4. Craft Projects: a) Knit/Crochet Scarves (5-7" Wide, 45-50" long)
***Feel free to use your own "recipe" or see sample below.***
For more information on The Scarf Project, please email: OpGrat@gmail.com
For more ideas: http://www.tropicalyarns.com/index.cfm?PID=22&ProdID=294
We need 60,000 scarves for the holiday packages--please help!
b) Bandana Cool-Tie Project (for summer packages):
Here's a great craft project for school, scout, social and community groups: Follow this link for pattern and directions.
http://www.watersorb.com/polymer_cool_neck_bands.htm
Follow this link to buy the water-absorbing polymer granules needed for your Cool Ties: http://www.watersorb.com/mainstore.html
Please use tan, brown, desert camouflage or other neutral colored cotton. No American flag fabric please.
c) Neck Gaiters (Gators) Directions (for the winter packages):
Please see: http://www.uberpest.com/gaiter.html
d) Hand-made Greeting Cards:
We welcome hand-made cards with your personal messages on them or blank cards that the troops can use to write to their loved ones (or to you!).
* See below for Shipping Directions 5. Volunteering at the Armory
If you are in the Southern California area and would like to assist in the packaging of the gift boxes, please contact us for details at: OpGratVolunteer@yahoo.com . Write "Operation Gratitude Volunteer" in the subject line.
Children 12 years and older are welcome in the armory; 12-16 year old volunteers must have a responsible adult with them on the premises at all times.
For more information, click here: Volunteer Schedule
6. Write Letters
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. It will only take 5 minutes out of your day to write a letter, but it will bring joy to our troops that will last a lifetime.
What to Write About
Keep your message upbeat and positive
Be thankful ~~ share a little bit of yourself
Ask questions; however, do not discuss death or killing
Avoid politics completely and religion in excess
It’s all about appreciation and respect
Ask yourself: “Will this letter bring a smile to someone’s face?”
More Helpful Information
Sample salutations: Dear Hero, Dear Brave One
Include your own mail or email so recipients can choose to reply
No stamps or envelopes are needed
Hand Written letters or cards are most appreciated.
All letters will be screened—please do not seal envelopes
Send multiple letters together in one large mailing envelope or box
If you do not receive a reply, do not be discouraged.
Remember: Our troops are busy!
We accept letters all year.
Email OpGrat@gmail.com to request Letter Writing Flyers.
7. Fundraise Through Recycling:
Good for the Environment and Good for the Troops!
a) GRC Wireless Recycling will pay Operation Gratitude up to $30 per cell phone, PDA or laptop, and pre-pay the shipping expenses. GRC can organize a Recycling Campaign for your community, with promotional materials, to benefit Operation Gratitude. For more information, click here: Wireless Recycling or email: info@grcrecycling.com or call: 877-744-3601.
GRC will also recycle Ink-Jet cartridges.
b) Access Recycling will pay Operation Gratitude for every used cell phone, ink-jet cartridge, toner cartridge, laptop computer, IPOD, PDA or video received, and will pre-pay the shipping expenses. For more information, click here: Recycle For our Troops! If you have questions, please contact: gratitude@accessrecycling.com
8. Donate Your Vehicle:
To Cars 4 US Troops or Cars for Causes--Proceeds will benefit Operation Gratitude!
9. Fundraise While You Search or Shop:
This is a great way to do your everyday shopping and support our troops at the same time!
a) Cafe Press Operation Gratitude Store: Purchase Operation Gratitude-logo items; a portion of every item purchase is donated to Operation Gratitude.
b) The Website Shop: Purchase embroidered logo items and a portion of each sale is donated to Operation Gratitude
c) Buy and Sell on Ebay: 10-100% of auction proceeds are designated to Operation Gratitude.
d) Great Ideas: Support our Supporters and Support our troops at the same time!
e) Coupon Chief: Discounts to you for online shopping and up to a 20% donation to Operation Gratitude
f) Operation Gratitude Online Shopping Portal connects you to more than 1000 online merchants that provide specials and discounts to our supporters and that also donate a portion of your online purchases back to Operation Gratitude.
g) GoodSearch.com is an internet 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 every time you search!
h) Use your Ralph's Supermarket Rewards Card
For detailed instructions, click here: Rewards Card
10. Spread the Word
Please forward this web site to everyone and anyone you know who might be interested in helping Operation Gratitude. Also: Join us on Twitter and Facebook:
Twitter: www.twitter.com/OpGratitude
Facebook: www.facebook.com/OperationGratitude or
Text "fan OperationGratitude" to 32665 (FBOOK)
And then encourage all your Facebook and Twitter friends to join us too!
**Shipping Instructions:
All items and letters can be shipped or delivered between September 8--December 4 and from March 1 to May 5 to:
Operation Gratitude/California Army National Guard
17330 Victory Boulevard
Van Nuys, California 91406
ATTN: Charlie Othold
~Your only shipping cost is in sending the items to Operation Gratitude.
~Financial donations towards the cost ($15) of shipping to troops will be appreciated
~Please mail checks separately from cartons of items.
~If shipping more than one carton, write the total number of cartons on each carton and the number of the particular carton out of the total (eg. "2 of 4")
~All financial donations will be acknowledged by mail.
~If you would like to receive an acknowledgment for donated items, please include your name and email or mailing address inside the shipment (email acknowledgments will help us save the cost of postage!).
~Acknowledgments will be sent within three months.
~If you want confirmation of delivery on your shipment to us, please use the tracking system provided by your shipper.
Operation Gratitude welcomes donations of all products in furtherance of its mission to support our Military. We reserve the right to determine the appropriate use of each donated item, including but not limited to inclusion in our care packages, donation to Military bases or other charities, and/or for fundraising or volunteer appreciation purposes.
***Scarf Recipe-Use sport-weight yarn with the Mistake Rib pattern that is simple, gives a little body to the scarf and will not curl!!! Using an approximate stockinette gauge of 22 stitches/4 inches cast on however many stitches you want for the width of the scarf as a multiple of 4 and then add five more stitches. For a 4 inches wide scarf, cast-on 24 + 5. For a 6 inches wide scarf, cast on 32 +5. For a 8 inches wide scarf, cast on 44 + 5. For every row *k2, p2, repeat from * ending with a k1. The Mistake Rib stitch pattern does not pull in like a 2x2 rib will but it has a great deal of stretchiness and creates an interesting texture and is reversible.
For legal and security reasons, Operation GratitudeSM is not at liberty to provide or disclose the names and addresses of service members. For additional information or to discuss your involvement in greater detail, please email OpGrat@gmail.com
Thank you again for your thoughtfulness and patriotic support of our troops!
