Operation Hug-A-Hero Remembers America’s Veterans With Holiday Hugs 2011 Campaign Kickoff

Our mission at Operation Hug-A-Hero is to lighten the load for what we like to refer to as “our littlest Heroes,” the children of our deployed military. Our goal has always been to be able to gift a Hug-A-Hero Doll to each child with a deployed or fallen parent.

The hardships caused by separations due to deployment or for those whose parent paid the ultimate sacrifice, are magnified during the holiday season. Hug-A-Hero has seen a rapid increase in requests for dolls in 2011 and at the same time we are feeling the results of a slow economy with donations dropping dramatically throughout the year.

We are hoping that our 3^rd Annual Holiday Hugs Campaign will help to ease the separation anxiety and sense of loss felt by military children during what should be a festive time of year. “A Hug-A-Hero doll provides tremendous comfort to these kids during a very stressful time when they are missing the deployed parent probably more than at any time during the year,” explains Operation Hug-A-Hero Executive Director, Lisa Berg.

Operation Hug-A-Hero has received countless testimonials from families who have received a free Hug-A-Hero Doll. For some who deploy when their child is very young, there is a fear that the child will not remember them. Hug-A-Hero Dolls help bridge that gap in a little ones’ life when a parent may not be able to be present in their daily lives.

Operation Hug-A-Hero invites businesses, schools, churches, military spouses clubs and other interested organizations to adorn a holiday tree with Holiday Hug ornaments. A $20 donation ensures a Hug-A-Hero doll will be gifted to an eligible child. Donors can write a personal message to the recipient on the back of their ornament which will be used as a gift tag for the Hug-A-Hero doll that will be sent to the child.

Holiday Hugs ornaments are provided by Operation Hug-A-Hero. The sponsoring group simply provides the tree or other display for the ornaments.  Alternatively, sponsors can initiate a donate-at-the-register campaign and display the ornaments in storefront windows or other prominent locations. “Our goal with Holiday Hugs 2011 is to provide Hug-A-Hero dolls to each family on our waiting list as well as fulfilling the new requests coming in daily,” says Berg.

Individuals who wish to donate to the Holiday Hugs 2011 drive directly can do so via the Operation Hug-A-Hero website: www.operationhugahero.org. Donors may include a personal message to the child and it will be written on a Holiday Hugs ornament on your behalf. The Holiday Hugs Campaign will continue through January 31, 2011.

For more information contact OHAH Director of Communications, Carla Olivo at 540-847-1467 or Carla.Contento-Olivo@operationhugahero.org or Executive Director Lisa Berg at lisa@operationhugahero.org.