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POSTAGE RATES INCREASE IMPACTING OUR PROGRAM! |
Posted on April 22, 2007 - 10:59 AM |
Dear Friends and Supporters,
On May 14, 2007, U.S. Postal Service rates will increase, creating an enormous strain on Operation Gratitude's budget. I need your help!
The postage cost alone to send each of our care packages will go up $1.05 to $9.15 per package. Our plan is to send 120,000 care packages during 2007 (60,000 during each Drive), which means we need $1.1 Million just to cover our postage expenses this year ($1.2 Million to cover all costs). We have been diligent in keeping all other costs to a bare minimum (still no salaries or rent, most shipping supplies and all items for packages donated, services and equipment discounted; postage represents 92% of our total budget). However, by law, postage costs cannot be negotiated, discounted or donated by the U.S. Postal Service. And because each of our packages is addressed to an individual, the only means of delivery is through the U.S. Postal Service to the Military Post Office (in other words: we cannot use alternative shipping methods).
In order to continue our mission, we only have two choices: drastically reduce the number of packages we send or dramatically increase the funds we raise.
I know you all agree with me that reducing the number of packages we send is not an acceptable option-- especially in light of increasing troop deployments and policy issues. Our morale-lifting expressions of appreciation are needed now more than ever.Your generosity the past 4 years has been extraordinary and has enabled us to touch the lives of more than 211,000 deployed troops and their families. Now I must ask you once again to open your hearts and donate financially, as much as you can, to ensure we can continue sending our Operation Gratitude care packages.
Please encourage everyone you know to join this effort. As we have the last four years, together we can put smiles on the faces of tens of thousands of our courageous troops deployed in harm's way this year.
Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our brave men and women in uniform.
Love,
Carolyn Blashek
Operation Gratitude
16444 Refugio Road
Encino, CA 91436
2006 Holiday Drive Wraps Up |
Posted on February 28, 2007 - 00:47 AM |
Dear Friends,The packages have been shipped, the inventory has been exhausted, and many smiles could be found on troops' faces as the 2006 Holiday Drive came to a close at the end of January. During this Holiday Drive, volunteers assembled and shipped over 57,500 packages bringing the total care packages shipped to 210,660 since Operation Gratitude's inception in 2003!!
"I am so deeply grateful to each of our donors and volunteers!" exclaimed Carolyn Blashek, founder of Operation Gratitude. "We could never have done this without the efforts and generosity of each and every one of them. I am humbled and amazed by the public's dedication to the troops and to Operation Gratitude."
"I'd especially like to express my appreciation to all of the volunteer Supervisors," said Charlie Othold, Director of Operations for Operation Gratitude. "They led a tremendous group of volunteers to accomplish great things during this Holiday Drive. I am very thankful to everyone who contributed in any way to this endeavor, enabling us to reach a record number of troops."
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Due to our growth, we are searching for a new facility as we clearly need more space! Once we have finalized our location, we will announce (by e-mail and on the web site) our schedule for the 2007 Patriotic Drive.
Please check the Volunteer and Donation Information Sections of the Operation Gratitude website for more information and schedule updates.
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"There are so many ways to help in between the drives." reports Penny Alfonso, Volunteer Coordinator for Operation Gratitude. "The volunteer opportunities are ongoing. Just check out the 'How You Can Help' section of our web site or read further in this newsletter for an opportunity that interests you."
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. Please include your own address or e-mail in each letter so the recipient can choose to write back. Please keep your message upbeat and positive. Please do not put individual letters in sealed envelopes; all letters are subject to review.
For more information about our letter writing campaign, click here.
Contribute Financially: All items included in the packages are donated. The cost of shipping each package averages $10/package; Operation Gratitude ships over 100,000 care packages each year. Financial donations to Operation Gratitude, a 501(c)(3), all-volunteer, non-profit organization, are devoted to overall shipping and communication expenses and are tax deductible. Donations can be made by credit card conveniently on-line through PayPal (or click the PayPal Link at the bottom of this newsletter) or by check payable to Operation Gratitude and sent to:
Operation Gratitude
16444 Refugio Road
Encino, CA 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 and we will send them a beautiful tribute letter; donors will receive a letter of acknowledgment for tax purposes.
Many employers provide matching grants based on employee financial contributions and/or volunteer hours worked. Please check with your employer to see if this is available to you. For those who contribute through United Way, Operation Gratitude is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization eligible to receive your donation as a "write-in" charity.
Organize a Collection Drive: A Collection Drive for Operation Gratitude is an active and fun way for your friends, neighbors, members, scouts and/or students to show their support for our troops. We will be accepting Wish List items for the Patriotic Drive from April 1-June 15.
Recycle to Raise Funds: Our recycler now accepts used video games and video game systems in addition to cell phones, laptops, IPODs, PDAs and ink-jet cartridges. See below for more information and links. This is a win-win-win program: Good for the environment, good for the troops and a great way to clean out your cabinets of those old video games!
Boy Scouts throughout the country have organized collection drives for Operation Gratitude as their Eagle Scout Project. We love working with them! Please e-mail Carolyn Blashek for more information if you would like to help Operation Gratitude through scouting.
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Operation Gratitude is proud to partner with the 7th annual Benefit for Our Bravest, a popular community street fair that honors, through public celebration, America's "Bravest" -- those who selflessly put their lives on the line for the greater good. Members of the Los Angeles Fire Department, Police Department and Sheriff's Department will join us as we recognize the courageous men and women of the California Army National Guard's 746th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, many of whom have recently returned from deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. All funds raised at the event this year will be donated to Operation Gratitude.
Donations of silent auction items including theatre, sports or concert tickets and vacations: airfare, hotels, spas, are being sought for the Benefit. For more information or to contribute a silent auction item, please contact (818) 222-6693.
Opportunities to bid for the auction items will be available on-line. Please watch our Operation Gratitude web site for updates on items and how to bid.
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Operation Gratitude now has its own On- Line Store featuring a wide variety of t-shirts, sweatshirts, accessories, household items and even an Operation Gratitude Teddy Bear! 
Five dollars from every purchase will be donated to Operation Gratitude
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In an effort to promote race fan support for deployed U.S. service members, NASCAR Busch East Series Racing Team, Jamerson Motorsports #84, featuring Busch Series driver, Dion Ciccarelli, has teamed up with Operation Gratitude to create the first-ever cause-branded racing team. This season, Team Jamerson will host Operation Gratitude Wish List Collection Drives at many retail locations throughout the country as part of their 2007 “Let Freedom Roar Tour” -- Show Car Fan Experience.
“We’re proud to support Operation Gratitude and bring increased awareness to their mission of supporting our brave Troops overseas” said Larry Jamerson, Team Owner. “We hope to lift troop morale by filling up the care packages and sending the thanks of the American people for the daily sacrifices the troops make to defend our freedom.”
“We are very excited that Jamerson Motorsports has embraced our mission of putting smiles on service members’ faces,” said Carolyn Blashek, founder of Operation Gratitude. “The 2007 “Let Freedom Roar Tour” will enable all race car fans to express their appreciation to our troops by donating Wish List items, writing letters and purchasing branded items, the proceeds of which will be used to ship our care packages overseas,” she added.
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You can support the troops with your everyday shopping and recycling. Please check out these simple and easy fundraising programs to help support Operation Gratitude.
Access Recycling will pay Operation Gratitude for every used video game and video game system, cell phone, ink-jet cartridge, laptop computer, IPOD or PDA 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
The Operation Gratitude Online Shopping Portal connects 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. This is a great way to do your everyday shopping and support our troops at the same time!
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Bandana Cool-Ties: Click here or here for patterns and directions for these personal cooling bandanas for the troops to wear.
Click here for a link to buy the water-absorbing polymer granules needed for your Cool Ties.
Knit and Crocheted Scarves: Our Holiday Scarf program was a huge hit with the troops. Our elves are already making scarves for the next drive. Click here to e-mail Sharon Howard for more information.
Neck Gators: Follow this link for directions to make neck gators. Please use only tan, brown or desert camouflage colored cotton or non-synthetic material.
Hand-made Greeting Cards: We welcome hand-made cards with your personal message on them or cards that are blank that the troops can use to write to their loved ones (or to you!). Check this site for ideas: Hand-Made Cards
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The e-mails and letters keep pouring in from deployed troops who have received our packages. Here are just a few examples of what the troops say about receiving an Operation Gratitude care package. For more letters from our troops, check out the mail call section of our web site.
"I just recieved a care package from Operation Gratitude. I have to say that this is by far the best care package I have recieved. To include not only great snacks (Girl scout cookie?? Oh yea!!), but also DVD's (ULTIMATE FIGHTING!!) and music (Carrie Underwood... oh did I mention I'm from Oklahoma?) is incredible. This package seems almost tailored to what I enjoy. I've got some popcorn, some kudos bars, and plenty of dried fruits to really enjoy those fights with. I just had to write and say how great it was. As a side note I wanted to mention that my little sister will be really happy to recieve a Beanie Baby from her brother overseas. Thanks for everything, keep up the great support." Respectfully, MC3 N.B.
"I am one of the recipients of a package from Operation Gratitude and would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your thoughts. I am one of the older soldiers in the Task Force and have been deployed before but this is the first time I have received a package. I am extremely grateful for this but even more so for the younger/first time deployed soldiers. If you could actually see their faces when they get and open a package you would understand fully the impact you have made in their lives. Most of them will remember this for rest of their lives and in doing so will become part of the chain of caring and thought for future soldiers. Your age, rank, or social standing have no bearing on the impact/loss a lot of the soldiers feel during the holiday season. Knowing that someone they have never met is thinking about them and took the time to do something for them can make all the difference in the world.
God Bless all of you." Sincerely, SA M.J.
"I just received my Operation Gratitude box and took it to my room to open. Wow! What a great surprise. I felt like a million bucks. I am already wearing the "Kathy Ireland" socks inside my boots. They feel very good. Thanks for all the great items, especially the "thumb drives". They really come in handy when we want to download music and store them on an MP3 player. I especially enjoyed all the letters and well wishes. I had tears streaming down my face as I read encouraging words from the young and not so young. I am a Vietnam Veteran Infantryman who was never treated this good before. It has helped to heal the scars that I have from that era. I am a retired volunteer serving with the First Cavalry Division in Baghdad. We so appreciate your thoughts and your prayers for our speedy and safe return. This is a difficult job here and it's only with your terrific support that we endure, push forward, and look to the future. You will not be forgotten. Love to all of you wonderful supporters." BEA
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We continue to set our sights higher and higher as we strive to put a smile on the face of every service member deployed overseas. With your help, this will be our biggest and best Patriotic Drive ever!!
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Click here to make online donations through Paypal. 
$ USD
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Operation Gratitude Celebrates Double Header |
Posted on December 21, 2006 - 23:28 PM |
| Operation Gratitude Celebrates With Record-Breaking Attendance and Phenomenal Gifts--Including a Car
Santa Drives in the Winning Run!
Dear Friends, Operation Gratitude continued the 2006 Holiday Drive during the weekend of December 16-17, 2006 and achieved a landmark moment!
Just before noon on Saturday, volunteers hit a double header record: Not only did they produce the 50,000th package for the 2006 Holiday Drive (which began Veteran's Day weekend in November), but they also assembled and shipped the 200,000th package since Operation Gratitude's inception in 2003!! "We could not have reached these milestones without the generosity of our great Corporate Sponsors and Friends, or the thousands of individual volunteers and donors who have helped us over the last three years," declared Carolyn Blashek, founder of Operation Gratitude. "I am awed by their support of Operation Gratitude and inspired by their dedication to our men and women of the U.S. Military."
Operation Gratitude Receives Visits From Honored Guests Celebrities and Dignitaries Pay Tribute to the Troops
 Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Councilman Tony Cardenas and Councilwoman Wendy Gruel along with representatives from several Corporate Sponsors, were among the honored guests on hand to witness this milestone event.
Emmy Award winning actor Ed Asner , "Deadwood" star Peter Jason , and Hallmark Channel executives, returned for another visit to Operation Gratitude. Asner and Jason recently starred in the Hallmark Channel's movie The Christmas Card about a soldier who receives a letter of support while deployed overseas. Also included in each package was an Ultra Compact DVD Player. To keep the DVD players running throughout the recipients' deployments, large packs of batteries were donated by the wonderful organization Troop Batteries, started by Miss Lizzy Lulu, whose life passed earlier this year, but whose memory lives on in all of us at Operation Gratitude.
Angels Memorabilia is Just the Beginning of a Grand Slam Event Other Gifts of Love for the Troops Also a Home Run
 Continuing with the sports theme, two Los Angeles athletes donated autographed jerseys: The Kings hockey great Luc Robitaillle and LA Clippers Guard Corey Maggette.
Each package also contains the 4-volume historical DVD documentary, “The Golden Era of NASCAR," produced and donated by John W. Warner IV, who dedicated the series to the members of the American Armed Forces and the WWII heroes who pioneered the sport. Senator John Warner , Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who narrated the film, signed the canister for the 200,000th care package.
Personal Letters of Support and Encouragement Included Letters From Home Let Troops Know They Are Appreciated
The 50,000th package received a heartwarming personal letter, along with an autographed picture, DVD, CD and coin from country music great Michael Peterson. Our 200,000th service member will receive a beautiful and very touching personal letter from the legendary Academy Award- winning actress, Dame Elizabeth Taylor.
2006 Holiday Drive 50,000th Package Recipient Receives Vacation Two-Fer Back-to-Back Trips Await Recipient Upon Return
 The first get-away for this recipient is an exciting, all-inclusive trip for 2 people to the 2007 Army-Navy Game in Baltimore, Maryland, with airfare, hotel accommodations, Pre-Game party tickets, Game tickets and welcome gifts, all courtesy of Dr. Pepper.
The second trip awaiting this hero's return is a fabulous, all expense paid trip to Las Vegas, including Hotel accommodations at Caesar’s Palace and 2 tickets to the Celine Dion Show courtesy of the Anshutz Entertainment Group (AEG).
200,000th Package Recipient Drives It All Home Dodge Caliber Automobile to be Delivered in Person Upon Return
Postal Partnership Provides Perfect Postmark
 While applauding the contributions of many community and corporate sponsors, Blashek noted the flexibility and ingenuity of a particularly critical partner in this entire process: The US Postal Service. One year ago, the local postal leadership recognized that our needs and goals were rising dramatically, and they proactively approached us to determine what they could do to facilitate our entire process.
At the same time, many postal employees from the entire region volunteered to work at the Van Nuys facility on the days of our events, weekends and holidays all. The fantastic result has been that our packages are reaching the troops in record-setting time—many in as little as 6 days! During our Double Header Event, Van Nuys USPS Postmaster, Joel Smith, commemorated Operation Gratitude's success by declaring the Armory "Operation Gratitude Station", and assigning our own zipcode. The USPS also developed an exclusive Operation Gratitude postmark for our care packages, and commissioned a page of beautifully designed Operation Gratitude stamps!
Troops Express Gratitude For Support As Operation Gratitude Packages Arrive in Time for the Holidays
 "Thank you for the package. I think the best things received were the heartfelt words from the American people. That brought a tear to my eye. You are doing a great thing and we appreciate more than you know or could ever imagine. The Holidays are hard on most soldiers, but you have made my Christmas just knowing that we are in your thoughts and prayers. God Bless all who are involved. Sincerely Yours, SGT A.K."
The 2006 Holiday packages began arriving just before Thanksgiving and have continued to pour in since. To read the many beautiful letters from the troops, visit the Mail Call section of the web site.
Record Milestones Achieved Thanks to Volunteer Efforts Every Volunteer an Asset to Operation Gratitude
 Marveling that Operation Gratitude had shipped 100,000 packages in just one year, Operation Gratitude founder Blashek exclaimed: "This is extraordinary!!!!!! And a very beautiful statement of love and respect for every man and woman who wears the uniform of the United States."
She continued: "The phenomenal pace of our growth is a tribute to the amazing energy of our superb volunteers, led by our unflappable Director of Operations-Charlie Othold, and his group of nearly 40 volunteer Supervisors." Day after day, weekend after weekend during our Holiday and Patriotic Drives, the armory has been filled with thousands of volunteers, including scouting troops, church groups, employees from large and small companies, service clubs, students and individuals who wanted to make a difference in the lives of our service men and women overseas. Every single volunteer has played a part in providing over 200,000 care packages filled with snacks, entertainment items, and most importantly, messages of respect and admiration from countless Americans.
How You Can Help Today
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Former Dodger great and current manager of the Anaheim Angels, Mike Scoscia was present and brought along two baseballs signed by every Angels player, and two Angels caps which he personally signed for inclusion in the 50,000th and 200,000th packages.
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Volunteer Update December 20, 2006 |
Posted on December 20, 2006 - 01:05 AM |
WE DID IT!!!! We hit our milestones this past weekend: The 50,000th package of this Holiday Drive and the 200,000th overall package! My deepest thanks to every one of you who has supported this monumental effort. We will be sending out a detailed Newsletter later this week!
Special thanks to the Subway Restaurant at Topanga and Ventura for providing delicious sandwiches for all our volunteers and guests. And our deep appreciation again to the Los Angeles Fire Department for bringing us cases and cases of plastic and covering all our donations--you guys are great!
As much as we have accomplished to date, we still have more to do-We REALLY need your help! I know this is a busy time with the holidays, family and vacations, but please devote any hours you can to helping us during the following times:
Remainder of this week:
Wednesday and Friday, December 20 and 22: 9am- 4pm
Thursday, December 21: Noon to 8pm.
We will not be working Saturday, Sunday or Monday, December 23, 24 or 25.
Week of December 26:
Tuesday and Thursday December 26 and 28: 9am to 8pm (please note earlier time!) Wednesday and Friday December 27 and 29: 9-4.
Weekdays in January:
MWF from 9am-4pm
Tu-Th from Noon to 8pm.
Packing Weekends:
We WILL be open and packing on Saturday December 30; we WILL NOT be open or packing on Sunday December 31. Please note this is a change from the original schedule.
January 13-14
January 27-28 (subject to change)
We welcome every Volunteer to join us on as many days and for as many hours as you are available and comfortable--during both the Prep and Packing days! Please feel free to stay longer than your assigned shift on the Packing days. If you will be leaving before a shift ends, please notify the Supervisor for your area. Shifts are from 9-Noon and 1-4; mandatory break from 12-1.
As in the past, we welcome children ages 12 and older; those ages 12-16 must have a responsible adult on the premises. Due to insurance, liability and safety concerns, we must strictly adhere to these rules.
You do not need to sign up for the weekday prep-- just show up on those days! We prefer sign-ups for the weekends so we have an idea of how many people to expect. If you are interested in volunteer special projects, please email me to discuss.
While the deadline for product donations has passed, we still encourage and welcome financial donations, personal letters, and recycling of cell phones and ink- jet cartridges throughout the year.
Our key Volunteer Supervisor in charge of ALL operations at the Armory during the Prep periods and during the Weekend Packings is CHARLIE OTHOLD. If you have any questions concerning procedures, CHARLIE is the person to ask or email: othold@yahoo.com. Please abide by his requests and directions.
For those who are just joining us, the armory is located at:
California Army National Guard
17330 Victory Boulevard
Van Nuys, CA 91406
Corner of Victory and Louise
THANK YOU!!
OPERATION GRATITUDE TO CELEBRATE DOUBLE HEADER MILESTONES |
Posted on December 11, 2006 - 13:27 PM |
Encino, California; December 11, 2006
Following another productive two days with hundreds of volunteers shipping thousands more care packages this past weekend, Operation Gratitude founder, Carolyn Blashek, announced today that the organization will reach two great milestones on Saturday, December 16, 2006: the shipment of its 50,000th package of this Holiday Drive, and the shipment of the 200,000th overall package!
Operation Gratitude Director of Operations, Charlie Othold, expects to hit this milestone moment during the 11am-12 Noon hour on Saturday, December 16th.
In addition to regular Wish List items provided by more than 50 Corporate Sponsors and Friends, and by tens of thousands of individual donors across the country, the 50,000th and 200,000th milestone Care Packages will feature several exciting special gifts to be announced at the Double Header Event on December 16th.
Local, state and federal politicians, along with members of the Military, notable personalities and representatives from several of the organization's Corporate Friends and Sponsors will be present to assist the Operation Gratitude volunteers assemble these and several thousand additional care packages during the Double Header.
Media and press are invited to attend the 50,000/200,000th Double Header package celebration
WHEN:
December 16, 2006, 11:00 a.m. - 12 Noon
Packing will continue from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on December 16th and 17th
WHERE:
California National Guard Armory
17330 Victory Boulevard
Van Nuys, Ca. 91406
Corner of Victory and Louise
