01/04/2018
2nd Year Anniversary for Operation Hug A Veteran
Happy New Year from Operation Hug A Veteran!
Two years ago, we at Operation Hug A Veteran began our non-profit journey to support homeless Veterans. In 2017, we were successful in completing our nationwide mission to uplift, honor, and provide essential necessities to homeless Veterans living in urban areas and transitional or permanent housing solutions.
From January 2016-September 2017, Operation Hug A Veteran was committed to providing homeless Veterans with care packages, bus passes, novels, books, magazines, canned goods, new/gently used clothing, free haircuts, bedding, kitchenware, letters of encouragement, and encouraging them to seek VA support in hopes of reducing the homeless Veteran epidemic.
Operation Hug A Veteran then served 169 homeless Veterans, 46 female homeless Veterans, 25 homeless women, & 3 homeless children. We served four transitioned Veterans within our "Welcome Home" program & one Veteran has been adopted by a volunteer. OHAV distributed a total of 246 care packages, 233 letters of encouragement, 14 travel/bus passes, 4115 hygiene products, 373 canned goods/food, 114 bottles of water, 426 clothing items, 189 books/reading materials, 38 linens/bedding items, & 132 kitchenware items.
Operation Hug A Veteran supported homeless Veterans living in 15 different states & Puerto Rico. OHAV supported two VA Stand Downs and eight homeless shelters.
All in honor of Mrs. Elizabeth "The Hug Lady" Laird. All because of our supporters.
In September of 2017, we shifted our nationwide mission to empowering homeless & hospitalized Veterans through the enrichment of literature.
OHAV holds eight various literary programs that support homeless & hospitalized Veterans. Magazines and monetary donations are not accepted for any of OHAV's programs -
1) OHAV Book Donation at Homeless Veteran Shelters Program
2) OHAV Book Donation to VA Hospitalized Veterans Program
3) OHAV Books at VA Stand Downs for Homeless Veterans Program
4) OHAV Reading A Book to VA Hospitalized Veterans Program
5) OHAV Veterans Day Book Drive Program
6) OHAV Holiday Book Drive for Veterans Program
7) Mrs. Elizabeth "The Hug Lady" Laird Veteran Scholarship
8)OHAV Book Club
It's been a glorious two years - as a nonprofit organization founded by an Active Duty United States Army family, we couldn't be more than thankful for your amazing support!
We a few upcoming missions in which we are working directly with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to empower homeless & hospitalized Veterans through the enrichment of literature.
We are looking forward to meeting our brothers & sisters within these missions - to discuss literature and share a warm hug. All in honor of Mrs. Laird's memory.
With that being said, we'd like to take the time to thank our OHAV Advisory Council Members for their continuous friendship and support -
Marguerita Ramirez
Chairman of the Advisory Council
SSG, U.S. Army Veteran
Leanne Collins Buckley
Veteran Book Drive Team
SFC, U.S. Army Retired
Milanie Manlulu
Veteran Book Drive Team
SSG, U.S. Army Retired
Kenneth Ross
Social Media Team
TSGT, U.S. Air Force Veteran
Michelle Ross
Social Media Team
U.S. Air Force Spouse
Suheil Mercado
Outreach Team
SGT, U.S. Army Veteran
Robert Carpenter
Outreach Team
Elementary School Teacher
We'd also like to thank our Honorary OHAV Advocates -
Mrs. Melissa Yetton-Ryder from Maine
Mr. & Mrs. William & Sarah Bryant from Missouri
Ms. Anna Peters from South Carolina
U.S. Army SPC B.W. from Texas
Mr. Umayr S. from Indiana
Rescue 22, allied Non-Profit Organization
Ms. Vicki F. from Georgia
Mrs. Tia Taccia from Oklahoma
Smith's Detection Group of Maryland
U.S. Army PFC Anjelica Soliz from Maryland
U.S. Army SSG Ellie Bergthold from California
Ms. Danielle Slott from Texas
NYPD P.O. Michael Genovese from New York
U.S. Army SGT Michael Shelton from Alabama
Mrs. Sarah Ellis from Kansas
Mr. Kevin Santos
U.S. Army Veteran Bryan Collins
Ms. Kelly Genovese from New York
Mr. Samuel Moreno from Vermont
Mr. James & John Schwartz (VA Stand Down Staff) from Philadelphia VA Stand Down
Mr. Edward Dirige from Hawai'i
We'd also like to thank our Anonymous Honorary OHAV Advocates that have recently supported our upcoming Winterhaven VA Stand Down in Washington D.C. - 300 new books will be given to homeless Veterans on 28 January 2018!
We'd like to thank the homeless Veteran shelters & VA Stand Downs that helped us support homeless Veterans -
Humility of Mary Shelter, Inc. Inc. Davenport IA
Freedom Home Ministries - Grand Avenue House Davenport IA
The Baltimore Station Baltimore MD
Maryland Center for Veterans Education and Training (MCVET) Baltimore MD
Final Salute Inc. Alexandria VA
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Stand Down Washington D.C.
Caribbean U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Puerto Rico
Hacienda de Veteranos, Caguas PR
Casa del Peregrino David’s Project, Aguadilla PR
De Vuelta a la Vida, Bayamón PR
4th Annual Stand Up for Women Vets by Final Salute Inc.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Stand Down Philadelphia PA
Most importantly - we'd like to thank our brothers & sisters-in-arms, whether a homeless Veteran or hospitalized Veteran, for entrusting us to support them in the way that we can. We thank each of you for your service to our country. We are glad that we've met you. We look forward to meeting you.
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OPERATION HUG A VETERAN
3717 Boston St. #209
Baltimore, MD 21224
Email : [email protected]
Web : www.operationhugaveteran.org
"Opportunity. Haven. Amity. Value."
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