Dear Miss-Lou,

This is the Home With Heroes Foundation end-of-the-year report. We had a terrific year, our third year of operation. With your support, we were able to carry out a wide variety of activities and programs for veterans and their loved ones, as well as launch a program for our local schools.

Home With Heroes is a private non-profit organization (501c3) here in the Miss-Lou.

Here are the 2016 highlights:

-Emergency aid — We spent more than $5,000 in emergency aid in the form of gift cards, food, clothing, temporary housing, exceeding our annual allocation. Unfortunately, there are many veterans whose lives are in stress, both physical and financial. There is no regional government-funded support network for veterans, so help falls on the shoulders of non-profit organizations like ours. Fortunately, Adams County has a dedicated Veterans Service Officer, Sonjagela Johnson, who goes above and beyond the call of duty to help. Home With Heroes Foundation works very closely with her.

-Scholarships — We contributed $1,500 to scholarships for local students who either are veterans or have veterans in their families.

-Nursing home visits — We visited veterans in our local nursing homes twice this year bringing gift items and necessities. We appreciate the cooperation we get from our nursing homes.

-Operation G.R.I.T.S. for Soldiers — We financially supported Operation G.R.I.T.S. for Soldiers, which sent more than 400 gift boxes to area soldiers serving overseas.

-PEP (Patriotism Education Program) — We brought the program to more than 500 students and staff in local schools, emphasizing honoring our National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance as well as flag etiquette. Please invite us to your school in 2017.

-Helping Hands for Veterans (our newest program) — We began light yard and home improvements for veterans. We’ll be finishing our current project soon and will gladly accept applications for new projects. Applications are on-line at our web site (www.homewithheroes.org) or our Facebook Page (Home With Heroes).

-Voice of Democracy Contest and Patriots Pen, both activities organized by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. We helped Post 9573 with the judging.

-Memorial Weekend Balloon Launch and Patriotic Program.

In 2017, we intend to maintain our existing programs while adding new ones.

Of course, no non-profit can operate without financial support. We have been blessed by small and large donors, among them Entergy, McDonald’s, Walmart Natchez and Atmos Energy. Our annual golf tournament, our biggest fundraiser, will be in June. Our recent Pennies for Patriots drive in area schools helped raise approximately $400. Yes, we could use more funds. We anticipate veterans’ needs will only increase in our area.

Veterans often are an overlooked group. They are proud and don’t like to ask for help.

So we’re asking on their behalf. We would appreciate any donation you can make. Online contributions may be sent through our Paypal account: homewithheroes@live.com or via mail to HWH, 317A Highland Blvd., Natchez, MS 39120. If you would like to become a member of our support team and help us with our fund-raisers and programs, please call me at 601-442-0980 or send an email to gmarklafrancis@hotmail.com.

As always, please pray for our men and women serving our country in the Armed Forces, and please pray for our veterans. Thank you.

G. Mark LaFrancis is a 23-year Air Force veteran and president of the Home With Heroes Foundation.