Randy Houser Surprises Veteran With Free Groceries, VIP Trip

Randy Houser was in a giving mood over the weekend. As part of his work with Operation Homefront, the singer surprised Air Force Staff Sergeant Christopher Solso and his family with a meeting backstage at his Baltimore, Md., concert on Nov. 22 -- but that was just the beginning.

During the meet and greet, Houser presented the Solsos with a year's worth of free groceries from Giant Foods, as well as an all-expenses paid trip to Tucson, Ariz., where they'll get to hang out with Houser and tour the film studio where his 'Like a Cowboy' video -- not to mention several classic Westerns, including 'Joe Kidd,' 'The Frisco Kid' and 'Tombstone' -- were filmed.

"I’m excited for the Solso family to experience the trip to beautiful Tucson. They’re going to have such a great time," says Houser. "Getting to meet with military families like Christopher and Clare Solso is such an honor. I am proud to have been a part of this surprise and can’t wait to see them again in December."

As part of their trip to Tucson, the Solso family will also be Houser's special guests at a concert on Dec. 14.

"It's overwhelming," Staff Sergeant Solso tells Tuscon TV station KVOA. "You don't experience gratitude like that on a day-to-day basis. It's just immense."

The Solsos' experience is part of Operation Inspiration, a partnership between Operation Homefront and Eckrich.

"The Eckrich Operation Inspiration campaign has been a great opportunity to give back to our military families," says Chuck Gitkin, vice president of marketing, innovation and R&D for the John Morrell Food Group. "Supporting and honoring military families who sacrifice for us every day to keep us safe is important to us. We’re proud to have partners like Randy Houser and Giant, who are great partners."

Since Houser's partnership with Operation Homefront began, he has hosted military families at his concerts and provided them with several special experiences and surprises from Eckrich. So far, the company has donated more than $50,000 in free groceries to military families this year alone.