Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Operation Gratitude update

Operation Gratitude is facing its most challenging year since its inception in 2003. Right now, 75% of the 70,000 Care Packages we will assemble for our troops will not reach them without your help.

While our Corporate Product Donors have generously provided all the items we need for our care packages, our financial donations have dwindled to a trickle. Yet, our shipping expenses are higher than ever before at $9.30 for postage alone and more than $10 per package overall.

All donated funds are used for production and shipping expenses.

We do not expend funds on overhead, fundraising campaigns, direct mail or advertising.

We take no salaries. Every dollar donated directly supports our troops.

Operation Gratitude sends a care package personally addressed to every deployed service member whose name we receive.

We send 100,000 - 120,000 packages per year, which requires a cash budget of $1.2 Million/year.

This Holiday Drive, we will assemble 70,000 care packages.

Right now, we only have the funds to ship one-quarter of them.

"We had a tip from an Iraqi child that we gave one of your beanie babies to, who let us know that bad people were making bombs in his neighborhood. The information he gave us led to a major terrorist cell being captured and countless lives being saved. You may not realize this, but we utilize everything you send - we do not waste a thing. Thanks again for what you do." -Captain D.A., US Air Force

Nothing would be sadder than to have more than 50,000 fabulously full and completed care packages still sitting in our warehouse on Christmas Day. Fifty thousand Care Packages lovingly assembled by our dedicated volunteers that could not be shipped to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan solely because we did not have the funds for postage.

We need your help to raise $500,000.00 this month to ship the care packages in time for the Holidays.

$10 will send another package
$100 will let 10 service members know you are thinking of them
$500 will tell 50 troops in harm's way that you care.

If you can afford even more, you can touch the hearts and say "Thank You" to even more of our nation's finest. All donations to Operation Gratitude are tax deductible.

Donations can be made by Credit Card through the Operation Gratitude website or by check payable to Operation Gratitude and mailed to:

Operation Gratitude
16444 Refugio Road
Encino, CA 91436

We know budgets are limited this year--we are not asking you to spend more than you planned, but perhaps you can take $10 from each designated gift and send that to a Service member in honor of your friend or family member. We will send your loved one a beautiful tribute letter telling them about your thoughtful gift in their honor--letting them know that they too just sent a package of love to a Soldier or Marine on a battle field.

No comments: