Donate to fifth annual Operation LOVE gift drive for homeless veterans
Symonds-Madison Funeral Home’s volunteer network, Operation LOVE, announced its fifth annual gift drive for veterans.
Community members are invited to help homeless veterans and their families with practical needs as they settle into permanent housing through the Home Sweet Home Gift Drive.
Symonds-Madison is partnering with the Elgin-based nonprofit, Operation Sweet Life Inc.
The group, founded by Marine Corps veteran Diane Ahrens, provides furniture and practical items to homeless veterans that help make a house into a home.
“Operation LOVE was founded to let our community’s veterans know we remember and support them,” said Joy Symonds, founder. “I cannot think of a better way to do that than to provide the small items that make a big difference for homeless families getting settled into permanent housing. Clean sheets, a toaster, and fresh towels can all go a long way.
“Operation Sweet Life Inc. fulfills and important need, and we are privileged to partner with them,” Symonds said.
Gifts can be purchased and shipped via Walmart wish list at bit.ly/holidayveterans.
Gifts also can be purchased elsewhere and delivered or dropped off at Symonds-Madison Funeral Home, Attn: Joy Symonds, 305 Park St., Elgin IL. Shoppers are urged to stick to the most-wanted items list, which reflects items most frequently in need.
The list of most wanted items includes: microwaves, toasters, 5-cup coffee makers, kitchen towels, bath towel sets, Corelle dinnerware sets, simple alarm clocks with easy to read controls, queen sheet sets, queen pillows, 10-inch ceramic or copper frying pan, and small ceramic or copper pots with lids.
All gifts will be sorted, organized and delivered to the Operation Sweet Life warehouse. Already, seven veteran households have been blessed with donations from Operation LOVE volunteers.
Questions about the gift drive? Call Joy at (847) 741-1128.
Operation Sweet Life Inc.’s mission is to support veterans in creating their own “Home Sweet Home” by providing essential home furnishings and resources. They offer a range of services tailored to meet the needs of veterans, including:
• Distribution of gently used items free of charge to veterans.
• Assistance with organizing baby showers for veterans, ensuring they have the essentials for their growing families.
• Collaborations with other nonprofits to expand support services and opportunities for veterans to thrive.
• Engagement of veteran volunteers who are in recovery, providing them with a safe and supportive working environment.
• Operation of a resale shop stocked with donated items, open to the public, with proceeds directly benefiting veterans in need.
More information can be found at www.operationsweetlife.org.
The mission of Operation LOVE is to honor “unclaimed” veterans at their funerals, connect volunteers with Elgin area veterans in need, and strengthen existing Elgin area veteran service organizations by promoting their events, volunteer opportunities and fundraisers. LOVE is an acronym for “Love Our Veterans Elgin.”
Veterans and civilians alike are encouraged to participate.