Operation Gratitude's 'March to a Million' Care Packages Continues

[The following information was taken from a press release provided by Operation Gratitude].

Operation Gratitude's March To A Million initiative will reach another milestone this month as dedicated and loyal volunteers continue to assemble and ship individually addressed care packages to U.S. Military personnel overseas. 

On Saturday June 16, 2012, hundreds of volunteers will once again flock to the Van Nuys National Guard Armory where thousands of care packages will be assembled for American troops deployed in harm's way in Afghanistan, the Middle East and on ships in international waters.

March To A Million (that is, one million care packages) is the overall 2012-2013 goal for Operation Gratitude, now in its ninth year of action. To date, the organization has sent over 785,000 packages to military personnel, their families and Wounded Warriors recuperating stateside.

During the June 16th Assembly event, Carolyn Blashek, the Founder and President of Operation Gratitude, will announce that a new milestone has been met along the March To A Million and will reveal a surprise gift that will end up in the hands of one very lucky deployed service member later this year.

"We love surprises at Operation Gratitude, especially on the occasion of reaching new heights in the number of packages we have sent," said Blashek.  "What we have planned is a wonderful and unique way to show support for our brave men and women of the U.S. Military and at the same time bring cheer to a particular service member and his or her comrades who are far from home."

The "reveal" will no doubt thrill the many guests and volunteers who will be present to witness yet another landmark in Operation Gratitude's history-making initiative.

On hand will be special guests including Military personnel representing the State of California. Adding to the festivities, popular food trucks including will be on site to provide lunch to all of the hungry participants. A portion of each of their proceeds will go to Operation Gratitude.

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About Operation Gratitude

Operation Gratitude annually sends 100,000+ care packages filled with snacks, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation addressed to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed in harm's way, to their children left behind, to military families and veterans in financial distress due to unemployment, to emergency first responders and to Wounded Warriors recuperating in transition units. The organization's mission is to lift morale, bring a smile to a service member's face and express to our Armed Forces the appreciation and support of the American people. Each package contains donated product valued at $125 and costs the organization $15 to assemble and ship. For safety and security, assembling of packages occurs at the Army National Guard armory in Van Nuys, California. Since its inception in 2003, Operation Gratitude volunteers have shipped more than 785,000 packages to American Military members and their children.