Operation Gratitude Fourth Annual Holiday Drive

Los Angeles organization to send 50,000 Care Packages to Support the Troops

During the Veteran's Day Weekend, November 11- 12, Operation Gratitude, a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization, will kick off its Fourth Annual Holiday Drive, to assemble and mail over 50,000 care packages to deployed troops for the Holidays.

Operation Gratitude's ( www.operationgratitude.com) mission is to put a smile on a service member's face, lift morale, and express the appreciation of the American people for the sacrifices of the men and women defending our freedom. To see more information on Operation Gratitude's program to Support the Troops, click here: Operation Gratitude Video

Beginning November 11, Operation Gratitude's more than 1000 volunteers, along with stars from Hallmark Channel's upcoming holiday movies, will assemble and ship at least 50,000 Holiday Care Packages filled with Flash Drives, Sports Calling Cards, DVDs and CDs, Candy, Gum, Cough Drops, Cookies, Hand Warmers, Skin Care Products, Coffee and Flavorings, Greeting Cards, Batteries, Energy Drinks, T-Shirts, Socks and assorted Snacks.

WHAT: Operation Gratitude 2006 Holiday Drive

WHEN:
November 11-12, 2006, (Veteran's Weekend)
November 24-25 (Friday and Saturday of Thanksgiving Weekend)
December 16-17
December 30-31
From 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Daily

WHERE:
California Army National Guard Armory
17330 Victory Boulevard
Van Nuys, CA 91406
(Corner of Victory and Louise)

Press Conference:
Saturday November 11, 2006 at 12:30p.m.

All products for the packages have been donated by individuals, organizations, schools, community groups, businesses and Corporate Sponsors. Overall expenses of ~$10-15/package are covered by tax deductible financial donations from citizens across the country.

Operation Gratitude obtains names of troops from their loved ones or from comrades who previously received a package. The vast majority of names are provided by commanders and leaders in the field who have seen first-hand the positive impact of the program on the morale of their Soldiers, Marines, Airmen and Sailors.

WHAT THE TROOPS SAY:

"This is to express my deepest gratitude to you, this organization and the service they are providing to us Soldiers who are deployed. Sometimes with all the negativity that we hear it makes us wonder how the home front sees us. Then a bright spot appears and we see how people such as you support us here. Your care package was wonderful and everything will be put to good use. Thank you so much!" MSG SS

"Thanks so much for sending all the care packages to us here in Afghanistan. The items contained were greatly appreciated. Without efforts such as yours, these deployments would not be bearable. Thanks for all you do and all you have done for the fellow service members of the great USA." Sincerely, MAJ RD

Learn more about Operation Gratitude:

Operation Gratitude ( www.operationgratitude.com) is the California- based 501 (c) (3) non-profit, all-volunteer organization that sends care packages of snacks, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation addressed to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed in hostile regions such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay and on military ships at sea. Its mission is to lift morale, bring a smile to a service member's face and to express to all troops the appreciation and support of the American people. For safety and security, all assembling of packages occurs at the Operation Gratitude headquarters in Southern California. Since its inception in March, 2003, Operation Gratitude has shipped more than 153,000 packages to American troops deployed overseas.

Operation Gratitude is now featured on the popular video site, YouTube. To view this short, informative video, check out Operation Gratitude Video
Website: http://www.operationgratitude.com
Operation Gratitude
Carolyn Blashek
email: cblashek@aol.com
Hotline: 818.789.0563
cblashek@aol.com

Operation Gratitude is a federally registered trademark.