Who We Are

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 29, 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.

Our Journey

From One Care Package to a Nationwide Mission

What began in 2013 as a simple effort to bring comfort to deployed service members has grown into a nationwide mission of honoring veterans, supporting active-duty military personnel, and bringing communities together through service.

January 2013 — Operation Not Alone Is Founded

Operation Not Alone is established with a mission to support military service members and veterans, reminding them that they are remembered, appreciated, and never alone.

February 2013 — Our First Care Package

ONA sends its first Care Package to a service member deployed in Afghanistan, beginning a tradition of delivering comfort, encouragement, and reminders of home.

December 2014 — Veteran Cheer Package Program Begins

ONA expands its mission with the launch of the annual Veteran Cheer Package Program, honoring veterans with thoughtful gifts and messages of appreciation.

August 2015 — A Partnership with Door County Coffee

ONA partners with Door County Coffee to create a specialty coffee blend supporting its mission, originally called The ONA Blend and later renamed Heroes Blend.

December 2015 — Never Alone Nursing Home Visits Begin

ONA launches a program to personally visit and honor veterans living in nursing homes and senior living communities.

May 2016 — Miss America Serves Day

ONA partners with the Miss Wisconsin Organization for its first Miss America Serves Day event at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in King, Wisconsin.

October 2018 — Girl Scout Patch Program Launches

ONA introduces its Girl Scout Patch Program, encouraging young people to learn about military service and turn their appreciation into meaningful acts of service.

March 2019 — College Internship Program Launches

ONA establishes its College Internship Program, welcoming its first intern, Jessica B. The program creates opportunities for college students to gain hands-on nonprofit experience, develop leadership skills, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of veterans and active-duty service members.

November 2019 — Reaching All 50 States

For the first time, ONA delivers Veteran Cheer Packages to veterans in all 50 states, marking a major milestone in the organization's nationwide reach.

January 2020 — Jefferson Award Recognition

ONA receives a Jefferson Award recognizing its commitment to community service and supporting military members and veterans.

March 2020 — Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic

ONA adapts its mission to meet emerging community needs by launching a temporary COVID-19 Relief Kit program.

January 2023 — Celebrating 10 Years of Service

ONA marks its tenth anniversary, celebrating a decade of supporting veterans and active-duty service members through Care Packages, Cheer Packages, and community outreach.

April 2025 — Welcoming the Next Generation of Leadership

Natalie Popp joins ONA's Board of Directors, bringing her veteran advocacy initiative, Never Forgotten: Remembering Our Heroes, and a passion for expanding veteran outreach.

June 2026 — A New Chapter in Leadership

Natalie Popp is named Executive Director of Operation Not Alone, helping guide the organization's next chapter of volunteer engagement, community partnerships, fundraising, and expanded outreach.

Fall 2026 — Bringing Volunteers Together for Veterans Day

ONA brings community volunteers together for a major Veteran Cheer Package packing event. With enthusiastic support from volunteers and community partners, work that previously took more than 20 hours is completed in just two hours.

Our Story Continues

Today, Operation Not Alone continues to grow through the generosity of donors, volunteers, community partners, and businesses who believe that every veteran and service member deserves to know their sacrifice has not been forgotten.

We thank you for supporting our mission, our troops, and our veterans.