Marie Callender’s, a frozen food brand of Omaha, Nebraska-headquartered ConAgra Foods, has announced the return of the Comforts From Home Project, a partnership with the United Service Organizations (USO) committed to bringing the heartwarming feelings, flavors, and favorites of home to US military personnel serving abroad.
In its second year, the fundraising campaign invites consumers to support USO Operation Celebration, a program dedicated to maintaining and boosting the sprits of service members on active duty and military families who are missing the comforts of home during the holidays. The program brings food, decorations and games to USO locations around the world so that the American military community can mark special occasions festively, no matter where they are stationed.
From September 1, 2015 through January 29, 2016, consumers can help give to USO Operation Celebration by entering the on-pack code from one of the more than approximately 55 million specially marked packages of Marie Callender’s frozen meals or desserts at www.ComfortsFromHome.com. Fifty cents will be donated to Operation Celebration for each code entered.
“Last year, with consumers’ overwhelming support, Marie Callender’s brought care packages to a very deserving group of servicemen and women stationed overseas through a $250,000 donation to the USO2GO program,” said Christiane Brocky, vice president and general manager of ConAgra Foods. “This year, we’re proud to support USO Operation Celebration to help bring a taste of home and its comforts to our troops when their service takes them away from family and friends during the holidays and other special occasions.”
In addition to the on-pack promotion, the 2015 Comforts From Home Project will partner again with Scripps Networks to highlight military families and their service through three popular television shows: Guy’s Grocery Games (Food Network), Kitchen Crashers (HGTV and DIY Network) and Travel Channel’s American Heroes. Each TV program offers a way to support US troops and will feature a social media integration to engage consumers online. Scripps Networks will also re-air the one-hour program, A Hero’s Welcome, which features a heartwarming homecoming event for one retiring soldier, on Veterans Day.
“By supporting the Operation Celebration program, Marie Callender’s is helping us bridge the gap between home and our troops,” said Lisa Anastasi, the USO’s chief development officer. “From the Fourth of July to Thanksgiving, we are dedicated to helping troops enjoy every holiday with the comforts of home that can often be taken for granted, such as seasonal meals, entertainment and a chance to relax away from the stresses of military duty.”
In addition to the on-pack promotion and television integrations, the Comforts From Home Project will be supported with a robust marketing campaign that includes in-store signage, a free standing newspaper insert, a magazine outsert in the November issues of Allrecipes, Better Homes & Gardens, Every Day with Rachael Ray, Martha Stewart Living and Taste of Home, as well as digital and social media support.
Visit www.ComfortsFromHome.com to learn more about the on-pack promotion, the USO Operation Celebration program and the Scripps Networks TV specials airing this fall. Consumers can also see how many codes have been entered with the real-time code tracker.
