Goldsboro, NC — A grassroots community effort is turning gratitude into action, as Operation Love in Action delivered $25,000 in gift cards, letters, and encouragement to families of deployed service members at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.
The initiative, led by Kriquette’s Kidz, was created to encourage and support service members and their families during deployment — a time often marked by uncertainty, stress, and long separations.
Operation Love in Action began as a simple but visible show of support — placing yellow ribbons throughout neighborhoods and distributing yard signs that read, “Your Community Is Behind You!” The effort quickly gained momentum, evolving into a larger initiative providing practical support and encouragement for military families.
“Our community is home to many service members and military families who serve and sacrifice on behalf of our nation,” organizers said. “We want every service member and their families to know they are not walking alone.”
Quiet Support, Meaningful Impact
The initiative emphasizes discretion and respect for privacy, avoiding public lists, photos, or spotlighting individual families. Instead, Operation Love in Action focuses on quiet acts of kindness — neighbors helping neighbors, meals shared, childcare offered, and encouragement extended to families carrying the weight of deployment.
To help fund the effort, organizers began selling yellow yard signs for a minimum $20 donation, with 100 percent of proceeds going directly toward Operation Love in Action. Signs are currently available at local partner businesses including:
- Accucopy
- Bicycle World
- Bobby Denning Realty
- Crawford Henderson Insurance
- Brick’s Woodfire Pizza Co.
- Casey Garden Center
- Eli’s Friends
- Grate Sauces and Rubs
- Homestation Properties
- Shumate-Faulk Funeral Home
- Red Devil Hardware
- Tri-County Electric
Community members are also encouraged to respectfully share photos of ribbons and signs, helping spread awareness while protecting the privacy of military families.
Community Response Builds Momentum
Wayne County Chamber President Todd Walker praised the quick community response.
“You guys jumped in so quickly on a text message link,” Walker said. “The next thing you know, you’ve got your signs up. We’ve got a ton of young spouses and young families who are seeing this support, and it makes a difference.”
Military leaders say the effort is especially meaningful during a time when communication with deployed service members can be limited and families at home face additional stress.
Jeff Craver, Director of Military and Family Readiness noted that today’s military families face challenges that differ from previous generations.
“There’s more real-time information than ever before,” Craver said. “Families are seeing things on CNN, Fox News, NBC — it can create anxiety and uncertainty. Communication can also be limited due to security concerns, and care packages aren’t always possible. So when someone back home says, ‘We care about you and know what you’re going through,’ it truly makes a difference.”
Craver added that many families recently returned from deployments before unexpectedly facing another.
“Vacation plans change, school plans change, and life gets disrupted,” he said. “Support from the community helps families navigate those challenges.”
$25,000 in Support Delivered
Kriquette Davis, founder of Kriquette’s Kidz, said the organization moved forward with the effort knowing the need was immediate.
“I spoke with my board because it’s not my money,” she said. “We had some carryover from last year, and I felt like we would raise the funds. Even if we didn’t, this aligns with our mission.”
Davis presented letters, cards, and $25,000 worth of assorted gas, grocery, and restaurant gift cards to Seymour Johnson representatives for distribution to families of deployed service members.
“On the grand scheme of things, it’s the heart behind this,” she said. “A $25 or $50 gift card may seem small, but it can go a long way. It’s the act that matters.”
Organizers also included encouragement messages and stickers reminding families they are being prayed for and supported by the community.
A Visible Reminder of Support
Operation Love in Action continues to grow, with organizers inviting residents and businesses to join the effort by displaying yard signs, placing ribbons, and offering simple acts of kindness.
Together, organizers hope to create a visible reminder that Wayne County stands united in gratitude, support, and care for those who serve — and the families who serve alongside them.
