CAPE MAY – The American Red Cross is accepting applications from people in the Cape May area who wish to become a host family for Operation Fireside.
According to a release, Operation Fireside provides recruits from the Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May with a place to call home on Thanksgiving and/or Christmas Day.
The recruits, who are away from home during the Coast Guard’s eight-week basic training, are matched by the Red Cross and the Coast Guard with local families who are willing to open their homes to recruits during the holidays.
“Operation Fireside was a nice mental break,” stated former Coast Guard member Kathleen Dillon, recalling her participation with Operation Fireside while she was a recruit. “It helped me feel part of the community and gave me the motivation to finish basic training.”
For more than 35 years, Cape May area families and local organizations have welcomed the recruits, with many continuing the tradition year after year.
This year, the opportunity is open to additional families wishing to participate. All prospective host families must live within 50 miles or within a 60-minute drive (whichever comes first) of the Coast Guard Training Center at 1 Munro Ave., Cape May.
Those who meet the criteria and wish to apply or learn more can contact the Red Cross Operation Fireside program coordinators by email at opfiresidenj@redcross.org or by calling 609-562-3483.
Host families will be added this year on a first-come, first-served basis.
“We’re honored to work alongside the Coast Guard with Operation Fireside all these years,” stated Terri Illes, director, Service to the Armed Forces, American Red Cross New Jersey Region. “Approximately 400 recruits are placed each holiday with more than 100 generous Cape May area families who warmly welcome the recruits with a holiday meal and the comforts of home.”
