LT. GOVERNOR BYSIEWICZ KICKS OFF 24th ANNUAL OPERATION E.L.F. FOR MILITARY FAMILIES

(HARTFORD, CT) - Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz and the Connecticut National Guard Foundation today announced the kickoff for the 24th annual Operation E.L.F. (Embracing Lonely Families) to support Connecticut’s service members and their families.

Operation E.L.F., established in 2001 by former Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell while serving as then Lt. Governor, supports military families enduring hardships caused by the deployment of family members. Operation E.L.F. helps lessen the financial stresses experienced by military families who must leave their civilian lives and careers when called to duty to serve the nation and state. It is designed to support families whose loved ones are deployed, preparing to deploy within the next six months or recently returned from deployment. Funding and donations received through Operation E.L.F. are also used throughout the year to help support our service members and their families with demonstrated financial needs.

Operation E.L.F. provides the generous citizens of our great state an opportunity to show their support of our men and women in uniform and their families.

Over 800 Connecticut National Guardsmen are currently deployed to operations around the globe. Approximately 100 Airmen of the Connecticut National Guard’s 103rd Air Wing recently returned from deployment with approximately 150 Airmen still deployed overseas. Within the next 10 months another 150 Connecticut Army National Guard Soldiers will be mobilized for overseas service. This is a significant increase in deployed units and service members and is the highest number of Connecticut National Guard service members who have been deployed in a 12-month period within the last 15 years.

In addition to new, unwrapped toys, donations of gift cards for grocery and department/ home goods stores, pharmacies and gas stations are especially needed to help support military families throughout the year. Year-to-date, the Connecticut National Guard Foundation has awarded over $48,500 of need-based grants and $5,000 in gift cards to service members and families in financial need.

Other needs include donations of fuel oil, snow removal and home maintenance services.

Donations to Operation E.L.F. will also be used to support a free holiday party event for all families of deployed Connecticut National Guard service members to be held on December 20 at the State Armory. Hundreds of service member spouses and children are expected to attend and enjoy refreshments, crafts and youth activities and the support of each other – along with, of course, a visit from Santa Claus.

Within E.L.F. is the Adopt-A-Family program. Its goal is to assist military families that are suffering extreme financial hardship as a result of their service members’ call to active duty, to 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. The deadline to apply for assistance through the Adopt-A-Family program is November 14 and the deadline to donate is December 5.

How to help:

Gift cards and financial contributions can be mailed at any time. Please send donated gift cards to:

Connecticut Military Department
Office of Family Programs
360 Broad Street
Hartford, CT 06105-3706

For financial donations (please make all checks payable to the “Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Incorporated” and annotate “Operation ELF” in the memo line). Financial donations should be sent to:

Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc.
360 Broad Street
Hartford, CT 06105-3706

Or donate online at: https://ctngfi.org.

Instructions for online donations:

Once at the website (https://ctngfi.org), scroll down until you see the words “How to Help” and click on the “Learn More” button. Then, on the next page, click on the “Donate” button. All credit cards are accepted.

Monday, December 5 is the final day to drop-off toy and gift card collections in support of Operation E.L.F. All donation deliveries can be made at the William O’Neill Armory, Hartford, Room 112.

Please be sure to include your name, address, and phone number so that an appropriate acknowledgement of your contribution can be sent.

The Connecticut National Guard Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit, 501(c) (3) organization that was established in April of 2003 for the purpose of providing emergency financial assistance for Connecticut National Guard members and their families. All donations are fully tax-deductible. For more information, visit https://ctngfi.org.

For more information specific to Operation E.L.F. or to adopt a family, please call (800) 858-2677, or refer to the Operation E.L.F. and the Connecticut National Guard Facebook pages at facebook.com/connecticutoperationelf and facebook.com/connecticutnationalguard.