Operation Gratitude
What is the mission of Operation Gratitude and how was it founded?
Operation Gratitude is the nonprofit, all-volunteer organization that sends care packages and letters of support to troops deployed overseas. Its mission is to lift morale, put a smile on a service member's face and express the appreciation of the American people for the sacrifices of the men and women defending our freedom. To date, Operation Gratitude has sent over 250,000 care packages to individual Soldiers, Marines, Airmen and Sailors in hostile regions such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay, and onto Military ships all over the world.
After 9-11, founder Carolyn Blashek felt a passionate desire to help fight the war on terrorism. Although then a 46-year-old mother of two living in Encino, Calif., her first thought was to join the Military. She quickly found out she was too old for duty and started volunteering at the military lounge in the Los Angeles airport. One day in March 2003, a soldier came into the office and broke down at her desk. He was on leave from a war zone for his mother's funeral, his wife had left him and his only child died as an infant--he had no one else in his life. "I'm going back over there; I don't think I'll make it back this time, but it really doesn’t matter because no one would even care” he told her. Right then Blashek realized that when bullets are flying, it's critical for troops to know that someone cares about them as an individual. That's when Operation Gratitude was born.
Tell us three things we probably don't know about Operation Gratitude.
- Operation Gratitude is honored to partner with Chrysler LLC’s Jeep brand and the Philadelphia Sports Congress to collect items during the annual Army-Navy Football games at Lincoln Financial Field.
- Similarly, Operation Gratitude has teamed with Checkers/Rallys Restaurants and the Indianapolis and Richmond Motor Speedways to collect items at the Indy 500 and NASCAR races during the annual Patriotic Drive. Both Jeep and Checkers/Rally’s have donated vehicles for milestone packages.
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Operation Gratitude has informational and inspiring videos posted on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/OpGrat.
What has been the biggest factor in the success of Operation Gratitude?
The incredible generosity of the American people – individuals, schools, churches, service organizations, small businesses and corporations have all pitched in to help, donating financially as well as time and talent.
Share one or two stories about people Operation Gratitude has helped.
Letters we’ve received speak for themselves.
From SFC J.S.:
HI Carolyn. Our unit will be leaving Iraq in a few weeks. I just wanted to thank you for your support of all soldiers over here. Your care packages helped lift morale here greatly and you should know helped save the life of a young soldier.
We had a soldier who never got mail, care packages, or anything. He did not have much family and as it turns out was planning on committing suicide on Christmas, but because that soldier received your care package it was like a Christmas gift. It made the soldier change his mind.
The soldier now writes letters and emails to folks whose names were in the box and the soldier's attitude and outlook on life has really improved. This is not a story--it is true. We found out when the soldier finally opened up and talked to the Chain of Command about what was going thru his mind and got help for his depression.
Your care package made a major difference in a human life. Because of your organization, one less family received terrible news at Christmas time.
This has been my third deployment here and I remember how on my first deployment, I almost never got mail and then received a care package from your group. It made me feel much better about being separated from my loved ones. Is there anything I can do to help out? Your group has helped me so I think I should return the great favor. What can I do to help out? Send $$ donations? Just name it.
V/R
SFC J.S.
From SSG R.:
You don't know me, but I am a recipient of one of your packages today from Operation Gratitude at FOB Mehtar Lam, Afghanistan. I don't know how or why I was one of the lucky ones that recieved a package, but I personally wanted to thank you for everything that Operation Gratitude is doing. It brings a big smile on soldiers' faces when the mail comes and they get packages from family, friends, and supporters. For me, it makes me proud that there is an overwhelming amount of support for the troops. Once again, thank you for the package and all the volunteers who are participating to show your support! SSG R.
Other than donations, what can people do to help Operation Gratitude?
Operation Gratitude welcomes volunteers as well as donations of funds and products for the packages. People can provide items from the Wish List:
Wish List Items include (but are not limited to):
- DVDs and CDs
- Computer Flash Drives
- International Phone cards
- Batteries-all sizes
- Personal Cooling Products: Bandana Cool-Ties, Battery Operated Mini-fans
- Boxes of Girl Scout or other Cookies (non-chocolate preferred)
- Individual Packets of Trail Mix, Dried Fruit or Nuts, Snack Foods, Beef Jerky, Energy/Power bars, Candy, Gum
- Ready to Eat Food Kits (Tuna, Chicken Salad); other Non-Perishable Food Products
- Packets of Powdered Hot or Cold Beverages
- Disposable Cameras; Handheld Electronic Games; Travel-size games
- Novelties, Promotional items
- Mini Stuffed Animals, Small Toys
- Baseball Caps, Knit Hats and Gloves, Neck Warmers, Decorated T-shirts
- Personal Care: Sunscreen, Foot Products, Lip Balm, Body Lotion, Toothpaste, Razors
- Unsealed Personal Letters and Cards
- Used Cell Phones, Video Games. Ink Jet Cartridges (for recycling)
Write Letters
Write letters to be included in the care packages. U.S. service members deployed for long periods away from home love nothing more than to receive good wishes and words of appreciation and support, especially from total strangers. OPERATION GRATITUDE strives to include several personal letters in every package that we send. Help ensure that a soldier, sailor, marine or airman knows that you are thinking of them by writing cards or letters. Please include your own address or email in the body of each letter so the recipient can choose to write back. Sample salutations include: Dear Service Member, Dear Hero, Dear Brave One, etc. Please keep your message upbeat and positive. Please do not put individual letters in sealed envelopes; all letters are subject to review.
Please understand that OPERATION GRATITUDE is not at liberty to provide or disclose the names and addresses of service members.
We accept letters all year. Please send letters to:
Operation Gratitude
16444 Refugio Road
Encino, California 91436
Comments By
Carolyn Blashek
Founder
Operation Gratitude
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Operation a Bit of Home
What is the mission of Operation a Bit of Home and how was
it founded?
My NCNG wife was activated and sent to Taji (Camp Cook) Iraq. She called me and told me that the Government did not supply any sanitary, relaxation, sporting or entertainment items to the troops. She told me she had to walk 2 miles wearing 80lbs of gear, in heat up to 140 with her rifle to BUY tampons, toothpaste, soap etc. I decided that I was not going to stand for that, and mobilized my small town, my family, my coworkers, and friends to send Angel (my wife) and her unit as much sanitary, relaxation, sporting and entertainment items as possible.
One day at work I received a phone call from a facility in Baghdad called "FREEDOM REST" it is the only R&R facility in Iraq for our troops. They stated that they had heard about the amount of stuff being sent to my wife and asked if we could support them. They depended on donations to get items to entertain, supply, and relax the troops. This call is the reason Operation: A Bit of Home was started.
Tell us three things we probably don't know about Operation a Bit of Home.
- We are one of the only charities that was started by request of an MWR facility. We had no idea what would happen and how we would grow.
- We do not simply solicit donations and try to sell "Boxes" Our website is 99% educational with a goal to teach people how they can support our troops, send their own boxes, and make a difference.
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We have helped supply the largest DVD and CD lending library for our Troops in Iraq by sending numerous portable players, and hundreds of DVDs and CDs.
What has been the biggest factor in the success of Operation a Bit of Home?
The biggest factor in the success of Operation: A Bit of Home is the dedication of the volunteers that help us. Our West Coast Director, Bob Meyer is a World War II Glider Pilot. He is 85 years old and is a ball of fire! He works with schools, community groups, and local government. Bob is responsible for over well over 7,000 boxes being sent over the last 3 years to Freedom Rest, Afghanistan, Guam, S. Korea, and other hot spots. He is a great motivator. He gives public speeches about the use of gliders in WWII and uses the opportunity to tell people that our troops need help.
Share one or two stories about people Operation a Bit of Home has helped.
Because we send our donations to a central point of disbursement for maximum coverage, we very rarely hear from the end users. We had one company, The Body Shop, donate over 20,000 bars of soap. We sent all that over and there was so much that they were driving around handing a bar or 2 of soap to every soldier and marine they came across, in a pickup filled with soap. At the end of our first year the NCOIC wrote and said we had directly affected the lives of 27,000 troops that he knew of!
We have helped Boy Scouts with their Eagle Scout Projects; Honor students fulfill Community Service requirements, and help get programs started in numerous groups.
Other than donations, what can people do to help Operation a Bit of Home and its mission?
Send our website to everyone in your address book. Get involved spreading the message of what our troops need, and how to get it to them. Read the event ideas and get your kids, schools, churchs involved. We are always available to answer questions and help with ideas.
Anything else you'd like to add?
Our groups all work from their homes. We pay all expenses from our own pockets. No one gets paid, we have no overhead. 99.9% of every dollar donated is used to pay for postage or buy requested items. Americans are very generous to their troops. They only have to understand the need, and be shown a way and they will help. Our slogan "Supporting YOUR Troops means more than sticking a magnet on your car!"
Comments By
Ken Meyer
Founder
Operation a Bit of Home
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