You can help bring troops home for the holidays

The event is open to the public

An open house to raise money for "Operation Home for the Holidays" will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Nov. 14, at Home Gallery Warehouse, 9 Austin Drive, Marlborough.
"Operation Home for the Holidays," an initiative of Gov. M. Jodi Rell, aims to raise $200,000 for travel expenses to bring 700 of Connecticut’s National Guard service men and women home for December break. The troops from the 1st Battalion of the 102nd Infantry Regiment and the 250th Engineering Company will be bused in from "mobilization stations" in Indiana and Wisconsin, respectively, where they now are completing preparations for deploying to Afghanistan, organizers said.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will raise money through raffle prizes, T-shirt sales and cash donations. Complimentary lunch will be provided by Agave from 1t o 3 p.m.
Businesses Fathom, Lisa Davenport’s Home Gallery and Agave, along with social media enthusiasts from CT TweetCrawl and the Marlborough Business Association are acting as hosts for the event.
The event will include entertainment for children, such as face painting, a craft table to make gifts for the troops and opportunities to meet local celebrities.
Raffle tickets will be sold for prizes ranging from spa days to a $6,000 Tibetan rug (courtesy of Lisa Davenport’s Home Gallery). Businesses wishing to make cash donations will have the opportunity to join local celebrities in the classic "big check" photo opportunity. To RSVP, go to the Facebook event page or follow the Twitter tag "#ophome."
"There is a lot of power in word of mouth, whether it’s Twitter, Facebook or good old face-to-face. We are asking everyone to use those powers for good and help us bring Connecticut’s own home," said Suzi Craig, director of Marketing and Engagement for Fathom and Founder of CT TweetCrawl.
For in-kind and cash donations for the event, e-mail Enza Dandeneau of the Marlborough Business Association atenzad@prudentialct.com; or call (860) 652-4575. For information on the event, e-mail Suzi Craig of Fathom: suzi@fathom.net, or call (860) 384-4480.