This is one of a series of stories about the nonprofit agencies that receive money from The Gazette/El Pomar Foundation Empty Stocking Fund campaign that runs through the holidays.

During the 2010 holiday season, Keith Deutsch was stabbed multiple times when he tried to stop a man from accosting his then-girlfriend.

Deutsch ended up in the hospital, unable to pay his rent and bills. He recalls emailing The Home Front Cares about his situation.

“I got an email a few hours later and they said I’d be fine and they were going to take care of me,” Deutsch said.

The organization did just that by covering his rent and utilities and providing gift cards for Christmas. “They didn’t want me to miss out on Christmas.”

The Home Front Cares provides emergency and responsive support and grants for Colorado’s service members, veterans and family members who have been impacted by deployment.

A number of programs are available, including Grants to Families, Energy Assistance, Adaptive Housing and Welcome Home Heroes.

Prior to his hospitalization, Deutsch said he hadn’t been aware of The Home Front Cares, but he saw an ad, which is what prompted him to contact the agency. Deutsch said he wishes he had kept the email response he received because it meant so much to him.

“It ended up being an OK holiday, I mean I was in the hospital after all,” he said.

Deutsch served in the Army for two years. He received a medical discharge after losing a leg in combat. He has not sought further assistance from The Home Front Cares since the incident five years ago, but remains grateful.

“I’ve never been more thankful for anything in life,” he said. “I would have lost my (rental) house, I could have fallen months behind, but they helped me out of a bad situation.”