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The Mission of Operation First Response, Inc. (OFR) is to Support
our Nation's
Wounded
Heroes and their families.
The Mission
of Operation First Response, Inc (OFR) is to support our nation's wounded Heroes and their families with personal and
financial needs
What that means to the staff of OFR has grown
and changed to expand to the needs of our families. OFR staff members consider it an honor and a privilege to be able
to lighten the load of our wounded and their families. We have seen devotion beyond words from family members to their
loved ones. Mothers, Fathers, spouses and extended family and friends who have spent endless hours at the bedside of
their loved one, because of the severity of many of the injuries this journey can last for several months and for other...several
years.
For
many of our families the financial hardship begins quickly and for others it is after the domino effect of extra costs and
lost wages. At whatever stage they are in when they contact OFR we are committed to doing all we can to support these
families because it is our responsibility as American citizens, 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 these Freedoms possible.
There are different ways that a wounded Hero may enter into the
OFR family:
Some beginning at a combat support hospital
in Iraq or Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) in Germany where a wounded or injured service member may receive an OFR
backpack filled with a new set of clothing, travel size hygiene products, a handmade blanket and a phone card to ensure they
have needed items until they return stateside.
Many
wounded service members were informed of OFR through our Vice President, Carolyn Crossley, who was a nurse at LRMC.
She gave out OFR information and ensured our wounded Heroes that there was help waiting for them and their families stateside.
At that time many service members contacted OFR or gave their family the information as to how to contact OFR. After
three years of devotion to our wounded, Carolyn has returned stateside with her family and they are stationed at Fort
Bregg, NC, where Carolyn has continued to devote endless hours to OFR and our Nation's wounded Heroes. She left
Germany with strong bonds for OFR to continue her services to the wounded through Marine and Army Liaisons. We will
be forever grateful to her for her devotion to our special Heroes and giving them the sense of having a "Mom" there
with them in a time of need.
Several unit Family Readiness Groups (FRG)
from bases across the United States have heard of the services provided by OFR and they contact us directly to obtain help
for their wounded.
Families search for help via the internet
after their family member is wounded. Upon finding our website, families have the option of requesting our services,
or refer fellow comrades to us for help.
Wounded
service members and their families learn of OFR services through government organizations that provide resource information
to the wounded.
OFR's President, Peggy Baker makes frequent
visits to Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC), this enables OFR to assist the families in a one on one interaction.
Whatever way any of our wounded and their families come into
our path they soon learn that they are part of the OFR family. We will always try to be a voice and ready to help in
the needs of those we assist.
The staff members of OFR have worked together
with our wounded and their families with compassion and understanding to provide an answer to their needs. Taking the
time needed to hear their concerns and find appropriate answers and resources to full fill those needs. We have become
seasoned with compassion and understanding in what our families will need to overcome on the long road ahead. Realizing
that a very large part of what we do is listening and gathering valuable resources to help them with the multitude of issues
that arise.
OFR financial aid varies as each case is
based on individual needs ranging from:
1)
Rent/mortgage payments
2) Payment of over due utilities
3) Vehicle payments and repairs
4) Groceries
5)
Clothing
6) Air transportation
7) Ground transportation which includes taxi rides to and
from DC area airports, dollars given to purchase gas for traveling by car to medical facilities and train tickets
8) Personal requested items by service members and their
families
Most importantly OFR keeps in mind that families
will continue to present new issues that will broaden the scope of services provided by OFR.
OFR staff members are honored to have become a very important part of the recovery of so
many wounded service members, we are thought of as family and do not take that responsibility lightly. Our families
know they are respected and their privacy is of the utmost importance to us. If their need is out of our financial abilities
or scope we will spend as much time as possible on finding other resources that can meet that need.
It is our sincerest hope to educate Americans across the nation to the needs our wounded
are facing, we believe with all our hearts that by giving them the respect and honor rightfully due them we will be able to
give them the help of a promising future. In doing this we will ensure that all that have worn the "Uniform"
will be an instant reminder to all Americans that a Hero stands before us...one of courage, strength and love for their country
and whether their injuries are visible or not...We will never forget...all gave some and some gave all!
@Operation First Response, Inc. 2006
Operation First Response is an all volunteer, non-profit 501 (c)(3) Tax-Exempt Charity formed in the State of Virginia Donors should check with their independent tax experts as to how to utilize donations for beneficial tax purposes
ENI#20-1622436
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