Operation Gratitude Home Page
Volunteer Hours and Donor Delivery Information
Volunteer Hours and Donor Delivery Information
Volunteer Hours and Donor Delivery Information

Recent News
Recent News





Operation Gratitude /
Carolyn Blashek

16444 Refugio Road
Encino, California 91436
USA


Welcome to Operation Gratitude

Care packages sent to date:

Support Our Troops--Operation Gratitude Makes A Difference!

"I recently received a care package from you. I just wanted to say thank you so much! The idea that there are people back home who care for us, not even knowing us,  makes me feel like we are making a difference! The food, calling cards, everything was so nice to have. The food here is not always the best so that really helped out! Lol thank you and God bless you!!! -GSM3 O...."




» BREAKING NEWS!!!

CUSTOMIZED JEEP LIBERTY DELIVERED TO
CPL GALLAGHER in FT. LEWIS, WA
VEHICLE MEMORIALIZES FALLEN WARRIORS




For local tv coverage: KOMO News
For additional photos:
Photo Gallery


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


» Patriotic Drive

The 2008 PATRIOTIC DRIVE 
Was a Great Success!

Thank you for helping us send our
350,000th Care Package!
For pictures, click here.

The 2008 HOLIDAY DRIVE

starts in September!

Click Here for Volunteer and Donation Details

We always need LETTERS to the Troops
Click here for Details


» Letters

To Operation Gratitude:
My husband was feeling very down yesterday when I spoke to him.  Today when he called me on the computer, his whole attitude had changed.  He was smiling ear to ear. He had received a box from Operation Gratitude. He had to show me everything that was sent to him.  He loved everything.  He had decorations hanging up in his room for the Fourth of July and he had a teddy bear sitting on his bed.  You turned his whole day around.  Just a few little things that reminded him of home and let him know that there were people who cared brought him great joy.  I am so grateful for your support. 
Army Wife,  C.P.

Dear Operation Gratitude,
I'm the wife of a deployed soldier.  When I spoke to him today he said his entire unit each individually received a package from your organization.  I wanted to thank you for supporting my husband and his unit.  You definitely brought cheer and a morale boost to each of them.  This unit is a transportation unit and therefore are doing convoys on the dangerous roads of Iraq on a daily basis.  They have encountered many imminent threats and my husband's vehicle alone has taken 4 direct hits.  This kind of ongoing stress and fatigue can be a huge drain on our troops' morale.  However, it is people like your volunteers who reach out to them and remind them that they are not forgotten.  Your support gives them a taste of home and comfort that is priceless.  Although we back here can't bring them home safe in body, that's their buddies' job, we can assist them in arriving home healthy in mind and spirit.  You and your volunteers have contributed greatly to that mission through the packages you sent.  I know you may not hear back from most of them, so I thought I would give you a little personal insight into what your efforts have accomplished.  You have touched the lives of Heroes who are willing to place themselves in harms way and leave their families behind because they know that this country is full of good people who embrace and treasure the freedom they fight for.  May God bless your efforts.  Thank you for not only thinking of our troops but going that extra step to let them know you do. 
From a grateful and touched heart. 
R.U.,
Proud Wife of a US Soldier.

» DONATION INFORMATION

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

To make a donation online, please click on the Donate Button:

If you would like to make a donation in someone's honor or memory, please include the name and address of the person you would like notified (in the "Message" field if donating by Paypal or on a note if sending a check) and we will mail a beautiful tribute letter to them; donors will receive a letter of acknowledgment for tax purposes.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY TO SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!


» Financial Information

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



» 250,000th Care Package

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.
 

» Support Our Troops Videos

To learn more about Operation Gratitude, visit the

OPERATION GRATITUDE YOU-TUBE CHANNEL

 Operation Gratitude-God Bless the USA

and:
Operation Gratitude Video

"Safely Home"
Abridged version of video sent in our Holiday Care Packages

Emmy-award Winning Actor speaks about
the impact of Operation Gratitude

Click Here for Operation Gratitude Posters


» 300,000th Package!

Actor/Director Ben Affleck joins the Assembly Line and Speaks on Regis and Kelly for
Operation Gratitude
 
Click here for details, video and pictures


» Letters to Veterans

Letters of Gratitude to Veterans

Operation Gratitude launches new program to say
"Thank You" to All Our Veterans
Click here for Details: Letters of Gratitude


» How You Can Help

To Join Our Effort: SUPPORT

For more ways to be involved: How You Can Help 

Also check out:
 **Great Ideas** 

To Volunteer at our Facility in Calif: VOLUNTEERS

See our videos:
OPERATION GRATITUDE 
YouTube CHANNEL


CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS:  PHOTO GALLERY





» Recycle to Support Our Troops!





» Cars4Causes

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS BY DONATING YOUR OLD VEHICLES!



TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION RAISES FUNDS TO
SEND MORE CARE PACKAGES!


» Phones For Good

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS WHEN YOU BUY YOUR NEXT CELL PHONE!



» Operation Gratitude On-Line Store

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

 


 

» Buy and Sell on Ebay

SUPPORT OPERATION GRATITUDE WHEN YOU BUY OR SELL ON EBAY!
Sellers can designate 10-100% of auction proceeds
Buyers can search and bid on Operation Gratitude items
To start supporting our troops through Ebay, click Here:


» Good Search

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.


» Care Clicks

 
 
 

» GiveLine-Give While You Shop


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.


» Packages Arrive!







"I am one of the many Marines that you sent a care package. I want to thank each and every one of you for supporting us and for letting us know how much people support us back at home. I live with 17 Marines and Sailors in one room. Everyone got a package and everyone loved it especially the cookies and beanie babies. The cookies are excellent and the beanie babies help us out a lot with the local kids. We give them candy and toys and they give us the location for IED's. Once again, thank you for everything and for all the hard work that you put into the package. LCPL ND"


» 200,000th Care Package Received!

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


» White House Visit

OPERATION GRATITUDE FOUNDER MEETS WITH PRESIDENT BUSH AT THE WHITE HOUSE
President Expresses Support and Thanks for Group’s Work
on Behalf of Men and Women in Uniform


» 150,000th Care Package

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....


» Donation Meter


HELP US GET TO $1,200,000

Operation Gratitude is a 501(c)(3) organization.
All donations are tax deductible as provided by law.


» Your support is greatly appreciated!

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.

Join the Operation Gratitude mailing list
Email:

How You Can Help!
Individuals, Schools, Organizations (scouts, community, religious, teams etc.)
Click Here!



Cars 4 Causes - Car Donation

Donate Cell Phones To Benefit Operation Gratitude

News from the Front Line
Recent News



Letters to Veterans

Access Recycling, all donated items directly benefit Operation Gratitude

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