A Care Package Saves a Life | Operation Gratitude
From the inbox:
A few days ago we received a heart-wrenching email that we feel is important to share with you:
“I am a soldier who is currently deployed. Recently I have been pretty depressed. I see just about everyone here getting care packages from loved ones.
But I don’t have any loved ones back home.
Well, except my dog…But someone poisoned her on Thanksgiving when I showed up here.
Every day I would go to sleep and wish I didn’t wake up. On my way back to work I would hope to catch a mortar round in my chest. I spoke with the Chaplain about some of these issues but nothing seemed to help. Every day I would go through the same steps: work, lunch, work, bed.
Same thing, every day.
Then a soldier came to tell me I had a package to pick up. They told me it had been sitting in the mail office for some time now. For the whole walk over there I wondered, ‘Who could it be from?’ I heard talk about care packages being sent from private organizations back home, but those were from a list you had to put your name on. I never did that because with my job I was always too busy and time was never permitting.
When I saw the box, I saw ‘Operation Gratitude’ on the side. When I opened the package and started looking through the contents a lump grew in my throat, my lip started to quiver and the tears started to flow.
I had an overwhelming feeling that someone really does care.
I am feeling much better about myself now. I don’t know how I can ever thank you for what you have made me feel. Thank you so very much for what you and your team have done!
Sincerely, J.C.”
There is no way to quantify the invaluable morale-boosting impact our care packages have on the men and women who receive them. But letters and emails like this one from J.C. confirm that what we are doing is important. With your help we will continue this work, positively affecting Military letter-writers like J.C. and the tens of thousands more whom he represents.
Go.
Now.
Your donation pays for the assembly and shipping expenses of $15 per care package. Tax deductible.
Do it.
CBS Cares PSA for Operation Gratitude by CSI’s Gary Sinise, the menchiest cat in Hollywood.
Good on ya, CBS.
Previously on Operation Gratitude.
About GPICT.
$51,000!!!
From Operation Gratitude:
YOU MADE IT HAPPEN!
Thanks to the incredible help and support of so many wonderful people, we are happy to announce that Operation Gratitude is a Pepsi Refresh Everything Finalist for one of ten grants of $50,000. According to the site, we finished in 4th place which means our “Secret Admirer” will also donate an additional $1,000! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
Many thanks to everyone who cast a vote in the Pepsi Refresh Contest, and to everyone who told anyone else about it. This grant will pay the postage for 5,100 care packages!
Every vote you cast truly made a difference —- your time and effort were well spent, and will be greatly appreciated by the 5,100 troops (and their comrades) in harm’s way who will receive the care packages during our upcoming Patriotic Drive.
We plan to ship a total of 50,000 Care Packages in April through June. The $51,000 Pepsi Grant will be spent in just one morning of one Assembly Day. So…we will still be pushing hard to raise additional funds, through online contests and otherwise to ensure that all 50,000 care packages can be mailed this Spring.
I hope we can continue to count on your support and hard work. We could not do this without you!
You have helped us put smiles on the faces of these heroes in harm’s way. Thank you for all your great support!!!
Love,
Carolyn
See the entire announcement here.
This makes me so happy.
That’s a lot of care packages.
Thanks to Pepsi for the Refresh Project, a really great gesture, everyone who voted in this month’s contest, and especially Carolyn and all the fine folks at Operation Gratitude for their selfless, tireless effort.
Just awesome.
About GPICT.
PREVIOUS POST REFRESHED: Vote For Operation Gratitude in the Pepsi Refresh Project and Help Them Win $50,000 to Send Care Packages to the Troops in Afghanistan
Hey all-
Voting in the Pepsi Refresh Project for March winds down on Wednesday.
Operation Gratitude is currently in the Top 10 and stands to win $50,000!!! That’s A LOT of care packages!!!
You can vote every day, SO PLEASE KEEP VOTING!
You can do so at the main Pepsi Refresh site here
or
via Facebook here
Spread the word!
Thanks in advance!
Previously:
Vote here!
Vote every day!
Thanks and spread the word!
About the Pepsi Refresh Project:
Pepsi is launching the Refresh project, a grants program providing millions of dollars to fund good ideas, big and small, that make the world a better place. Pepsi has up to $1.3 million in Refresh grants to give out every month, ranging from $5000 to $250,000. The social investment campaign, online at www.refresheverything.com, is being presented as Pepsi’s alternative to spending on television advertising at the SuperBowl this year.
About Operation Gratitude:
Operation Gratitude annually sends 100,000+ care packages to U.S. troops in combat. Our mission is to lift morale and express the appreciation and support of the American people. To date, we have sent 513,000+ care packages addressed to individual troops overseas. All product is donated; all funds pay for postage.
Operation Gratitude on Facebook.
Operation Gratitude on Twitter.
About GPICT.
CafePress: Vote for Operation Gratitude in the Pepsi Refresh Project
Two of my favorite operations joining together for one great cause.
The kind folks at CafePress went out of their way to post a call to action on their company blog asking visitors to vote for Operation Gratitude in the Pepsi Refresh Project and help win $50,000 for the group to send care packages to the troops overseas (See previous post for more info).
Help Operation Gratitude bubble-up to the top of the Pepsi Refresh Project. It’s the Pepsi-funded program that raises money for people, businesses and non-profits who will have a positive impact.
Vote now (and vote often) for Operation Gratitude (hurry, the polls close [at the end of the month]). They’re now in 6th place, and if they stay in the top 10, they’ll earn a much-needed $50,000!
A favorite partner of CafePress (and a proud owner of their own CafePress shop), Operation Gratitude helps send care packages to our deserving troops overseas. Help support our hard-working soldiers. Vote for Operation Gratitude and let’s make sure they get the funds needed to continue their wonderful effort!
Such an awesome gesture. They clearly didn’t need to do that. A great example for other web companies to follow.
People helping people. A beautiful thing.
CafePress rocks for other reasons, too:
A Webby People’s Voice Award Winner, CafePress let’s you create and sell your own designs, photos and images on a wide variety of customizable products with zero upfront costs and zero inventory investment.
Read the post and vote for Operation Gratitude here.
P.S. While you’re on the CafePress site, why don’t you check out some Official “Save Ray’s” gear, with all proceeds going to help support Ray’s Candy Store, an East Village NYC Institution!
P.P.S. …Or check out some devilishly funny childrenswear from Jivebaby.
Vote For Operation Gratitude in the Pepsi Refresh Project and Help Them Win $50,000 to Send Care Packages to the Troops in Afghanistan
Vote here!
Vote every day!
Thanks and spread the word!
About the Pepsi Refresh Project:
Pepsi is launching the Refresh project, a grants program providing millions of dollars to fund good ideas, big and small, that make the world a better place. Pepsi has up to $1.3 million in Refresh grants to give out every month, ranging from $5000 to $250,000. The social investment campaign, online at www.refresheverything.com, is being presented as Pepsi’s alternative to spending on television advertising at the SuperBowl this year.
About Operation Gratitude:
Operation Gratitude annually sends 100,000+ care packages to U.S. troops in combat. Our mission is to lift morale and express the appreciation and support of the American people. To date, we have sent 513,000+ care packages addressed to individual troops overseas. All product is donated; all funds pay for postage.
Operation Gratitude on Facebook.
Operation Gratitude on Twitter.
About GPICT.
My "Moron Offset"
I just paid a dollar for this iBacon iPhone app, so I immediately made a donation to Operation Gratitude as my penance.
I call it my “Moron Offset.”
If we all did this every time we did something stupid, I wager there would be a lot of good done in the world.
Start this meme…
GPICT - Buy OR Donate Tickets To A Service Member Or Vet For A Special Veteran's Day Screening of "Brothers At War" in Los Angeles
Operation Gratitude is hosting a special encore benefit screening of Brothers At War to be held on Veteran’s Day, November 11th, 7:00 PM at the Laemmle Theatre, 11523 Santa Monica Blvd., West Los Angeles, CA.
Click on the poster above or here to purchase tickets online.
You can also buy tickets at the door.
Not in LA? Still want to contribute? Buy tickets and donate them for use by a local Service Member or Veteran! Just forward a copy of your ticket purchase receipt to OpGrat@gmail.com and they will take care of the rest!
BEST PART: EVERY TICKET SENDS A CARE PACKAGE TO TROOPS OVERSEAS!
ONE NIGHT ONLY!
LET’S PACK THIS HOUSE, PEOPLE!
About GPICT.
GPICT - Operation Gratitude
GPICT! Yes, kids, it’s Gratuitous Public Interest Campaign Thursday, begun last week and to be continued on every Thursday hence. Can you imagine if everyone who gratuitously posted a photo of themselves on Wedesday matched it with by gratuitously posting a link or note about some great public interest initiative? That would be so badass! I’m gonna start by directing you to Soup’s post about his upcoming birthday (March 30th yo!) and his Charitini-inspired drive for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. But it can be anything really - letting people know about a day of clean-up, volunteering, a Twitter fundraising campaign,and, um, dangerous-sounding-but-cutely-named hitchhiking campaigns. Or more! Who knows what it can become - when it comes to social media the possibilities are endless!
Okay so that’s my pitch. Anyone who’s into it, please reblog with a link to your favorite charity. Let’s see how many we can collect in one place - I will add everything we get to the Charitini blogroll. Let’s DO this! High five! Woo! Booyah! Etc.
This is a GREAT idea.
A few years ago, I made a New Year’s resolution to “give more to charity.” I picked out several charities that were near and dear to me, and added a reminder to my calendar to donate to a new one each month (thought it would be good to space it out, so as to not have to come up with a huge nut all at once in December around the holidays when most people give). I further made a deal with myself that I would double whatever I gave the prior year. I started this tradition when I was still in school, so the amounts at first were admittedly not too staggering. About 5 years on, though, I have managed to keep my promise. In addition, while I have a few staples, throughout the year I often give to many other organizations as incidents arise, i.e. an earthquake in China, hurricane relief, etc. or simply when I learn about a new organization that I’d like to support. All told, last year, I gave to 22 different causes.
Here’s one:
Operation Gratitude - Care Packages for Soldiers
Send a single package for as little as $11.
