This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Marie Callender’s. The opinions and text are all mine.
Growing up I never really thought much about the concept of home. I grew up in one town and when I left for long trips, sleep away camps, and exchange programs the adventure I was embarking on was so exciting (and nerve wracking) I didn’t spend much time thinking about home or what home really meant. Similarly, when I set off for college and eventually moved out on my own for good, I took some family photos but didn’t put too much mental energy into what I might be missing. I was focused on the road ahead. My childhood home was still there waiting for me. However, when I 
had to spend my first Thanksgiving away from home because I had to work the next day I started to think a lot more about home, our family traditions and how to bring a piece of them across the country to be with me. It was important for me to bring a taste of my family tradition to a day when I’d be spending it far from family. I had to figure out how to make my family recipe for turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. Even though I was spending the day with good friends, having a taste of home was really important on a day that had always been one full of family.
Several years later, I moved overseas for a year. I moved with just a couple bags and lived in a furnished apartment. I was even more disconnected from family, pets, furniture, sights and sounds that made me feel ‘home’ than I had ever been. Most of my belongings were in storage and my parents have moved away from the home I grew up in. I realized I didn’t miss a place so much as all the people and pets that I loved. When family and friends came to visit, they brought a little piece of home with them. While I would often take them out for local cuisine I would also cook them my family recipes from home. Sharing the meals from my childhood like mac n’ cheese and lasagna made me feel a little closer to home.
With my own thoughts about home and how important bringing a little taste of home to with you when you are far away, I was thrilled to be asked to help promote Marie Callender’s collaboration with the USO to support USO Operation Celebration ™. As our troops head off on deployments that take them away from their families and loved ones, often causing them to miss multiple holidays, USO Operation Celebration ™ offers a program that shares a bit of home 
and helps them to celebrate the holidays year round. Now that I have my own kids I can only imagine how hard it would be to have to away from them for multiple holidays. I love knowing I can do something to help our troops through those days.
You can help too! To do your part to support USO Operation Celebration™, each time you enter a code from specially-marked packages of Marie Callender’s meals or desserts on ComfortsfromHome.com, Marie Callender’s will make a donation to the USO to support USO Operation Celebration™. While you enjoy Marie’s Apple Pie, Vermont White Cheddar Mac n Cheese, or Turkey Pot Pie you can also support a holiday celebration for our troops.
You can also support the Comforts From Home effort when you submit your photos on Facebook to support the USO! Use #comfortsfromhome with a photo that shows what home means to you Scripps Network will donate $1 to the USO for each photo received (up to $10K)
- Kitchen Crashers on DIYNetwork & HGTV – Airing 11/9 and 11/14 [URL to be added]
- Hello/Goodbye on Travel Channel – Airing 11/10 [URL to be added]
- Guy’s Grocery Games on Food Network & Cooking Channel — Airing 12/14 and 12/19 [URL to be added]
What does “home” or the “comforts from home” mean to you? Whether your comforts from home revolve around food, family, or holidays, please visit ComfortsfromHome.com so you can learn more about joining with Marie Callender’s to help bring a little bit of home sweet home U.S. servicemen and women serving overseas.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Marie Callender’s. The opinions and text are all mine.
