What is “Operation Gratitude” and how can people support the troops in their own unique way?
My name is Penny and I volunteer with Operation Gratitude in California. I appreciate your allowing me to tell your readers about our efforts.
The Mission Statement for Operation Gratitude begins “Operation Gratitude seeks to lift morale and put smiles on faces by sending care packages addressed to individual Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines deployed in harm’s way.” But it wasn’t long before we learned that Operation Gratitude ALSO brings a smile to the faces of our volunteers. People come to our package assembly events with the intention of showing their support for our troops, and leave, (often after standing on their feet for 8 hours), with the biggest smiles, thanking US for allowing them to volunteer! People return time and time again, bringing family and friends, and over the past 8 years, the ranks of our volunteers has grown larger and larger. So many Americans feel helpless and want to find a way to show their appreciation to our wonderful troops, and Operation Gratitude provides that for them. Our tasks include everything from writing customs forms to driving a forklift, and everything in between.
Volunteers ages 12 years and older, with a variety of different talents and physical abilities, find tasks they are suited to do. We also receive support from people across the country, who, although not located close to our events, support us through fund-raisers, collection drives, letter-writing drives, knitting/sewing projects, and a host of other activities.
Unintended Consequence!
Early on, when people began donating items for us to include in the care packages, we received a number of Beanie Babies from some donors. We weren’t sure what to do with them, but decided to include them in the packages. One day we got a letter from a Marine that said “we took the candy and the gum and we gave it to the kids out in the street, but when we gave them the beanie babies, they told us where the bombs were hidden. So not only have you put smiles on our faces, you’ve saved our lives.” When we received that letter, we realized the magnitude of our impact.
For those wishing to send items to include in our care packages, below is a list of our most frequently requested items.
Wish List:
Computer Flash Drives, DVDs and CDs, Video Games
Headsets (earpiece and microphone) and WebCams
Prepaid Phone Cards
Small Plush Toys such as Beanie Babies, Webkinz
Travel Size Board Games, Novelty Items, Yo-Yos, etc.
Knit/Crochet Scarves, Hats, Gloves, Neck Gators (see directions links below)
Bandana Coolers/Cool-Ties (see directions link below); Battery Operated Fans
Socks, printed T-shirts, Baseball Style Caps
Energy Bars
Single Serving Boxes of Cold Cereal; Individual Packets of Hot Cereal
Commercially wrapped individual packets of Trail Mix, Beef Jerky, Nuts
Boxes of Girl Scout Cookies
Commercially sealed Lip Balm, toothpaste, toothbrushes, roll-on deodorant
Travel Size containers of moist towelettes and foot powder
Unsealed personal cards and letters (both blank cards/stationery, and letters written to troops)
Used Cell Phones, Ink Jet Cartridges, Laptop Computers, IPODs, and PDAs (Operation Gratitude recycles these items and uses the money for postage for the care packages) are also needed.
MOST URGENT NEEDS: a. Financial donations to pay the postage on our care packages
b. Personal letters of appreciation
c. Small plush animals (Beanie Babies/Webkinz/Trolls)
d. Hand-knit or Crochet Scarves (winter/holiday drive) and Bandana cool-ties (spring/Patriotic drive)
e. Gift Cards to chain stores such as supermarkets, drugstores, Walmart or Target (for the Wounded Warrior Program).
If you have never heard of Operation Gratitude before, please visit http://www.opgratitude.com/ to learn more.
To contact Operation Gratitude with any questions you might have about how YOU can get involved, please click here and look for the appropriate link on the Contact Page.
Thank you,
Penny in California
© 2011, Kevin DuJan. All rights reserved.
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