Operation Homefront's 'Back to School Brigade' opens shop at NAS Lemoore

This past Saturday morning (Aug. 13) the youngsters and their parents were greeted by about 20 local volunteers in the Fellowship Hall at Naval Air Station Lemoore, who guided the parents and kids through a room full of school supplies, donated by local organizations or purchased with monetary donations.

Navy mom Rachael Baranski and nine-year-old Isabella choose school supplies Saturday morning at Naval Air Station Lemoore's "Back to School Brigade."

A national nonprofit, Operation Homefront helps to build strong, stable, and secure military families so that they can thrive in the communities they have worked so hard to protect.

With more than 3,200 volunteers nationwide, Operation Homefront has provided assistance to tens of thousands of military families since its inception shortly after 9/11. Recognized for superior performance by leading independent charity oversight groups, 92 percent of Operation Homefront’s expenditures go directly to programs that provide support to military families.

Kristine Jansen, Operation Homefront’s Program Director said this year’s “Brigade” is an annual event at NAS Lemoore. “We are a national non-profit,” she said. “Our mission is to build strong stable and secure military families, as well as provide emergency financial assistance, housing – both transitional housing, which is completely rent free for families transitioning out of the service – as well as mortgage free homes. We’ve given away 500 homes across the nation.”

 For more information, go to www.OperationHomefront.net

She said that the “Back to School Brigade” is just one of many programs Operation Homefront is responsible for. Other activities include baby showers and holiday meals for the family.

Several local businesses were involved with this year’s program, including Bressler and Company, Lemoore Movers, Dollar Tree, SAIC, and Honda Financial Services.

One of the principals of Bressler and Company, Joe Bressler, was on hand to help Saturday morning. “We are a sponsor of the event for Operation Homefront, and we are always looking for more ways to give back to the community,” he said.

He told The Leader that he heard about the program at a Lemoore Chamber of Commerce event. “After that we got involved and found out more about this event specifically and then helped organize some of the materials and supplies we’re giving out to the kids today. We also have quite a few of our team members here today.”