‘Tis the season for giving. And the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association (CFDA) is doing just that. The CFDA, along with more than 35 Connecticut funeral homes, helped collect and donate gifts to the Connecticut National Guard’s Operation ELF (Embracing Lonely Families) Program.

Operation ELF

The charity drive ran from November 13th to December 6th this year. It helped raise money, new toys, and gift cards for military families that are separated over the holidays because of active deployment.

It’s the 12th year the CFDA has participated in Operation ELF. Their annual holiday collection has helped make an enormous difference in the lives of Connecticut military families.

In 2015 alone, the CFDA raised and distributed more than $10,000 in gift cards to military families. They’ve also supported more than 125 military families through the Adopt-A-Family program. According to the Connecticut National Guard, the Adopt-A-Family program helps to “provide the most essential goods or services a family is in need of. Items we seek to provide to families include winter clothing (coats, scarves, gloves, boots), food, assistance with essential household expenses (utilities, heat) and presents for children.”

In a press release, 2016 CFDA President Howard K. Hill said that “It has been an honor for the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association to support Operation ELF for close to a decade, assisting the families of Connecticut servicemen and women who are away from home during the holidays… By expanding our efforts, we were able to double the amount we raised for Operation ELF this year.”

Funeral Homes from All Over Are Giving Back this Holiday Season

Connecticut funeral homes aren’t the only ones getting into the holiday spirit of giving. Below are just some of the many great and inspiring stories we’ve seen of funeral homes helping out their communities.

• Several funeral homes throughout the country are participating in Operation Toy Soldier. The program is a nationwide effort organized through Veterans Funeral Care. Like Operation ELF, Operation Toy Soldier’s goal is “to repay our veterans by ensuring their children have gifts for Christmas.” To find drop-off locations for Operation Toy Soldier, click here.
• Two funeral homes in Michigan have partnered together for the holidays. Together, they’ve formed the Fill the Fountain initiative. The program will donate toys for children who lost a parent this year.
• Several other funeral homes participated in this year’s Wreaths Across America Program. Wreaths Across America is an annual memorial project that donates wreaths to military cemeteries across the country. See how you can get involved in next year’s wreath-laying ceremony.
• A Canadian funeral home partnered with MADD Canada for Project Red Ribbon. The campaign hopes to raise awareness and discourage impaired driving, which can peak around the holiday season.

How is your funeral home giving back this holiday season? Share your stories by emailing us at marketing@frazerconsultants.com and we’ll feature you in our weekly Funeral Home Happenings spotlight!