Serendipity is a wonderful thing.

Coined by Horace Walpole in 1754, the word references a Persian fairy tale, The Three Princes of Serendip, in which the princes were "always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things which they were not in quest of."

Carry Me Productions' (CMP) "Operation Homes for Heroes" is an example of one such quest.

The operation's goal is to find permanent housing for female veterans.

Based in El Segundo, CA, CMP is a 501c(3) nonprofit that began work in March 2014 on a multi-faceted approach to help find housing for female veterans as well as addressing specific needs such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), military sexual trauma (MST), post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mental health issues.

"Our vision involves breaking barriers and producing results between those who want to give and those who need help," wrote Carrie Nowocin, CEO and president, in a news release.

According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, women currently make up 8% of the total veteran population and 14.6% of the active duty military, increasing to an estimated 16% by 2035.

The number of homeless women veterans has doubled from 1,380 in FY 2006 to 3,328 in FY 2010.  The suicide rate for female veterans is higher than that of female civilians.

"We are doing this work to show that humanity still exists among us all," continued Nowocin.

"We can't wait for our government to take care of people.  We must stand united to help our people and make the country strong once again."

Through a number of partnership efforts, CMP is offering mental health counseling and life skills training.  

Each veteran will have the opportunity to improve their education and employment skills, develop budget management skills and computer knowledge.

Most important, the program strives to provide an environment for homeless female veterans that allows them to develop an alternative "family" network for self-help and independent living.

The housing model of matching female veterans to shared housing is one that has not been tried.  According to a 2010 study conducted by Project Muse, female veterans are three to four times more likely to become homeless than non-veteran women.

It is at this point that serendipity intervenes by bringing CMP into contact with Giving Tuesday.

Often stylized as #GivingTuesday for purposes of hash tag activism, the day takes place on the Tuesday directly after Thanksgiving.  

This year, Giving Tuesday is on December 1st.

Begun in 2012 by the 92nd Street Y in New York City and the United Nations Foundation, the intent was to set aside a day that celebrates the generosity of giving.

Since the average age of donors is now 65, #GivingTuesday aims to use social media such as Twitter and Facebook to encourage younger people to donate.

For CMP and its Operation Homes for Heroes, the serendipity of younger people donating to an operation that helps younger Americans bodes well as currently more than two million American children - to say nothing of their mothers - will face a period of homelessness this year.

CMP asks that individuals consider taking part in Giving Tuesday and contribute to Operation Homes for Heroes.

"We are focused on empowering people to get out of poverty," continued Nowocin.

For more information about Operation Homes for Heroes, visit www.carrymeproductions.org.  For more information about #GivingTuesday, visit www.givingtuesday.org.