“OOA needs a professional grant writer. OOA needs an office. OOA needs an administrative assistant. OOA needs a director to soon take my place. Most of all, OOA needs contributions to pay for all the things associated with a legit charity, like the American Red Cross has. They have a well-paid staff. They have a beautiful office, vans and cars. They have an advertising budget.

“I go to the post office after a charter hoping to see a check in Box 101.”

I don’t think Capt. Bunch cares about some of that — the beautiful office and what-not.

But he could use some help, and so could the young men and women coming home from very difficult places.”

Parrot Key Caribbean Grill and Big Game Waterfront Grill of Fort Myers Beach gave a helping hand to Operation Open Arms this week by donating $1,000 in gift cards to be used in assisting service personnel. Operation Open Arms had been storing their donated items at the Pine Island Chamber until a recent fire that completely destroyed the Chamber office.

“When we learned of the fire last week we called Captain John Bunch, the head of Operation Open Arms and offered our donation”, said Justin Hall, Operations Manager for the two restaurants. “We are proud to support Operation Open Arms and give back in to our U.S. Troops who are visiting our area. I would encourage all of the restaurants in the area to participate with us in this worthwhile endeavor!”

“Parrot Key is a great place to come and enjoy the waterfront view, have a fantastic meal and leave the real world behind for a short time! We feel honored to share a little piece of our paradise with these service personnel and their families”, says Brian DeMartinis, General Manager at Parrot Key.
Operation Open Arms, a nationally acclaimed military outreach program founded in 2005, is a network of business owners and individuals in Florida who work to provide eligible service personnel and their families with a no cost combat leave vacation. Local businesses have worked with Operation Open arms to help over 2,000 service personnel here locally and have donated the goods and services for 90 weddings. “The thing that makes Operation Open Arm such a success is a core group of 100 businesses that have joined together to support this cause and Salty Sam’s is one of our largest contributors”, said Joseph Fossella, Advisory Board Member.

After a long year overseas, Frank Grimm finally returns home to Fort Myers. Total strangers applauding his arrival but his biggest fan is his wife Erin who met him at Fort Riley in Kansas on the last leg of their trip.

The non-profit corporation, Operation Open Arms, picked Frank’s family up at the airport tonight. They will also pay the tab at restaurants while he’s here and he will get to drop the first puck at the Everblades hockey game.

See the video and read the full story here:

Emotional homecoming as soldier returns from deadly mission – WFTX-TV Fort Myers/Naples, FL.

The 37th Annual Greek Fest in Fort Myers – February 24, 25, and 26 – has chosen Operation Open Arms and the Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida to benefit from this year’s event.

This must-do family event features:

• Authentic Greek Food
• Carnival Rides & Games
• Dance Exhibitions
• Live Music by Demetrios & The Islanders
• Merchandise Vendors
• Church Tours
• Car or $25,000 Raffle
• Cash Raffle

February 24, 25 & 26, 2012. Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm and Sunday 12pm-5pm (NOTE: Sunday’s new hours!)

Admission: Adults $5 for the entire weekend. Children under 12 years old are free.

Location: Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church
8210 Cypress Lake Drive • Fort Myers, Florida 33919

Click here to visit the Official Greek Fest web site.