OPERATION FIRST RESPONSE
First and foremost, Operation First Response is a family. We are dedicated to serving our wounded Service Members, Disabled Veterans, First Responders and Gold Star families. We are a family made up of mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, brothers, sisters, and friends. We are a family of Veterans of far too many conflicts and wars. We are a family of ordinary people from across the nation. We believe it is our duty and our responsibility to give back to those who have sacrificed so much to keep us free.
Operation First Response is a direct service charity. As such, we give back over 95% of the funds we raise directly to America’s Finest who need our assistance. Since our inception in 2004, Operation First Response has raised over $14 Million Dollars and served over 33,820 wounded Heroes and their families.
As our Disabled Heroes begin their transition into the civilian community it can be a difficult and lengthy journey. Also, keep in mind that our Disabled Heroes are often on a fixed income and when a vehicle repair, appliance replacement or any unexpected cost arises this often sends the family into financial distress. This reality makes it even more important for organizations like Operation First Response to continue our efforts to help our Nation’s wounded and seriously ill Heroes.
We have all seen television commercials that have shown, in heart-wrenching detail, the challenges our wounded Heroes face. We see catastrophic wounds and burns. What we do not see are the struggles faced by those with traumatic brain injuries and PTSD. These invisible injuries, if left untreated, can take a devastating toll on our Heroes and their families. This can be seen daily in the rise in the suicide rate among our Heroes. In many cases, these suicides can be directly attributed to the inability to care for his/her family.
Our Family Assistance Program was developed with the main purpose of alleviating the financial difficulties facing a wounded Hero’s family. We serve all branches of the military and all conflicts. We serve Disabled Veterans, Gold Star families and First Responders. We provide personal and financial services from the onset of the injury or illness, throughout the recovery period and along their journey into their civilian community.
Our services include financial support for the basics like groceries, clothing, mortgage, rent, utilities, and vehicle payments. The things that we take for granted are not so easy for our Heroes and their families.
Without the worry of having the electricity or gas shut off, or whether there is enough money to buy food for the children, our Heroes can concentrate on their recovery with a brighter hope for the future.
In addition to our Family Assistance Program, we have added several new programs over the years as we continue the journey with our Heroes.
OFR provides financial aid to combat Veterans and First Responders suffering from PTSD who attend in-house counseling and therapy treatment to gain the skills needed to cope with the symptoms they experience. Many must decide between their family finances and receiving this needed therapy.
OFR sends backpacks to wounded service members located at combat support hospitals in theatre. These backpacks are filled with a set of clothing, hygiene products, a handmade blanket, and a phone card and sent to a POC to be given to our wounded upon arrival. These items enable our wounded to have some personal items considering many have their uniforms cut off on the battlefield and it may take weeks for personal items to be returned.
OFR also provides Hygiene bags to Veteran Food Shelters and Veteran Homeless Shelters.
Operation First Response Project Tutor (for more information please email us at info@operationfirstresponse.org)
The families we serve face unparalleled challenges in the transition to their civilian communities. We understand their unique needs and are committed to assisting them with their successful integration into higher education and career fields. We have partnered with a tutoring service that has provided educational services for over 30 years. This program is also available to our Heroes’ family members.
OFR has had the honor of sponsoring hundreds of portraits of our Fallen Heroes painted by the artist Kaziah Hancock. These portraits are treasured by the families of our Fallen and allow all of us to be part of the “Final Salute” to these amazing Heroes who gave all for each of us. It reminds the families that our grateful nation will never forget their sacrifices. (This is NOT exclusive to Killed in Action)
Random Act of Kindness Initiative
OFR is offering Random Act of Kindness Initiative Cards to all Gold Star Families. There is no cost for the cards for the Gold Star Families.
OFR has partnered with Cisco IT Professional Trainers from VITTinc to offer specialized training courses for our Active Duty Wounded Warriors while they are within the Warrior’s Transitional Units and our Veterans, First Responders and their caregivers.
The challenge for any charity is raising funds so it can fully provide the services it offers. For OFR, the worst that can happen is to receive a call from a family in need and not have the resources to help. Sometimes a warm and understanding voice just is not enough. At those times we will work with other organizations to fill the void.
OFR uses a variety of venues to raise funds and bring awareness of how we serve our Heroes and their families. In the past, there were dozens of these events held annually in many states. They included wine tastings, golf tournaments and more. Our largest fundraisers were the Walk for the Wounded events held in Media, PA and Ocean City, NJ. Sadly, with the restrictions placed upon events due to the COVID pandemic all of our events were canceled in 2020. In 2021 we adapted to a ‘new normal’ but events were limited and as a result, fundraising was again difficult.
Unfortunately, the number of brave men and women who need our help continues to grow. All too often we fall short of having the funds to serve those families in need of our assistance. To us, this is heartbreaking.
Therefore, we need your help to decrease the number of America’s Finest who are going through financial hardships in the United States of America. We and those we serve, sincerely appreciate your generosity during this unprecedented time.
Donate Today to Make a Difference in Their Tomorrow.
THE HEART OF OFR IS EXACTLY WHAT MAKES AMERICA GREAT…
“We know that our Freedoms are not free and we are committed to those who make those Freedoms possible.”
