December 2, 2015

Operation ELF & Adopt-A-Family

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Operation “Embracing Lonely Families,” or “E.L.F.,” is launching it’s 12th year of supporting Connecticut military families who are separated during the holiday season due to deployment duties.

To ease financial hardships, the Operation generates toys, gift cards for groceries and department stores, seasonal services and monetary contributions to either the Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc. or the Connecticut National Guard Service Member and Family Support Center. As a result, Connecticut military families in need receive essential assistance during the holiday season in giving to their children, or providing for their needs.

New, unwrapped gifts and gift card donations may be dropped off at either of the following nearby armories Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. If you need to make special arrangements to drop off toys, please feel free to contact the Operation E.L.F. hotline at 1-800-858-2677.

William A. O’Neill Armory

360 Broad Street

Hartford, CT 06105

Drop Off Deadline: Monday, December 14, 2015

For more information, please visit the Connecticut Military Department’s website, or the Connecticut National Guard’s website.

Another way to get involved and help our military community this season is to “adopt” a family through the Salvation Army’s “Adopt-A-Family” Program. By adopting a family, you can provide essential goods and services like winter clothing (coats, scarves, gloves, boots), food, assistance with household expenses (utilities, heat) and presents for children.

The program is 100% confidential and the adopting family/business/individual is never given any personal information on the family in need. Additionally, no service member or employee’s chain of command is ever notified of your enrollment in the program.

All members of Connecticut’s Military “family” are eligible to be adopted or to adopt. This includes all Guard, Reserve and Active Component Families.

If you would like to adopt a family or if you would like to be adopted, please call the Operation E.L.F. hotline at 1-800-858-2677 and the Adopt-A-Family team will assist in matching your family accordingly.

The Salvation Army strives to do the most good for Connecticut all year round. Find a location nearest you by clicking here.