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Danbury drop off location announced for National Guard's Operation ELF

The 18th annual Operation ELF (Embracing Lonely Families) has been launched.

Established in 2001, Operation ELF is designed to support all branches of military families whose loved ones are deployed, preparing to deploy within the next six months, or recently returned from deployment. Over 500 Connecticut National Guardsmen are currently in the deployment cycle, with approximately 280 Guardsmen currently serving overseas and another 140 preparing to deploy in support of operations around the world. 40 members of the 192nd Engineer Battalion, headquartered in Stratford, returned from Kuwait and Afghanistan in July and six members of the 256th Engineer Detachment, headquartered in East Lyme, Conn., returned from deployment in Romania in early October.

“The holidays are a time to be spent with family, friends, and loved ones,” Maj. Gen. Francis Evon, the Adjutant General, said. “However, some families will be missing a deployed service member this holiday season, and with that comes the added challenges of taking care of households and families back at home so a Guardsman can focus on his or her duty. This is our way of giving back, saying thank you to military families for their sacrifices that support or service members, and hopefully taking just a little bit of that holiday stress off their shoulders.”

Donations of gift cards for grocery and department/home goods stores, pharmacies, and gas stations help support military families throughout the year.  Donations of fuel oil, snow removal, and home maintenance services are also needed. New, unwrapped toys for young people of all ages are welcome.

In 2018, Operation ELF distributed nearly $4,500 in gift cards to military families in need. Additionally, Operation ELF is still in need of a caterer for the event on December 14th.

Within ELF is the Adopt-A-Family program.  Its goal is to assist those families who are suffering extreme financial hardship as a result of their service member’s call to Active Duty, as well as help them meet their basic needs and have a fulfilling holiday season. Individuals or businesses may “adopt” a family from this category by funding or purchasing items of need identified by the family.  The name of the family is never revealed to the adopting person or organization. Instead, a summary of the family’s demographics and wish list are provided.  The applicant’s case worker ensures gifts are received in time for the holidays.

Donations may be dropped off at drop-off locations between 8am and 4pm, including at the Armed Forces Reserve Center at 90 Wooster Heights Road  in Danbury.

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