Who We Are
Our Story
Operation Not Alone began with a deeply personal connection to military service.
Founder Susan Fochs grew up as the daughter of a permanently disabled Marine Corps veteran, giving her an early understanding of the sacrifices made not only by those who serve, but also by the families who support them.
While attending the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, Susan turned that appreciation into action. Operation Not Alone was officially founded on January 22, 2013.
What began as an effort to send Care Packages to active-duty service members overseas grew into a broader mission supporting both active-duty service members and veterans while giving communities meaningful opportunities to show their gratitude.
Today, Operation Not Alone reaches veterans and service members across the United States and beyond through Cheer Packages, Care Packages, veteran outreach and community service programs.
Through every stage of that growth, one idea has remained constant:
Never Alone - Never Forget
We believe those who serve our country deserve to know that their service matters, not only while they wear the uniform, but for the rest of their lives.
Since its inception, Operation Not Alone has sent more than 1000 Care Packages to active-duty military personnel in 17 different countries. In that time, Operation Not Alone has sent more than 5,000 Cheer Packages to veterans in all 50 states. Since the launch of the Girl Scout Patch, over 1,500 Girl Scouts have earned their patch to proudly display the ONA logo on their uniforms. These numbers continue to grow as Operation Not Alone expands its database and networks.
We thank you for supporting our mission, our troops, and our veterans.
“Volunteering with ONA has been on of the most rewarding experiences of my life! Being able to see the real impact on our service members and veterans is awe-inspiring.”
- ONA Volunteer
Organization Information
Operation Not Alone, Inc. is a Wisconsin nonprofit corporation and an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
OperationNotAlone.net is the official website and domain of Operation Not Alone, Inc. The domain is owned and operated by the organization and is used for its charitable programs, communications, fundraising, and outreach.
Legal Name: Operation Not Alone, Inc.
EIN: 46-1833982
Address: 2935 S. Fish Hatchery Rd. #305, Fitchburg, WI 53711
Website: operationnotalone.net
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![A woman with long blonde hair smiling, wearing a sleeveless beige top, sitting in a cozy room with a stone wall and framed pictures behind her. She is receiving a package from the United States Postal Service.]()
Susan Fochs
Founder
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![A woman with long, wavy, reddish-brown hair, wearing a sleeveless white top, smiling, with a blurred green and yellow background.]()
Natalie Popp
Executive Director
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![A smiling young woman with blonde hair wearing a beige headband and a black T-shirt with yellow text supporting troops at a formal event.]()
MeKenzie Lund
Vice President & Director of New York Operations
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![A smiling woman with long, wavy hair wearing a black t-shirt with yellow text and a ribbon design, standing in front of a neutral background with small lights.]()
Allison Foster
Director of Care Packages
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![A young man smiling, wearing a black T-shirt with a yellow ribbon and text supporting troops. The background has vertical curtains with small lights.]()
Casey Nelson
Creative Director
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![Close-up of a smiling young woman with straight, shoulder-length hair standing in front of a brick wall. She is wearing a black T-shirt with gold-colored text supporting troops.]()
Megan Lehmann
Director of Donor Relations
