OUR MISSION
To show the love, support and appreciation of a grateful nation, by providing necessities and comfort items to our military men and women and their families, all over the world, through the continued support and generosity of businesses, individuals and volunteers.
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Our Journey
Thank you to our heroes for being there to protect us. We know freedom is not free and through their sacrifices we live in freedom. You will see, through these pictures, it takes a village, Our wonderful Holiday 4 Heroes Team, volunteers, sponsors and the community have made all this happen. As we always say, "We could not do what we do without you!" Please enjoy our journey through this slide show. THANK YOU TO ALL! |
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Who we are
Holiday 4 Heroes was founded in 2007 by Jonette Kessack, owner of a postage and wine store. This grassroots effort was started to fill a need to provide comfort and care to out deployed men and women all over the world. We are a group of team members, volunteers and business owners who have a desire to show our military heroes that we remember them and appreciate their sacrifices for us. What we do What started as a Holiday Program, our first year sending 40 packages, became a Year-Round effort. We now send 100 - 200 comfort packages each month to our brave men and women, and 1000 packages for our Holiday Mission. We have now sent more than 20,000 packages. To fill the need at home we have added more programs, for our community, to serve our in-need and homeless Veterans and their families. |
Additions to the Mission In 2019, we started our Backpack for Homeless and In-need Veterans Program partnering with the VA and various homeless coalitions. Our back packs are filled with personal care items, high protein snacks and information on where to get help. In 2020, we began distributing bulk food drops to our in-need veterans and their families through the VA Food Pantry. In 2021 our local VA Clinic asked us if we could help fill a need in our community. We were asked if we could provide tents and water filtration bottles for our Veterans who are losing their homes during the current housing crisis. In 2022 we realized that some of our Mission Make Merry Families, sometimes, need a little extra help for emergencies. When funds area available, we provide what we can to help our families get through these difficult times with a little less stress. Please read about some of the things we are doing fot our families. Read More. |
In 2023 Holiday 4 Heroes proudly partnered with the Midwest Food Bank to help supply our disabled veterans with food for their families. We get to "shop" at their amazing warehouse once a month and set up a mini food pantry for them to come take what they need. This is a new benefit to help those that are struggling to feed their families during these difficult times.
Our New 2024 Initiative
Helping Hands for Heroes
In 2024 our newest program “Helping hands for Heroes” came about from a special request from a VA visiting home nurse.
We became aware of the fact that many of our elderly disabled Veterans are home-bound with no way of getting to the grocery store with no where to get outside help. That’s where we stepped in to fill the need.
Each month we reach out to these registered Veterans to find out their needs based on their dietary requirements. We then supply them with these necessities.
Each Veteran receives 5 or 6 bags of dry goods and a cooler full of frozen foods and meats.
On the third Friday of each month, volunteers deliver the needed items and spend a little time with the Veteran. The items are brought into their homes and if requested, put away for them.
Food and beverage products are acquired through a partnership with Midwest Food Bank and Round Table Provisions (Boars Head). Holiday 4 Heroes then fills the gap with needed items from Sam’s Club and Walmart. Find out more
In 2024 our newest program “Helping hands for Heroes” came about from a special request from a VA visiting home nurse.
We became aware of the fact that many of our elderly disabled Veterans are home-bound with no way of getting to the grocery store with no where to get outside help. That’s where we stepped in to fill the need.
Each month we reach out to these registered Veterans to find out their needs based on their dietary requirements. We then supply them with these necessities.
Each Veteran receives 5 or 6 bags of dry goods and a cooler full of frozen foods and meats.
On the third Friday of each month, volunteers deliver the needed items and spend a little time with the Veteran. The items are brought into their homes and if requested, put away for them.
Food and beverage products are acquired through a partnership with Midwest Food Bank and Round Table Provisions (Boars Head). Holiday 4 Heroes then fills the gap with needed items from Sam’s Club and Walmart. Find out more
Mission Make Merry
As the mission evolves, Holiday 4 Heroes supports our military families at home by giving them a Christmas filled with joy and less worries.
Every year we provide a Merrier Christmas for local Military Families, who may be going through some difficult times.
These families are recommended to us through the VA.
This year, 2024, we provided for 11 in-need families.
This year, through the tremendous generosity of our community, we also included gift certificates for food to help out with Thanksgiving Dinner too.
If you or a group would like to participate in our Mission Make Merry fundraiser, you may adopt an entire family, purchase an item from a family's wish list or make a donation on our website. We start our fundraising in October of each year. For more details Contact Us.
Since we are a small organization, funded by the generosity of our community, to qualify for the program you need to live in Southwest Florida, be registered with the Veterans Administration and apply by October 1st of the current year requesting help.
Mission Make Merry Thank You
This is a thank you from one of our "Mission Make Merry Families"
This is why we do what we do.
"My family and I were the recipients of the H4H donations for 2022, on both Thanksgiving and Christmas. Due to my declining health and other situations that have arisen, we have been struggling exceptionally hard this year, we had no idea how we were going to pull off these holidays for our children, then your organization stepped in.
From the gift cards which ensured our family had more than enough on the table at all times, to the Christmas tree and the WONDERFUL gifts you provided, I can honestly say this has been the best holiday we have had in a very long time.
My toddlers, our teenager (my wife and I were extremely happy with all we received, that goes triple for the kids who all not only received exactly what they wished for, but LOVED every minute of playing with everything.
I cannot tell you how wonderful this has been. I want to thank your organization and everyone that took the time out of their busy lives to not only donate, but also organize this all. Thank you, God bless you all, I am forever in debt to you for your kindness and generosity. "
please Join us for some fun and friendship
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Did you know? It takes approximately ONE MONTH for a box to be received by a soldier. Once USPS picks up, it travels to McDill in Tampa. From there, boxes are shipped as space is available. This means September we start sending fall and Halloween cards in our boxes. Come October, we will send Thanksgiving cards and by November we will be including Christmas cards in our boxes! As if time didn’t already move fast enough… What can we buy? We are always being asked “what can we buy” or “what do you need”. EACH and EVERY donation is needed and APPRECIATED! MAGAZINES!!!! We are in need of magazines to send in our boxes. If you receive them, or know of any business that does, please consider asking them to donate to us when the new issue arrives. The last round of packing wiped us out!! This is a MONEY FREE donation that our troops would appreciate! Dollar Tree Items: ($1.25each) Razors Flavored drink mixes Granola / Energy / Protein Bars Body wipes Aldi Items: Tuna fish in individual packets (.85 cents each) Peanut Butter, crunchy or creamy ($1.79/jar) |
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Thank You!
These amazing people pictured here join us to pack comfort and care packages for our troops and Back Packs for our Homeless Veterans. We have packing parties on Thursdays and Saturdays. Contact Tricia Rice to join the fun [email protected]. We are so fortunate to have a woman who hand makes cards for EVERY holiday for Holiday 4 Heroes. They are amazing!!! Hand written notes inside. Is anyone interested in reaching out to children / classrooms to see if they would like to generate more notes to our soldiers! If you are interested fill out the Contact Us Form and tell us what you would like to do. Thanks to all of you who have generously donated your time to make this effort such a success! |
PHOTOS FROM OUR PACKING PARTIES -
JOIN US FOR SOME FUN AND FRIENDSHIP! |
Greater SW FL Paradise Iowa Club Thank you to the Greater SW FL Paradise Iowa Club for coming in and packing 75 care packages for our troops! (Even after your late night and fantastic women's basketball team win). Also, we are very grateful for your donation to help with postage to mail these boxes! Thank you for being amazing supporters of our troops and of Holiday 4 Heroes. |
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We thank all of you for your loyalty and generosity for our "Holiday 4 Heroes" Program. Holiday 4 Heroes is a 501(C)(3) registered charity
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