Eckrich, Operation Homefront and Jewel-Osco Partner to Honor Military Family

Eckrich, the makers of naturally hardwood smoked sausage and savory deli meats, teamed up with Jewel-Osco and Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit whose mission is to build strong, stable, and secure military families, to honor a Minooka, Ill. military family.

Eckrich hosted a special presentation for the Nehmelman family at Jewel-Osco headquarters in Itasca, Ill., honoring the family with one year of free groceries.

Demarcus Nehmelman served as a vehicle mechanic in the US Army. He completed a tour of duty in Afghanistan in 2012, earning Army achievement medals and combat action badges. His mother, Rosa, is his full-time caregiver and a member of Operation Homefront's Hearts of Valor program, a network of nearly 3,000 caregivers for wounded, ill or injured service members.

"This helps us more than anyone can imagine," says Rosa Nehmelman. "It means so much for a company like Eckrich to do this for our service members and make them feel special."

The surprise is part of the ongoing campaign by Eckrich to honor, thank and support military families through its partnership with Operation Homefront. The Nehmelman family is supported by Operation Homefront's Hearts of Valor program, which provides caregivers with annual retreats, support groups and online communities.

Eckrich, in its fifth year of partnership with Operation Homefront, has donated more than $2.5 million to the organization since 2012.

"Eckrich is proud to continue supporting military families," says Chuck Gitkin, senior vice president, marketing at Smithfield Foods. "We appreciate Jewel-Osco's partnership and we are honored to present the Nehmelman family with one year of free groceries."