|
AMERICAN VETERANS TRAVELING TRIBUTE PARTNERS
WITH OPERATION GRATITUDE IN NATIONAL DONATION DROP-OFF PROGRAM
|
Flint, TX - August 24, 2010 - American Veterans Traveling Tribute ("AVTT") and Operation Gratitude
announced today that AVTT will be an official drop-off site nationwide for
donations to Operation Gratitude, which 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 hostile regions.
Operation Gratitude's (www.OperationGratitude.com) 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. AVTT
(www.avtt.org) is a veteran-owned project that travels the USA to provide a
forum for communities to HONOR-RESPECT-REMEMBER all who have sacrificed their
lives for our country's freedom. In so doing, AVTT also honors all Veterans and
those currently serving, by letting them know they will never be forgotten.
As part of its Drop Off program,
AVTT will provide collection boxes at all of its events to accept donations
to the troops from the public. AVTT will ship the donated items to
Operation Gratitude's headquarters in Van Nuys, California, where volunteers
assemble the care packages throughout the year. The Drop Off program, which was designed
to enable every American anywhere in the nation to express their appreciation
to the Military, will eliminate the need for a donor to pay the cost of
shipping their own contributions.
"The public has been asking for
drop-off locations nationwide since we began Operation Gratitude in March,
2003. This great partnership with AVTT will make it very easy for all citizens
to show their support to our troops with donations of personal letters and Wish List items, all of which are greatly appreciated by our warriors
in combat," commented Carolyn Blashek, Founder and CEO of Operation
Gratitude.
"AVTT currently visits over 50
cities across the country every year and by its nature draws people who feel a
sense of commitment and duty towards all veterans and active Military serving
our country. It is a perfect fit for AVTT to partner with Operation
Gratitude and assist in their mission of supporting
American Heroes serving in far off
lands," said Don Allen, CEO of AVTT.
Drop boxes will be displayed prominently
at all AVTT events. Donated items and letters will be consolidated
and forwarded to Operation Gratitude for distribution in their care
packages. "Operation Gratitude has sent over 550,000 packages to
service members. Our hope is to help push that number to well over a million by
easing the donation process for those who wish to give." added Allen.
The schedule and locations of AVTT
events can be found on the AVTT website (www.avtt.org). The Drop Off program will
officially kick off during the Lake Havasu Community Patriot Days event
(www.lhcpatriotdays.com) in Lake Havasu, AZ on September 16, 2010 at 6:00pm with a ribbon
cutting ceremony for the first drop box in the program. Drop boxes will
be available at all AVTT event locations thereafter.
|
