Hope for Heroes

ESA’s support for military personnel and their families began during World War II. After the war, ESA chapters were often organized near military bases and among military families whose membership assisted them in keeping connected as they moved to new assignments around the world. Much of ESA’s early international growth was a result of military members forming new chapters as they moved to new bases.

Hope for Heroes is specifically directed at providing membership support for military personnel and their families. The program recently evolved to include an annual ESA Hope for Heroes national event held each year in November, on or around Veteran’s Day. This week of celebration includes recognizing veterans, sending greetings to local military personnel who are serving abroad, and organizing additional activities to supply locally known troops with goods and materials to share with service personnel who are far from home.

Activities for ESA’s Hope for Heroes continue throughout the year. Individual members and chapters often partner with other veterans’ organizations, military support groups, and military hospitals to provide a variety of materials for families, returning soldiers, and wounded warriors. All of ESA's efforts are intended to assist in meeting the needs of the individual recipients, but also to lift their spirits and feel the gratitude that ESA members feel for their service.

The types of services provided by ESA vary by chapter and by the specific services that military support groups request. However, most often, ESA members send care packages to deployed troops, provide meals for homeless veterans, help families when they are away from their loved ones, stock base food banks, and much more.