The Kroger Co. and the USO are strengthening their partnership with a fresh campaign to support men and women in the armed forces and their families.

In conjunction with the Daytona 500 celebration on Sunday, Feb. 26, Kroger will launch ‘Honoring OurHeroes’, a year-long initiative to raise funds for members of our armed forces in partnership with the USO, the leading organization for morale-boosting programs and services for American troops and their families. This is the second year Kroger is sponsoring Honoring Our Heroes.

Thirteen Kroger associates from across the company will join in presenting a $1.5 million donation to the USO prior to the race.  The funds were raised in 2011 in partnership with key suppliers and through the contributions of customers and associates at Kroger’s family of stores across the country. This donation will support USO programs serving members of the military, wounded warriors and their families.

“For more than 70 years, the USO has been lifting the spirits of America’s troops and their families in many ways, including free phone calls and internet to connect with their loved ones back home, care packages to let them know they are never forgotten, and USO Centers around the world, where they can rest or get a free bite to eat,” said USO President and CEO Sloan Gibson.

“None of this would be possible without dedicated partners like Kroger. Our partnership with Kroger makes it possible for our troops and their families to know that their efforts and sacrifices are appreciated.  And this is the best way we can honor our heroes.”

In addition to being Kroger associates, these men and women also are active-duty or reservist members of our armed forces. They represent all five branches of the military and the National Guard.

“We can’t think of more fitting ambassadors of our program than our own people, and we are pleased to recognize their service in front of the Daytona 500 race fans,” said Lynn Marmer, group vice president of Corporate Affairs for Kroger.  ”We thank all of our associates in the military for their service to our country, our communities, and our company.  The Kroger family of stores looks forward to helping the USO assist even more of our men and women in uniform.”

As it did in 2011, the Kroger-USO car, driven by NASCAR champion Bobby Labonte, will carry a special Kroger logo in this year’s Daytona 500. This emblem features the names of more than 350 Kroger associates who are active duty or reservist members of the U.S. military, in tribute to their service.  In addition, Labonte will wear a special helmet during Sunday’s race.  Featuring a striking eagle motif and customized paint scheme, the helmet was designed by an associate at Kroger’s general office in Cincinnati especially for this race.

“It’s great to work with Kroger again and have them on board for one of the most prestigious races of the season, the Daytona 500,” Labonte said. “The Kroger logo on the hood of our No. 47 Toyota Camry is pretty cool because it is paying special tribute to hundreds of Kroger associates from across the country.  We also have USO on the car. Kroger did an amazing job through Honoring Our Heroes. We’re proud to carry the USO in The Great American Race on Sunday.”

Kroger is the exclusive retail partner for the Daytona 500. Learn more about special in-store and online Daytona 500 promotions at Kroger and its family of stores at www.kroger.com.

Best known for its entertainment tours, the USO provides programs and services to those who need the USO the most, including deployed troops and their families, wounded, ill and injured service members and their families, as well as families of the fallen. To learn about the USO’s mission to lift the spirits of America’s troops and their families, visit www.uso.org.

Image Courtesy of   http://www.flickr.com/photos/imcomkorea/

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Operation Homefront has announced that it will be able to fill unmet needs in specific local communities and nationwide as a result of $175,000 in special funding from Walmart. Four community grants will help meet basic needs like food assistance and rent in Seattle, WA; Fenton, MO; Charlotte, NC; and San Diego, CA, for all eligible service members.

On the national level, Operation Homefront is using the contribution to serve the families of National Guardsmen and Reservists for longer periods before and after active-duty deployments.

With deployments being altered as a result of the withdrawal from Iraq, Guardsmen and Reservists find themselves with lapses in income.  When they return home to an economy where the unemployment rate among recent veterans in the country is significantly higher than civilians, many find themselves without an income for extended periods of time.

“The holidays are over, but the needs of our military families continue,” said Jim Knotts, President and CEO of Operation Home front.  “The end of deployments to Iraq and quickening redeployments from Afghanistan means fewer service members are in harm’s way.

However, there are still many who are answering the call to duty.  Each one of them has a family back home.  Operation Home front is committed to continuing to help the families back home, even beyond the deployments to Afghanistan.”

Operation Home front, a national nonprofit with 24 local Chapters, provides emergency assistance – including food aid, rent and mortgage assistance, and help with car repairs – to active-duty service members of all branches.  The organization’s policy had been that National Guard and Reservist families were eligible for aid 30 days pre-deployment, during deployment, and 90 days post-deployment.

As a result of the Walmart grant, these families are now eligible for 60 days pre-deployment, during deployment, and 120 days post-deployment.  Based upon demand, Operation Homefront hopes to be able to expand the eligibility even longer.

“These citizen-soldiers and their families make the same sacrifices as our active-duty military, and also face the difficulty of transitioning in and out of service,” continued Knotts. “Walmart has been our steadfast partner in helping military families for years.  Walmart’s contribution will give these families a bit more breathing room, whether they are facing a financial shortfall while a loved-one is overseas, or trying to find work in today’s difficult job market.”

Image Courtesy of   lev radin / Shutterstock.com

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