Cracker Barrel to donate rocking chairs to military families Cracker Barrel’s mission of connecting families around the dinner table has expanded to strengthening military families, too. The Southern country restaurant has partnered with Operation Homefront to provide Cracker Barrel’s iconic rocking chairs to families in the Homes on the Homefront program. The program donates homes to military families and helps them save money to eventually own the house. Operation Rocker adds an extra element to the family receiving a home, a Cracker Barrel official said. “A lot of times, [the military family has] moved around a lot ... in their lives,” said Sloane Lucas, corporate citizenship manager at Cracker Barrel. “This might be their first home during the transitioning to civilian life, and we want to make the house a home for them.” Every time a Cracker Barrel customer purchases one of the rockers online, the store donates one to a military family. Rocker cushions are also available for purchase and donation through the program.
Lucas said Operation Rocker benefits families on a practical level by providing furniture for their new homes, but it’s also a show of support. “We respect that a military family has to make a lot of sacrifices to do what they do for us,” she said. “We really want them to know that we care, and we want them to bring a part of Cracker Barrel into their home.” For Cracker Barrel patrons who aren’t in the market for a rocker but still want to contribute, they can text SALUTE to 27722 and donate up to $5 to Operation Homefront. Margi Kirst, chief development officer at Operation Homefront, said Cracker Barrel is built upon the idea of families and making sure people can stop along their journey and feel at home. “Not every American out there really knows all the work that Operation Homefront does,” she said. “Partnering with Cracker Barrel allows us this wonderful platform to get our message out.” More than 550 houses have been donated through Homes on the Homefront in the past five years, she said.
A family lives in a house rent-free for up to two years while Operation Homefront helps them understand how to be effective homeowners by building up their savings and making timely payments by contributing to a small equity fund that goes back into their house. Operation Homefront also assists with home repairs and helping the family navigate the Veterans Affairs system. The donated rocking chair is a nice addition to the program, she said. “Nothing says ‘home’ like a rocker on your front porch,” Kirst said. Operation Rocker is just the kickoff program to a yearlong partnership. Cracker Barrel has committed to donate $100,000 through contributions over the next year, and the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Foundation has pledged another $100,000. Both Cracker Barrel and Operation Homefront said they are finalizing plans for upcoming campaigns. “It’s so important to bring families together, and Operation Homefront has a mission of strengthening family bonds,” Lucas said.
“It’s really about the broader partnership and all the good that we’re hoping to do with [Operation Homefront].” Charlsy Panzino covers veterans education, employment and transition issues, as well as travel, entertainment and fitness. Warranty: 6 Months on Finish/12 Months on ConstructionMaintenance: Bi-weekly cleaning with your standard household furniture polish. Tools required: hex wrench (provided), hammer, rubber mallet and a screwdriver (not provided). Average assembly time is 45 minutes. If you need additional assistance with assembly, you can speak with the folks at Hinkle Chair Company by calling 1-800-251-3025 (M-F, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST). What people are sayingCracker Barrel® continues support of America’s military families through a $100,000 donation Today, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® named Operation Homefront as its new flagship nonprofit partner to support the organization’s mission of building strong, stable and secure military families.
The partnership was kicked off with a commitment from Cracker Barrel to contribute donations valued at $100,000 to Operation Homefront over the next year. To rally Cracker Barrel guests around the new partnership, Cracker Barrel launched “Operation Rocker: Cracker Barrel’s Summer Salute to Military Families,” to furnish the front porches of military and veteran families with Cracker Barrel’s iconic rocking chairs. In addition to Cracker Barrel’s $100,000 commitment, the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Foundation also pledged a $100,000 donation to Operation Homefront. Beginning Fourth of July weekend on July 1 and continuing until Labor Day, Sept. 5, with each purchase of an eligible adult rocker from Cracker Barrel’s website, Cracker Barrel will donate an adult rocker to Operation Homefront. The rockers will support the organization’s “Homes on the Homefront” program that helps our nation’s heroes realize the American dream by placing deserving veterans and their families in mortgage-free homes, as well as Operation Homefront’s other initiatives.
Cracker Barrel will also offer this same opportunity for each eligible rocker cushion set purchased online during this time. “Cracker Barrel is proud to serve the families of the men and women who serve our country,” said Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Chief People Officer Beverly Carmichael. “Kicking off this flagship partnership with Operation Homefront allows us to bring together our commitment to our nation’s military families with Operation Homefront’s mission of building strong military families. ‘Operation Rocker’ is an opportunity for our guests to express thanks to America’s service members, veterans and their families by bringing part of the Cracker Barrel experience to their own front porch.” Cracker Barrel has long been known for the wooden rocking chairs that line the front porch of each of its stores and represent the southern hospitality that has made Cracker Barrel a “home away from home” for so many. This summer, Cracker Barrel is sharing these well-loved rockers with military families to welcome them home and help them create that same warm, inviting and secure environment.
Operation Homefront provides valuable programs designed to build strong, stable and secure military families and honor their patriotism and service to our country. By connecting the American giving community to military families through programs that address specific, short-term and critical 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. Our mission to build strong, stable and secure military families means working to ensure these amazing Americans always feel they have a place to call home,” said Brig. Gen. (ret) John I. Pray Jr., president and chief executive officer of Operation Homefront. “Our life-changing work is only made possible with the incredible support of community-focused partners like Cracker Barrel, and we’re grateful that they share our commitment to care for those who do so much to protect the freedoms we enjoy daily.
Cracker Barrel and the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Foundation have long supported military-focused nonprofits and charitable initiatives, including the National Military Family Association, Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation, United Through Reading, and the National Museum of the United States Army. By supporting the families of those serving in America’s armed forces, Cracker Barrel believes it can make a deeper, more meaningful and lasting impact. To participate in “Operation Rocker,” click here. About Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. provides a friendly home-away-from-home in its old country stores and restaurants. Guests are cared for like family while relaxing and enjoying real home-style food and shopping that’s surprisingly unique, genuinely fun and reminiscent of America’s country heritage…all at a fair price. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBRL) was established in 1969 in Lebanon, Tenn. and operates 638 company-owned locations in 42 states.
Nation’s Restaurant News’ 2015 Consumer Picks survey named Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® the winner in two Family-Dining Restaurants categories – Menu Variety and Atmosphere. About Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Foundation The Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Foundation is public benefit corporation created by Cracker Barrel Old Country Store in 1993. The Foundation has awarded millions of dollars in grants to support numerous nonprofits and charitable programs. It also supports an annual Employee Scholarship Program, which recognizes and rewards the accomplishments of Cracker Barrel employees and their children who excel in their studies and serve their communities. A national nonprofit, Operation Homefront builds strong, stable and secure military families so that they can thrive in the communities they have worked so hard to protect. With more than 3,200 volunteers nationwide, Operation Homefront has provided assistance to tens of thousands of military families since its inception shortly after 9/11.