"Partnering with Cracker Barrel allows us this wonderful platform to get our message out." More than 550 houses have been donated through Homes on the Homefront in the past five years, she said. "Not every American out there really knows all the work that Operation Homefront does," she said. Margi Kirst, chief development officer at Operation Homefront, said Cracker Barrel is built upon the idea of families and making sure people can stop along their journey and feel at home. "We really want them to know that we care, and we want them to bring a part of Cracker Barrel into their home." For Cracker Barrel patrons who aren't in the market for a rocker but still want to contribute, they can text SALUTE to 27722 and donate up to $5 to Operation Homefront.
"We respect that a military family has to make a lot of sacrifices to do what they do for us," she said. Lucas said Operation Rocker benefits families on a practical level by providing furniture for their new homes, but it's also a show of support. Rocker cushions are also available for purchase and donation through the program. "This might be their first home during the transitioning to civilian life, and we want to make the house a home for them." Every time a Cracker Barrel customer purchases one of the rockers online, the store donates one to a military family. in their lives," said Sloane Lucas, corporate citizenship manager at Cracker Barrel. Operation Rocker adds an extra element to the family receiving a home, a Cracker Barrel official said. The program donates homes to military families and helps them save money to eventually own the house. The Southern country restaurant has partnered with Operation Homefront to provide Cracker Barrel's iconic rocking chairs to families in the Homes on the Homefront program. Cracker Barrel's mission of connecting families around the dinner table has expanded to strengthening military families, too.