Operation Hug-A-Hero Salutes America’s Littlest Heroes during Month of the Military Child

Operation Hug-A-Hero supports our military children and the children of our fallen public safety officers by providing a free Hug-A-Hero doll to those in need. April is Month of the Military Child but we also salute them all year long.  See our Press Release here.

St Petersburg Times talks about Operation Hug-A-Hero

Executive Director, Lisa Berg was contacted by reporter Ileana Morales in mid-January to learn more about our cause.  At the time, Mrs Berg was enjoying some family time as her husband, Benjamin Berg, USCG was home for a visit from the Middle East.  Miss Morales and Mrs Berg reconnected and together learned about a local family who is currently without Daddy.

The Brian Dorr Family was gracious enough to let us into their home to allow us to learn more about their lives as an Army Family and their own experiences with Hug-A-Hero dolls while Daddy serves our country.

Please read the St Petersburg Times articles posted on TBO.com: Hug-A-Hero dolls help military children keep deployed parent close.

Beltran Family Testimonial

Here is a great heart felt story about a family whose children are recent recipients of Hug a Hero Dolls.

Brendan and Alamae love their daddy dolls. They never want to go anywhere without them.  Brendan has to go to the hospital once a week and he takes it with him each time.  The nurses and doctor think it’s the coolest thing ever!!  Alamae is 7 years old and she’s a real daddy’s girl.  She loves to keep her doll close.  She brings her daddy to school and shows him to everyone. It is her favorite thing to take for show and tell.  She gets to talk about him to her friends and I know that makes her so proud!  These dolls are the most amazing thing ever created. We are so thankful for them.  We take them everywhere we go…hospitals, restaurants, and best of all to their military support group.

Amanda Beltran

Related Posts:

Shear Family Testimonial

Hahn Family Testimonial – 4H club Donation

Wilson Family Testimonial – Marine Corps Family

Hennessy Family Testimonial

Both Hennessy’s are Marines and Mommy was deployed for this testimony:

“Kaylei brings her doll to all the stores with her and screams Mommy, Mommy and shoves it at anybody who will look at her. I get emails all the time telling me how cute everyone thinks it is. It was the perfect Christmas present so tell them thank you very much from us all” Cpl Rebekah Hennessy

Related Posts:

Shear Family Testimonial

Hahn Family Testimonial – 4H club Donation

Wilson Family Testimonial – Marine Corps Family

10 Connects Hero – Operation Hug-A-Hero

Operation Hug-A-Hero and the Dorr Family were spotlighted today by Tampa Bay’s 10 Connects and recognized as local heroes.  The feature interview describes the challenges the Dorr Family faced with the deployment of Brian Dorr to Afghanistan.  Operation Hug-a-Hero was there to hear how their Hug-A-Hero doll helped their daughter Paisley and how it kept Daddy close throughout his time overseas.  The video and article can be found here.

Shear Family Testimonial

“Thank you again for the daddy doll! Harley absolutely loves it. She was in my bed from the day Marc left until the day she received the daddy doll. Now she sleeps in her own bed and goes to bed with out crying. Also, Harley has a very rare blood disorder call Cyclic Neutropenia and has to get a shot every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. When her daddy was her she would hold and squeeze his hand. When he left I had a really hard time getting her to let me give her a shot. Now that she has her Daddy doll it has made it SO much easier to give her a shot because now she can squeeze her Daddy!!!.

So again thank you so much.
Michelle Shear

Related Posts:

Hahn Family Testimonial – 4H club Donation

Wilson Family Testimonial – Marine Corps Family

San Diego 6 Highlights Local Family Touched by Operation Hug-A-Hero

A San Diego Marine Corps family was featured this weekend on San Diego 6 (the CW).  Hug-A-Hero dolls helped the two Wilson children keep their father involved in their daily activities and, as the father mentions, allowed them to easily recognize him upon his return from deployment.  Operation Hug-A-Hero seeks to give out 233 Hug-A-Hero dolls to families in need during this holiday weekend, celebrating and honoring our nation’s 233rd year of Independence.

To view the interview, click the link below:

Operation Hug-A-Hero Supports San Diego Family

When the page loads, watch the 10 second advertisement and then the video will start.

Tussey Family Testimonial

Hahn Family Testimonial – 4H club Donation

This is a story from one of our recipients of our program who was able to receive a doll through the generosity of one of our sponsors.  The Jacksonville, FL 4-H group, the “Duval Diplomats” raised money by collecting pennies for our cause which allowed this family to get a FREE Hug-A-Hero doll.

From Audrey Hahn :

“Eleorah loves her doll. I mean, it’s just the cutest thing to watch her snuggle with it. And I really think that it helps her with Justin gone and everything. Sometimes she will say, “Want talk Daddy on phone.” and I have to tell her that we can’t call him. It’s really sad. So, instead I tell her “well, we can’t call him right now, but why don’t you go get your Daddy doll and tell him?” and she does!”
Could you tell the 4-H group thank you from us? I was so pleased when we were told that we could get one of these free because someone else already paid for them. Thank you guys so much. It was such a nice blessing and, I have to say, it’s even nice for me – as silly as that sounds .
Once again, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Sincerely,
Audrey, Justin and
Eleorah
Hahn