront Star-Spangled Babies showers will have the opportunity to develop relationships with other military moms.
“Military moms are heroes on the homefront,” Operation Homefront Chief Operating Officer and Air Force Brig. Gen. (ret.) Robert Thomas said. “New and expecting military parents often live far from home and have loved ones who are deployed. The Star-Spangled BabiesTM showers help military moms to develop a support system of other military parents, provide early childhood tips, and inform our honored guests about services available to them. Additionally, the donated baby items ease the family’s financial burden and say ‘thank you’ for their essential role in the defense of our nation. The Star-Spangled BabiesTM showers are one way in which Operation Homefront builds strong, stable, and secure military families so that they thrive – not simply struggle to get by – in the communities they’ve worked so hard to protect.”
In addition to Chesapeake, this year’s Star-Spangled BabiesTM shower locations include Springfield, Va.; San Diego; Denver; Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.; Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii; and Lansing, Mich.
Roughly 42 percent of active-duty military children are 5 years old or younger, according to the Defense Department.
About Operation Homefront: Founded in 2002, Operation Homefront is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to build strong, stable, and secure military families so that they can thrive – not simply struggle to get by – in the communities they have worked so hard to protect. Recognized for superior performance by leading independent charity oversight groups, 92 percent of Operation Homefront expenditures go directly to programs that support tens of thousands of military families each year. Operation Homefront provides critical financial assistance, transitional and permanent housing and family support services to prevent short-term needs from turning into chronic, long-term struggles. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the support from thousands of volunteers, Operation Homefront proudly serves America’s military families. For more information, visit OperationHomefront.org.
