New Partnership Between PODS and Operation Healing Forces

Many organizations want to support veterans, but not all support addresses real needs. How can something as practical as moving and storage support make a difference? 

A new partnership between PODS, based in Clearwater, FL, and Tampa Bay nonprofit Operation Healing Forces launched this year. PODS now serves as OHF’s exclusive moving and storage provider. They donate containers and storage support to help wounded and injured Special Operations service members and their families navigate relocations during recovery, which helps reduce stress. PODS has an enduring history and commitment to supporting military members and their families. 

Below, we speak with Irfan Bojadzija, Vice President of Residential and Commercial Partnerships at PODS Moving & Storage, and Kerry Irvin, CEO at Operation Healing Forces to talk about this new partnership and the big difference they are making for Special Operations families.

Military.com (Kimberly O’Brien): Operation Healing Forces works with Special Operations families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. From the partnership perspective, how can removing everyday logistical stress, like moving or temporary housing, change the recovery experience for those families?

Irfan Bojadzija (Vice President of Residential and Commercial Partnerships, PODS) and Kerry Irvin (CEO, Operation Healing Forces): For Special Operations families navigating recovery, rehabilitation, or reintegration, even simple tasks can become overwhelming. When a service member is healing, the entire family is adjusting alongside them. Something as practical as moving or securing temporary storage can quickly become an added burden during an already complex time. The partnership between PODS and Operation Healing Forces (OHF) directly alleviates this pressure by providing moving and storage support during transitions that often coincide with recovery needs. By removing those logistical pressures, families gain stability. That stability allows them to focus on medical care, connection, and rebuilding routines at home. Reducing external stress creates the conditions for meaningful recovery.

Military.com: Many people think of recovery from combat injuries as primarily medical. Factors like stability at home, family support, and reduced day-to-day stress shape the long-term recovery and reintegration of Special Operations service members. How will this new partnership address lesser-known logistical challenges wounded Special Operations service members and their families face?

Bojadzija & Irvin: Medical care is critical, but it is only one part of the recovery journey. True healing is influenced by the environment a service member returns to. It is shaped by whether the home feels secure, whether the family feels supported, and whether unnecessary stress has been reduced. This partnership directly targets the “behind the scenes” challenges that often disrupt progress, such as rapid relocations, extended treatment stays, or transitions that require temporary housing and storage solutions. 

As OHF’s exclusive moving and storage provider, PODS provides containers to support these needs, providing families relief from often time-consuming logistics and securing temporary storage or moving needs during recovery. By providing practical moving and storage support through OHF’s SOAR program, families gain flexibility and breathing room during moments that can otherwise feel overwhelming. When stability increases, recovery outcomes improve. Families can remain focused on rehabilitation, reintegration, and rebuilding connections rather than managing logistics alone.

Military.com: How could partnerships like this influence positive outcomes and change the way future recovery support is delivered?  Is there anything else you would like to share? 

Bojadzija & Irvin: Partnerships that combine nonprofit mission with private-sector capabilities set a new standard for what holistic recovery support can look like. When organizations recognize that practical assistance is just as important as clinical care, the recovery model becomes more complete. 

The PODS and OHF partnership demonstrates how aligning resources, like OHF’s year-round reintegration and resilience programs and PODS’ nationwide moving and storage services, helps create a seamless support system for families who often operate under very high stress and uncertainty. 

Partnerships like this are vital to fulfilling OHF’s mission of restoring strength and stability to the military community. By integrating logistical support directly into the recovery journey, we can consider the full picture of what families need: medical access, emotional support, and the practical stability that frees them to focus on the next step in their healing journey. 

What makes this partnership special is not only the service it provides, but the shared values behind it. Both PODS and Operation Healing Forces have deep roots in the Tampa Bay, Florida, military community and a long-standing commitment to honoring those who serve. 

In 2025 alone, PODS provided nearly 33,000 containers for military moves and services approximately 279 military installations across the continental U.S. and Hawaii. 

Last year, PODS announced its participation in the MILITARY STAR® card network, powered by Discover® Global Network, which makes it easier for military members and their families to access PODS’ flexible moving and storage services through a financial tool designed specifically for the military community. 

OHF is proud to welcome PODS as a trusted partner, and the company’s generosity allows OHF to continue restoring strength and stability to Special Operations families in meaningful, tangible ways.

For the full press release, see PODS® Partners with Operation Healing Forces to Support America’s Special Operations Community.