Dear Volunteers,
You are amazing!! You assembled and shipped ~50,000 Holiday care packages (including our 500,000th package), and assembled an additional 8,000+ packages which we will send out over the next three months as we receive requests. This was an enormously successful Holiday Drive!! My deepest thanks to each of you for your time, efforts and dedication.
I also want to add my gratitude to our Catering Supervisor, Marsha Roseman, her terrific team of kitchen volunteers, and our very generous Lunch Sponsors who kindly prepare and serve lunch to all of us on Assembly Days. I have listed and linked the Lunch Donors below and hope you will have the opportunity to express your appreciation to them.
We have set the dates for the 2010 Patriotic Drive--I have included the schedule below. Please mark your calendars now!! We will post the 2010 Holiday Drive Schedule in the Spring.
Always check emails, Twitter and our website for schedule change notifications!
We have two "Labeling Days" scheduled to label and custom form completed care packages:
Friday January 22, 2010 from 9-2
Friday February 19, 2010 from 9-2
Please join us for any time you are available on those days.
As in the past, we welcome children ages 12 and older to all activities at the Armory; those ages 12-16 must have a responsible adult with transportation on the premises. Due to insurance, liability and safety concerns, we must strictly adhere to these rules--there will be NO EXCEPTIONS. Younger children are encouraged to write letters and organize recycling drives from home. Every Assembly Day, you hear me praise and thank our wonderful team of "Supervisors", those " Hard Corps Volunteers in the Royal Blue Shirts," who accept responsibility for specific areas of our operation. As Operation Gratitude continues to grow, we need and welcome more Supervisors! If you are interested and available during the week, please email or call our Director of Operations, Charlie Othold: [email protected] or 818-437-6201.
We have a special team of volunteers dedicated to reading and screening the personal letters submitted for the care packages. This is a critical task that requires careful attention, concentration and adherence to our strict content guidelines. If you are willing to read letters at home and/or at the armory, please contact Linda Barber at: [email protected] or 818-996-3158. We have a mandatory meeting for all screeners at the Armory on January 22 (same day as labeling) at 12:00 Noon.
The Shasta Salute to America Motorcycle Rally in support of our Troops and Operation Gratitude will once again take place during the July 4th Weekend, July 2-5, 2010. This is a VERY fun event that everyone can enjoy! We would like to have a strong presence of Operation Gratitude volunteers this year. Please email [email protected] if you would like to attend and/or volunteer at The Rally. Again, many thanks for your phenomenal efforts in support of our troops. You truly made a difference in their lives during the Holiday season, as evidenced by the thousands of emails and letters we have received from our service members. Regularly check the Mail Call section of our site to read their very touching words and visit the Packages Arrive Photo Album to see their pictures and smiles. Plus-- stay tuned for announcements about the delivery of the Twin 500,000th Care Packages!
Reminder: 2010 Patriotic Drive Schedule below.
All my best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year to you and your loved ones!
Love,  |
