A friend of ours is involved in a project called “Operation Gratitude”, a California 501(c)(3) that sends care packages and letters to our GIs in Iraq and around the world. We heard they were having a “garage sale” at the National Guard armory in Van Nuys yesterday, so we went down to check it out as it’s just a couple blocks from where we like to do what we sometimes can almost call “play golf”.

Anyhow, the sale was great; it consisted of items they just couldn’t send to the troops that had been donated since the beginning of the program, be it because of size or weight restrictions, or inappropriateness, etc. The proceeds go towards the cost of mailing the packages overseas.

We then went into the Armory to see what they were doing — there was a MOUNTAIN of boxes being put together for next weekend’s shipping marathon. We’ll be going next weekend to see if we can lend a hand.

This project is amazing. Operation Gratitude describes it’s mission as:

Hundreds of thousands of American troops are deployed in hostile and remote regions of the world, including the Middle East, Afghanistan, Africa, Guantanamo Bay and on ships throughout international waters. The physical conditions they must endure are difficult and they may be separated from loved ones for long periods of time. OPERATION GRATITUDE seeks to lift troops’ morale, and bring a smile to their faces by sending care packages addressed to individual service members deployed overseas. Operation Gratitude care packages contain food, toiletries, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation, all wrapped with good wishes of love and support.

Through Collection Drives, Letter Writing Campaigns and Donations of requested items or funds for shipping expenses, OPERATION GRATITUDE provides civilians anywhere in America a way to express their respect and appreciation to the men and women of the U.S. military in an active, hands-on manner.

OPERATION GRATITUDE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, all-volunteer corporation, funded entirely by private donations. For safety and security, the assembling of all packages occurs at the Army National Guard Armory in Van Nuys, California.

If you have any inkling of donating or volunteering, click the link above and check out their great program and excellent work. And please, help spread the word.

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