HARTFORD, Conn. -- As Black Friday kicked off the holiday shopping season, Gov. Jodi Rell said she wanted to make sure Connecticut National Guard members deployed overseas -- and their families -- have a happy holiday.

On Friday morning, Rell kicked off Operation ELF, which stands for Embracing Lonely Families. She started the effort in 2003 when she was serving as lieutenant governor.

As part of the endeavor, Rell asks that shoppers remember those serving overseas while they’re out making holiday purchases.

The goal this year, Rell said, is to help out the 160 Connecticut National Guard soldiers and Airmen serving in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan, along with their families. The public can support them in a variety of ways, she said, including donating grocery gift cards, department store gift cards, phone cards and new, unwrapped toys.

“Other things that we have done in the past, which are great for families, people will volunteer and say, ‘I don't have a lot of money, but you know, I can really clean your gutters, and you know, I can shovel snow, I can plow snow, I have a business, you just give me the address,’” Rell said. “We have lots of people that do that. Fuel oil dealers have stepped up in the past."

Donations can be made at a number of armories across the state, including those in Windsor Locks, Waterbury, Stratford, Norwich, Hartford, New London and Manchester.

Do you want to make life easier this holiday season? Check out our Special Holiday Section for tips and hints on how to get a handle on the hustle and bustle of the holidays.