When Hurricane Katrina forced Navy spouse Vickie Cariello from her Gulfport, Miss., home, she dealt with feelings of helplessness by assisting other military families through Operation Homefront.

Now, two years later, she is volunteer chapter president of the nonprofit Operation Homefront in Honolulu.

Unlike military-related agencies that loan money to families in need, Operation Homefront does not require funding to be paid back. "There are no loans. These are grants," Cariello said.

The organization receives funding from foundations, local businesses and private donors. It also forms partnerships with local companies who either donate their services or render services at a deep discount.

Cariello said she was attracted to work with Operation Homefront, in part, because of its four-star rating — the highest rating awarded — by Charity Navigator, an independent organization that evaluates American charities.

"People are smart with their money and want it to go to an organization who does what they say they will," Cariello said. At Operation Homefront, "we are all volunteers and we have very low overhead."

Amy Palmer, a wounded veteran who co-founded Operation Homefront about six years ago, said it took shape as a effort to help military families with financial aid and services such as car and appliance repairs. So far, Operation Homefront has provided assistance to more than 45,000 military families, including the distribution of about $5 million for crisis situations.

Palmer said what started out as a single office in San Diego has grown to 31 offices in 34 states.

When Cariello and her husband moved to Honolulu last year, she noted that higher prices for everyday purchases underscored a need to establish Operation Homefront of Hawai'i.

Some who have sought help from Operation Homefront become ardent volunteers. G.J. Jones, an information systems technician with the Navy, now volunteers his time.

"You don't have to go through the gamut to get help," Jones said. "They respect your privacy."

This fall, Jones recruited volunteers from his Hawai'i-based command to help with a freedom walk that Operation Homefront organized to show support for the troops. There are approximately 35,000 active duty troops and their families in Hawai'i.

Cariello's first chapter project — collecting school supplies for military families — got under way last summer through a partnership with the local Lex Brodie stores. About 120 backpacks were filled and given to children of the troops.

Cariello and other volunteers spent yesterday afternoon packing Hawai'i-themed goodies to send to troops overseas for the holidays. Boxes containing maca-damia nuts, coffee and Spam — among other aloha gifts — are expected to be shipped tomorrow.

Through another project, Cariello has been able to give 1,000 phone cards to service members, and wants to send more to Iraq. She is also trying to acquire Xbox video games and books on tape for the wounded recovering at Tripler Army Medical Center.

"I think people want to help, they just don't know how," Cariello said. "People want to help the troops, and we are the catalyst."

Lisa McLean is a freelance writer. Her husband is an active-duty Navy officer.