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Welcome to Operation Gratitude
Care packages sent to date:
   
Support Our Troops--Operation Gratitude Makes A Difference!
"....everytime we see a school child draw a picture, or just get a note from Americans who really support us, it is a morale booster. Thank you again for taking the time to send a piece of home. Sincerely, MAJ T...." |
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» BREAKING NEWS!!! |
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300,000th Package and Jeep Liberty Keys
Delivered in Person to Soldier in Iraq!!!
For the Story, Click Here: Story
For More Pictures, Click Here: Photos
For Video Footage, Click Here: Video |
» DONATION INFORMATION |
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WE NEED FINANCIAL DONATIONS TO COVER THE COSTS OF
SHIPPING AND COMMUNICATION: $10 per package
Operation Gratitude is a 501(c)(3) organization.
All donations are tax deductible as provided by law.
FINANCIAL DONATIONS CAN BE MADE ONLINE OR BY CHECK. PLEASE CONSIDER SENDING A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION BY CHECK (SAVING US THE FEES) MADE OUT AND ADDRESSED TO:
OPERATION GRATITUDE
16444 REFUGIO ROAD
ENCINO, CALIFORNIA 91436
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY TO SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!
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» Financial Information |
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Operation Gratitude is a California corporation, granted 501(c)(3) exempt status by the IRS, and recognized as a charitable organization by the California Franchise Tax Board. Tax returns are available online at www.guidestar.org . We are an all-volunteer organization (no salaries are paid), and we have no facilities' overhead. All donated funds are used to pay for production and shipping expenses (postage, labels, tape, equipment rental, insurance,etc) and communications, which consists of website upkeep and an email system. We do not expend funds on fundraising campaigns (eg. direct mail or staging events). All contents of the packages are donated by individuals and groups through collection drives, or by companies that donate their own products. Our budget for 2008, to ship 120,000 packages, is $1.2 Million, of which $1.1 Million is postage. As each of our care packages is addressed to a specific service member, the only means of transport is through the Military Postal system via the USPS; only an Act of Congress can provide a discount or elimination of that cost ($8.95 per package). Our overall cost per package is $10; the donated contents of each package are worth ~$125. For more information, please email: cblashek@aol.com
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» 250,000th Care Package |
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Soldier Who Received 250,000th
Care Package and Jeep Keys...
Returns Home and Visits Operation Gratitude!
SPC Alfonso Sanchez received the
250,000th Operation Gratitude Care Package
on July 24 while deployed in Iraq.
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» How You Can Help |
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» Recycle to Support Our Troops! |
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WE NOW RECYLE USED VIDEO GAMES
GREAT COLLECTION PROJECT FOR STUDENTS
TO SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!
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» Cars4Causes |
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SUPPORT OUR TROOPS BY DONATING YOUR OLD VEHICLES!
TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION RAISES FUNDS TO
SEND MORE CARE PACKAGES! |
» Operation Gratitude On-Line Store |
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SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR OUR TROOPS
WITH OPERATION GRATITUDE PRODUCTS!
for Apparel and Accessories
$5 from every item purchased will be donated to
Operation Gratitude
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» Good Search |
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Support Our Troops Every Time You Search Online!
GoodSearch.com is a Yahoo-powered search engine that will donate a penny per search to Operation Gratitude. Use it just as you would any search engine, get quality search results and help us send more care packages to the troops!
Just go to www.goodsearch.com and be sure to enter Operation Gratitude, Inc. as the charity you want to support. Then add that page to your Favorites and use it every time you do an internet search.
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» GiveLine-Give While You Shop |
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Giveline.com is a revolutionary online store created for the community-minded shopper. Every transaction in their store can generate a charitable contribution to Operation Gratitude. Click here for more information or to begin shopping.
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» LT. GENERAL HAL MOORE RECEIVES AWARD |
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On December 1, Operation Gratitude presented The National Freedom Award to Lt. Gen. Hal Moore (Ret.), the Army Commander who co-authored the NY Times #1 best-selling book, and inspired the movie,
We Were Soldiers Once...and Young
Lt. General Moore joined the Volunteers on the Assembly Line as an additional 8,500 packages were prepared and shipped.
Click for Details
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» Patriotic 2007 Packages Arrive |
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THE 2007 PACKAGES ARRIVE IN A RECORD-BREAKING 7 DAYS!
The troops are receiving the Operation Gratitude care packages. Here are just a few of the letters we have received. For more words from our troops, regularly check out the Mail Call section of the Operation Gratitude web site.
I have seen several attempts at providing this type of service to deployed service members, but I have never seen anyone do it with the consistent excellence that your organization does. Every box is a real morale booster for our Sailors and Marines. Every box shows care and concern for the men and women serving their country and the gifts inside a reminder of the family and friends awaiting their return. Please pass our gratitude to the generous Americans who make this program possible.
Very Sincerely,
T.M. Commanding Officer VAW 123
USS ENTERPRISE
I can not express my gratitude for sending me a box that represents love and care from your noble cause. I wasn't expecting any mail or presents at this moment but because of this everything today went so well and relaxing from a weary hard work. I could not think of anything to say or do right now to repay your kindness for just doing this simple but BIG thing in our lives here in harms way. I hope that your Organization will reap more blessings and grow stronger everyday. God Bless and more power!!! SPC J.T. Camp Liberty, Baghdad, Iraq
Our troops were very pleased with all the items, especially enjoying the music, movies, magazines, and socks. I understand the amount of time and work you and your team must have spent putting those together, a sacrifice that truly showed you care. Please pass on to your team how much those personally addressed packages meant to all of us and know we truly appreciate all your support back home. Sincerely, Lt Col E.M.
Your support is more then a package of items, it is a morale boost to many. It is a smile on a Soldiers face when he/she opens the box. So I say to you and all of the people that put their heart in to this; Job well Done. You have brightened the day of a Soldier. COL J.B.
I've been in the army for 18 years, this is my third tour, 2nd combat, as a national guardsman and I thought I'd seen it all. I just got a package from Operation Gratitude, it is the first I've ever received. As I sit here reading the letters in the package(with tears in my eyes) I am so proud to be here and so thankful for all of your support. I will never be able to tell you how much it means. This place has been described as ultimate boredom interrupted by shear moments of terror and knowing that people like you back home support and pray for us makes us all feel better.
Thank you for everything CW2 BL.
"Want to know what really grabbed me when I got your package? It was addressed to me. My name was on the box. It wasn't just a box. It was my box. I wasn't just any soldier, I was somebody, I am somebody. B.W."
"I would like to personally thank you for the many gifts that our command received last week from OPERATION GRATITUDE. These gifts were a great morale boost for the entire crew. The support your organization has shown to the Armed Forces personnel is overwhelming. This organization is proof that many Americans do care about our troops serving in harm's way. Our crew represents almost every state in America. They are men and women that have dedicated their lives to serving their country. All have put "Country" before "Self". Thank you and your entire organization for your PATRIOTISM. I have served in the United States Navy for over 23 years and these packages are by far the best I have ever seen from any organization. V/R CMDCM(SW/AW) S.R."
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» 200,000th Care Package Received! |
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OPERATION GRATITUDE AND CHECKERS-RALLYS PRESENT CAR TO
LCPL JORDAN RICHARDS & FIANCE
ON MAY 30, 2007 in St. LOUIS!!
 MARINE RECEIVES GIFT OF A LIFETIME!!
Operation Gratitude and Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc., presented 20-year-old Marine Lance Corporal Jordan Richards with the keys to a new Dodge® Caliber in celebration of Operation Gratitude's 200,000th Care Package sent in December.
Click here for Details
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» 150,000th Care Package |
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150,000th Package Received!
A Marine Private deployed in Iraq receives the 150,000th Operation Gratitude Care Package, filled with assorted goodies plus a DVD Player, a large collection of DVDs and a Hotel-Casino vacation.
Read More....
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» Donation Meter |
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HELP US GET TO $1,200,000
Operation Gratitude is a 501(c)(3) organization.
All donations are tax deductible as provided by law.
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» Your support is greatly appreciated! |
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Thanks for the many care packages you sent to our company! The soldiers really enjoyed all the various goodies you sent. Snacks are always a hit as we get tired of Army chow. Your support is greatly appreciated! We know we are not forgotten over here when we are so far from our families and friends. Thanks! J.B.
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