Operation Hero
Hope • Encouragement • Resources • Opportunity
Operation Hero is a Michigan-based, volunteer-driven organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for individuals and families within the community by providing free, essential home repair services and Emergency services and support to EM teams. Registered with the Presidential National Community Service, the organization focuses on addressing the needs of residents facing financial hardships, health challenges, or other unforeseen circumstances that prevent them from maintaining safe and comfortable qualities of life.
Mission and Impact
The mission of Operation Hero is to restore dignity and safety to homes within the community through targeted initiatives that address immediate safety concerns, implement sustainable improvements, and enhance energy efficiency. By ensuring that homes are secure and livable, Operation Hero helps residents build a better future and strengthens the fabric of local communities.
As a small but highly efficient team, we are equipped with a wealth of resources that allow us to mobilize quickly and effectively. We maintain strong communication channels with most ICS and EMI manager teams, ensuring swift coordination when urgent needs arise. Our commitment to the community is unparalleled, and our team is always ready to respond to any situation, offering dependable support at a moment's notice.
Join Us in Making a Difference:
Learn more about how you can get involved by visiting our volunteer page: [Operation Hero Volunteer Page](https://www.volunteermichigan.org/agency/detail/?agency_id=112663).
Thank you for your generosity and unwavering support!
Sincerely,
The Team at Operation Hero
Recent Initiatives
- Michigan Ice Storm 2025 – Free Generator Repair: In response to a severe ice storm, Operation Hero partnered with local businesses to repair over 360 generators free of charge, ensuring that families across 10 counties had access to power during the outage.
- Fix It Free Project 2024: This ongoing project focuses on providing low-income home repairs to residents in need, ensuring that all community members, regardless of their circumstances, can live in a safe and healthy environment.
- COVID-19 PPE Distribution: During the pandemic, Operation Hero distributed over 36,000 pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) across 14 states, including Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana, to healthcare facilities and at-risk individuals, providing critical support to communities during a time of urgent need by use of 3d printing!
hrough its volunteer efforts, Operation Hero creates meaningful change by improving living conditions, offering essential resources, and fostering a sense of solidarity within communities. By contributing to projects that uplift neighbors and families, the organization helps build stronger, more resilient communities. Whether through home repairs, emergency assistance, or outreach programs, Operation Hero’s team is always ready to respond quickly and effectively to any situation.
Current Project (DONE)
Michigan Ice storm 2025
FREE GENERATOR REPAIR
Completed
From.
HILLMAN SMALL ENGINE
We’re just a small, veteran-owned 2-man shop—but over the past week and a half, we’ve been able to service over401 generators for free to help our community during this brutal power outage.
Most were fixed the same day—many within an hour of being dropped off. Some folks even waited while we worked. We did everything we could to keep people warm, safe, and powered up from all 10 counties.
When we made that first post on Day 2 offering help, we didn’t know what to expect. But the response was overwhelming. Cars lined our driveway. People were showing up as early as 6 AM, waiting in the snow, in the rain, on icy roads—just hoping for a little relief and a a possible miracle.
We’ve been working 14+ hour on most days, non-stop to make sure every generator that was dropped was fix or looked at to be fixed if it needed parts. Our hands are cracked, bruised, and bleeding. I won’t lie—it’s been exhausting. I’ve broken down a few times. I cried on my wife’s shoulder more than once. I prayed hard for the strength to keep going when I felt like I couldn’t anymore.
Every time someone would walk through the door with tears in their eyes or a desperate look on their face or someone would just say “thank you” with so much emotion behind it; that kept us going.
I’m beyond humbled that we were able to help so many people during this times.
Huge thanks to my wife, family and friends for all your support!
Twisted Crank for stopping in the shop for a few days to help us help you.
211 Northeast Michigan for reaching out and listing us as an essential business to help others
And heartfelt appreciation to:
Cam Cavitt - State Representative , and staff– thank you for the phone call, your kind words, and for connecting us with resources
UpNorthLive
Montmorency County Tribune
105.7 The Bird
FOX 2 Detroit
Montmorency Emergency Response
-Michele Hoitenga
-Dave Bondy
-Oakland County Incident Management Team
-Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op
-all the linemen and women I personally want to thank you all.
And to every single person who walked through our doors, donated for helping them, waited in the cold, shared our post, offered a kind word, or gave a hug—you’ll never know how much that meant. You reminded us why we do what we do.
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