CAPE MAY, NJ, October 27, 2026 – The American Red Cross is accepting applications from people in the Cape May area who wish to become a host family for Operation Fireside, a program providing recruits from the Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May with a place to call home on Thanksgiving and/or Christmas Day. The recruits, who are away from home during the Coast Guard’s eight-week basic training, are matched by the Red Cross and the Coast Guard with local families who are willing to open their homes to recruits during the holidays.

For more than 40 years, families and local organizations in Cape May County have been welcoming the Coast Guard recruits into their homes, with many continuing this meaningful tradition year after year. Approximately 700 recruits are placed each holiday with more than 100 generous Cape May area families and community organizations who warmly welcome the recruits with a holiday meal and the comforts of home.

The opportunity to participate in Operation Fireside is now open to additional families wishing to welcome recruits into their homes, especially on Thanksgiving Day. All prospective host families must live within 50 miles or within a 60-minute drive (whichever comes first) of the Coast Guard Training Center at One Munro Avenue in Cape May.

Those who meet the criteria and wish to apply or learn more can contact the Red Cross Operation Fireside program coordinators by email at opfiresidenj@redcross.org or by calling 609-562-3483. Host families will be added this year on a first-come, first-served basis through November 5, 2026.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on social media.

About the American Red Cross in New Jersey:
The American Red Cross provides programs and services to a population of more than 9 million in New Jersey. The Red Cross trains and mobilizes more than 6,000 volunteers who support the delivery of services throughout the state. In New Jersey last year, the Red Cross responded to 1,072 local disasters, mostly home fires, assisting 7,439 people in 2,616 displaced families; collected 110,005 blood donations and 13,988 platelet donations from generous donors through blood drives and Red Cross Blood Donation Centers; provided 15,878 military family case services with emergency messages, helping families find assistance and/or get counseling and referrals; and trained 120,089 people with life-saving skills in CPR, AED use, first aid and aquatics. For more information, please visit redcross.org/NJ.

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