In the latest episode of The Mission:Milspouse Podcast, KateLynn Heavilon speaks with Jenny Valderas: Senior Director of Family Support Services Rebekah Reyes: Volunteer Manager with Operation Homefront. Operation Homefront connects the American donor community to our military families through a robust array of valued and life-changing programs that address the specific short-term and Critical Financial Assistance, long-term stability, and recurring support needs they experience, Operation Homefront is able to help military families overcome many of the challenges inherent in military life. The result: stronger, more stable, and more secure military families.

Jenny Valderas is Operation Homefront’s Senior Director of Family Support Services. She has worked with the organization for more than a decade and in her current role, Valderas oversees the planning and execution of programs that address the unique needs and challenges faced by America’s military families, including the delivery of school supplies and holiday meals, and celebrating expectant parents and exceptional military children. Beyond her professional capacity, Valderas is also a military spouse, providing a distinct personal connection to the military community and Operation Homefront’s mission to create strong, stable, and secure military families. Valderas received a Bachelor of Arts from George Mason University.

Rebekah first found Operation Homefront when as a military spouse, she needed help with holiday meals, toys, and critical financial assistance. When she was able to, she started at Operation Homefront as an AmeriCorps volunteer, became a regular volunteer, and in 2018 was hired as a full-time staff member. During her time working as a program coordinator, she planned and facilitated events in the Texas area such as Holiday Meals for Military, Back-to-School Brigade and Star-Spangled Babies showers. Rebekah helped volunteers coordinate pickups for designated Dollar Tree stores, write grant applications for monetary and in-kind donations, direct volunteers’ day of events, and set up event spaces. In 2021, Rebekah chose to move from a program delivery role to one on our volunteer services team and then eventually to Human Resources where she has continued to help others thrive while empowering others to help bring our mission to life. Outside of work, she gets to be a mom, stepmom, and role model to six amazing, beautiful children ranging in age from 7 to 28 years old. She supports her spouse, now a veteran, starting a new path as a counselor working with other veterans. On weekends, she volunteers at her local humane society, helping dogs and cats find forever homes. She has also returned to school and just finished her first semester toward earning an MA in Art Therapy.

To connect with Operation Homefront at:
https://operationhomefront.org/
Facebook: @OperationHomefront
Instagram: @OperationHomefront
LinkedIn: @OperationHomefront
X: @Op_Homefront

Thank you for tuning in to this episode featuring Jenny Valderas and Rebekah Reyes from Operation Homefront. We greatly appreciate your support. As we strive to align our guests with our mission, we encourage you to leave a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts. After leaving a review, please send us a screenshot to hello@missionmilspouse.org or DM us on Facebook. Additionally, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @missionmilspouse for a special gift.

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