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Operation Gratitude Releases Details
Encino, CA- November 12, 2008 - In an emotional plea to supporters, Operation Gratitude founder, Carolyn Blashek, today released email communications concerning a suicidal Soldier in Iraq who embraced life after receiving a care package from the organization.
Blashek received the following letter from a First Sergeant in September 2007:
"HI Carolyn
Our unit will be leaving Iraq in a few weeks. I just wanted to thank you for your support of all soldiers over here. Your care packages helped lift morale here greatly and you should know helped save the life of a young soldier.
We had a soldier who never got mail, care packages, or anything. He did not have much family and as it turns out was planning on committing suicide on Christmas, but because that soldier received your care package it was like a Christmas gift. It made the soldier change his mind.
The soldier now writes letters and emails to folks whose names were in the box and the soldier's attitude and outlook on life has really improved. This is not a story--it is true. We found out when the soldier finally opened up and talked to the Chain of Command about what was going thru his mind and got help for his depression.
Your care package made a major difference in a human life. Because of your organization, one less family received terrible news at Christmas time.
This has been my third deployment here and I remember how on my first deployment, I almost never got mail and then received a care package from your group. It made me feel much better about being separated from my loved ones. Is there anything I can do to help out? Your group has helped me so I think I should return the great favor. What can I do to help out? Send $$ donations? Just name it. V/R, SFC J.S." |
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This week, the First Sergeant sent a brief update on the Soldier and asked again if there is anything he could do to help:
"Hello Carolyn,
It has been quite a while but I thought I would update you on the soldier whose life was saved by an Operation Gratitude care package. His work attitude and leadership skills have so improved that he has since been promoted to Sergeant and is currently a squad leader and "one of the best" in the platoon he is assigned to, I am told by his platoon sergeant. He has a steady girlfriend and just recently re-enlisted.
If you had taken this soldier over a year ago and put him next to the soldier he has become you would swear it was two different people. And it was all due to a care package sent to a soldier by good people back in the states that he had never met before. Please let everybody there know.
As for me, I am leaving the service. Unfortunately, I had a run in with an IED that has ended my military career and left me pretty banged and burned up. I have been in recovery and had a few reconstructive surgeries over the last months. I only have three days left in service.
Please continue helping those still over there and going over there. I know we are old news and a lot of folks back home are tired of the news there, but it is important that we not forget those who still serve. We have to remember and support them "until everyone comes home."
Take care and you once sent me an address where I could mail contributions. Could you send it again? I have lost it along with all my belongings and papers from Iraq. Take care and God bless. SFC (for another 72 hours) J.S." |
| Noting that the organization had already shipped more than 23,000 holiday packages, but needs to raise an additional $500,000.00 this month in order to mail the remaining 50,000 Holiday Care packages the organization committed to send, Blashek asserted: "Here is a Warrior whose own career had abruptly ended, but who felt compelled to donate his personal funds to make sure that his compatriots still received our care packages."
She added: "If J.S. can't forget the heroic Warriors still serving, surely we must not forget them either."
Blashek called upon supporters to not only donate funds, but also to write the all-important personal letters that are critical to accomplishing the mission of lifting morale and letting troops know that someone cares.
"The 'Letters to Our Troops Online Contest' is still active through December 12, providing a means to say thank you to our deployed service members, and also an opportunity to win funds for the contestant's favorite school, a supply of Rogers Family Co. coffee and an iTunes gift card."
Hard copy letters are also encouraged and can be mailed to: Operation Gratitude; 17330 Victory Boulevard; Van Nuys, CA 91406.
Director of Operations, Charlie Othold, announced there are three more weekends of package assembly for this year's Holiday Drive, and that volunteers are needed on all days to ensure that the brisk pace of 8,000 packages assembled per day can be maintained.
WHAT: Operation Gratitude 2008 Holiday Drive
WHEN: November 15-16
November 28-29 (Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving)
December 13-14 (milestone 400,000th package celebration on Dec. 13)
From 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. daily; lunch provided from 12-1
WHERE: California Army National Guard Armory
17330 Victory Boulevard
Van Nuys, CA 91406
(Corner of Victory and Louise) | |
About Operation Gratitude
Operation Gratitude ( www.operationgratitude.com ) is the 501 (c) (3) non-profit, volunteer organization that annually sends 100,000+ care packages of items and letters addressed to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed in hostile overseas regions. 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. Since its inception in March, 2003, Operation Gratitude has shipped more than 375,000 packages to American troops deployed overseas. |
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| Operation Gratitude
Carolyn Blashek
Phone: 818-789-0123
Cell: 818-406-5057
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| Operation Gratitude
Charlie Othold Phone: 818-437-6201
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