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!

".....Y’all are the ones that are amazing. You have done more for our morale than anyone else in the two years I have been deployed. It is with that in mind that I send one big thank you....." MSG P.  



» SHASTA BIKE RALLY

JOIN US FOR A GREAT JULY 4th WEEKEND IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA!


» Support Our Troops Videos, Facebook and Twitter

About Operation Gratitude:
Operation Gratitude is the 501 (c) (3) non-profit, volunteer organization that annually sends 100,000+ care packages of items and letters addressed to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed in hostile overseas regions.  Our mission is to lift morale, bring a smile to a service member's face and to express to our Armed Forces the appreciation and support of the American people. Each package contains donated product valued at ~$100 and costs the organization $11 to assemble and ship. Since its inception in March, 2003, Operation Gratitude has shipped more than 450,000 packages to American military deployed overseas.

To learn more about Operation Gratitude: 

SEE VIDEOS: YOU-TUBE CHANNEL

BECOME A FAN: FACEBOOK PAGE

JOIN OUR FACEBOOK CAUSE

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

  
    Become a "Fan"  
      Click "Follow"       Click "Subscribe"   


» Care Package Drives 2009

 JOIN OUR CARE PACKAGE DRIVES! 

Click Here for Volunteer and Donation Information

At this time, our most urgent need is for personal letters and financial donations to pay the postage on our care packages.  As we have been blessed by our very generous Corporate product donors, we respectfully encourage supporters to collect funds and letters rather than items to ensure that we can ship all 100,000 care packages this year.


We always need LETTERS to the Troops
Click here for Details

Operation Gratitude ships care packages year round. 
Assembly of Holiday Care Packages will begin in October
.

VOLUNTEERS: ARMORY CLOSED JUNE 22-28


» Gary Sinise Visits Operation Gratitude


For More Pictures: Gary Sinise at Operation Gratitude


» Vote Operation Gratitude-Social Media Makeover

Another Online Social Networking Contest...
Another Opportunity to Vote for Operation Gratitude...
To Win a "Social Media Makeover"
No idea what that is, but who can argue with a Makeover?

One more time: Vote for Operation Gratitude!

 


» Bullseye Gives

THE "BULLSEYE GIVES" CONTEST IS OVER!

YOUR Votes raised an incredible $232,948 
for Operation Gratitude

EVERY VOTE YOU CAST SENT A CARE PACKAGE!

Our thanks to TARGET for their very generous support and for their vision in embracing the social networking world

Our thanks to each of you who voted for
Operation Gratitude and spread the word.

YOU AND TARGET HAVE TRULY MADE A DIFFERENCE! 


» 400,000th Package Delivered!



CLICK HERE FOR FULL VIDEO COVERAGE
OF THE PRESENTATION


» DONATION INFORMATION

HELP SEND 100,000 CARE PACKAGES THIS YEAR!

 FINANCIAL DONATIONS ARE NEEDED TO COVER COSTS OF
SHIPPING AND COMMUNICATION: $11 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.  

To donate online, please click on the Donate Button:



CHECKS SHOULD BE MADE OUT AND ADDRESSED TO:
OPERATION GRATITUDE
16444 REFUGIO ROAD
ENCINO, CALIFORNIA 91436

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 designated form field if donating online 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.

Every $11 donated sends another care package:  You may be able to double or even triple your donation!  Many companies have matching gift programs
, which means they'll match your donation, or maybe even double or triple it!  Please check with your Human Resources/Personnel office to learn if your donation is eligible for a matching donation.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY TO SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!

 


» Holiday Drive 2008

SENDING THE 400,000th PACKAGE!

Ben Affleck, Kathy Ireland and Days of Our Lives
Stars Join 1000 Volunteers

Video Coverage: Click Here
Story: Click Here

 


» 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 .   

Donated funds are used to pay for production, shipping and communication expenses.  Unlike other organizations of our scope and budget, we do not pay for fundraising campaigns (eg. direct mail, staged events) or management salaries. 

Operation Gratitude's administrative expenses are so low (less than 1%), and our management so efficient that Charity Navigator would not compare us to other organizations of similar size.

This is a tribute to the patriotic spirit of the many key volunteers who devote themselves to the organization without pay in order to express appreciation to the Military.  Our financial statements show imputed salaries close to $1 million; our Directors, Executive Director and key personnel have agreed to forego any payment to ensure the fulfillment of our donors' charitable intent that all service members receive care packages. 

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 2009, to ship 110,000 packages, is $1.2 Million, of which $1.1 Million is postage.  Our overall cost per package is $11; the donated contents of each package are worth ~$100.
For more information, please email: opgrat@gmail.com  


» Cafe Press


» 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


» Letters to Operation Gratitude

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.  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.

To Read More Letters: Mail Call

» 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


» 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.
 

» 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


» Recycle to Support Our Troops!





» Cars4Causes

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS BY DONATING YOUR OLD VEHICLES!



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


» 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:


» Phones For Good

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS WHEN YOU BUY YOUR NEXT CELL PHONE!



» 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

 
 
 

» National Day of Service



12,000 Volunteers Participated in
"A Day of Service for Our Military"

Massive Care Package Assembly Attended by
Michelle Obama and Jill Biden

To learn more about this exciting event, click here: Service


» 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"


» 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




» 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....


» 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!


Join the
Operation Gratitude
mailing list
Email:



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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