While doing a story on local Motorcycle Clubs and Chapters, I met several members of Star Touring Chapter #350 in Renton. One of the fundraisers their group assists with is Operation Homefront, a nonprofit program that helps families of active duty personnel, activated reserves and activated national guard. The organization provides emergency assistance and morale-building to troops, to families left behind and injured service men and women.

Specifically, the Washington State chapter focuses its support on Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and their families that reside in Washington. By the end of 2008, the nonprofit organization had helped more than 11,200 families in Washington State with emergency aid, computer access, furniture, moving assistance and outreach.

The Star chapter helped with Mission WOWW: Welcoming Our Wounded Soldiers, by purchasing and assembling ARC (assignment, recovery, care) kits, care packages for injured soldiers returning to the states. The kits include basic necessities such as robes, slippers, first aid kits and toiletries.

To find out how you can help, contact Janice Buckley or 425-931-1047, president of Operation Homefront Washington, who founded the chapter in November 2004.