National Home residents assemble Hero Packs on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
For several National Home residents, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday was more than a day off from school. It was a day to give back. This year’s project was to stuff Hero Packs, which will be distributed by the Michigan National Guard Child and Youth Programs staff to young people who will be experiencing a loved one’s deployment.
The Hero Packs program is sponsored by Operation Military Kids. Hero Packs serve as a tangible expression of support for military families from their communities and OMK Partners. Hero Packs are filled with mementos and items designed to help keep military kids connected with their deployed parent. They are a way to hand-deliver a salute to military children and youth for their strength and sacrifices while parents are deployed. 
Participants at the National Home packed backpacks with a variety of family support materials, communications tools and fun items. They packed 100 Hero Packs in less than half an hour! Enthusiasm was high, and National Home staff say they plan on doing this community service project again soon.
