Operation Showers of Appreciation Inc

OSOA was established in 2006 by Kimberly Felshaw after being assisted by a local church in 2005. January 2005, the Felshaw’s were invited to attend a baby shower held by the South Shores Church located in Monarch Beach California, while her spouse served on active duty with the United States Marines. At this shower, they were assisted with everything they would need for the arrival and care for their first child Allysa. Shortly after the shower, their daughter Allysa arrived. She was six weeks early and diagnosed with a terminal disease called Trisomy 13 and lived for three short weeks. Members of the South Shores Church assisted the Felshaw’s by opening their hearts and hands to them in their time of need.

Their kindness and generosity inspired Kimberly to begin Operation Showers of Appreciation. OSOA assisted their 100th family in July 2008 and assisted their 200th family at their Annual Twenty-Nine Palms shower in 2009.

In July 2010, OSOA expanded their services to Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center Bridgeport assisting 10 new and expecting military moms. This was the first annual event aboard this base and was a huge success due to donations by Lincoln Military Housing and the local Lions Club.

In 2011, OSOA branched into Nevada assisting more than 120 new and expecting military families.  With the support of the local community, this was our largest event to date.  Our goal is to continue our Nevada showers making them an annual event to support even more military families aboard Nellis Air Force Base and the Nevada area.

In 2012, OSOA has been able to make huge jumps across the country with our first East Coast shower held in North Carolina assisting families stationed on or near Fort Bragg.  This shower was a great success allowing us to add additional showers in Colorado, Arizona, California, Hawaii, and Nevada to our 2012 calendar.  We are happy to say that we have helped over 5000 military families to date and counting.