As the Holiday Countdown Starts: Remember the Troops

Dear Friends,

How could it be...September already?! It never ceases to amaze me how fast the days and weeks fly by, and once again the calendar reminds me that all of us who are involved with Operation Gratitude have much to look forward to! Our 2011 Holiday Drive begins soon -- the preparations have been underway for weeks and we are very excited about special events like the Ride to the Flags on September 11 and sending our Milestone Care Package on December 17!

There is a great deal of work to be done -- and whether you live near by the armory, on the other side of the country, or anywhere in between -- please read on for ideas about the many ways you can join in!

Thank you for your continued dedication and support!

Sincerely,

Halloween will be here before we know it!
We are really looking forward to another fun and successful Halloween Candy Buy-Back (starting this year, also to be known as the Halloween Candy Give-Back) program, collecting not only lots and lots of candy, but also important care package items like supplies of toothbrushes, toothpaste and dental floss! We want to help our troops practice excellent dental hygiene and keep their smiles sweet after they enjoy eating the candy we send! (Check out our new video on YouTube!)

Love to knit or crochet....or want to learn how? Please consider using your time and talents to make gifts of scarves and hats for our Holiday Drive care packages! Read our Scarves for Troops: Fall 2011 Update for more information and to find out how you can help! In addition to the scarves and hats, we welcome donations of yarn -- wool or acrylic (as long as it's soft and not scratchy!).

Your financial donations will help us pay our assembly and shipping costs -- $15 per care package!

Make an online donation via credit card or via check by mail.

Make your check payable to Operation Gratitude and mail to:

Operation Gratitude

16444 Refugio Road

Encino, CA 91436

Shopping is something we all have to do eventually -- for some of us it's a chore and for others, a delight!

Either way, why not turn your shopping experience into another opportunity to support the troops?

Please check out our new Supporting the Troops while you SHOP blog post for lots of ideas and options...

...From groceries to gifts, there is something for everyone!

And as always -- we THANK YOU for your generous support of our patriotic cause!

Please Note: Speaking of shopping, if you are currently enrolled in the Ralphs Community Contribution Program supporting Operation Gratitude, you will be required to register or re-register at Ralphs.com for the new term at after September 1, 2011. (Even if you registered as recently as June or July 2011, you will be required to register again after September 1.)

Time to vote for your favorite t-shirt design!

Please go to the Goodjoe.com website to choose which of these three t-shirts you like the best. The design receiving the most votes will be made available for purchase, and 40% of the proceeds will be donated to Operation Gratitude to help send more care packages to the troops! Last day to vote: 9/11/11.

H.E.R.O.

A new partnership between TreePeople and Operation Gratitude...

Contributions to Seedlings for Service support both TreePeople's tree planting programs in local mountain forests and park woodlands that have experienced devastation from fires, neglect or other natural causes, as well as Operation Gratitude's care package assembly efforts.

Specifically, when you purchase a Seedlings for Service Tree Dedication for $25, five dollars will be donated back to Operation Gratitude to help send more care packages.

The trees wil be dedicated to honor the courageous service of the troops, and Tree Dedication cards will go into our care packages notifying service members.

Learn more about the Tree Dedication program.

If you or your company are interested in supporting Seedlings for Service,
please contact Mollie Elicker at (818) 753-8733 or treegifts@treepeople.org.

Still looking for ideas? Here are more ways to help!

Organize a Collection Drive at your workplace or school!

Write Letters of Thanks to the troops!

Donate your car or other vehicle!

Recycle used Cell Phones!

Donate brand-new stuffed toys for the Battalion Buddy Program!

And last but not least: Please tell all your friends and family about Operation Gratitude!

Holiday Drive: Sept. 12 - Dec.17, 2011

Operation Gratitude/California Army National Guard

17330 Victory Boulevard

Van Nuys, CA 91406

Attn: Rich Hernandez

Phone: 262-OPGRAT-1 (262-674-7281)

If you ship "Wish List" donations to us, please include this Donation Form in every package you send us. If you want confirmation of delivery of your donations prior to receipt of our acknowledgment letter (allow up to 12 weeks), please use the tracking system provided by your shipper. Visit our blog for Detailed Donation & Shipping Information.

Donation Drop-Offs: Sept. 15 - Dec. 5, 2011 during listed hours ONLY -- see below.

VOLUNTEER HOURS

WEEKDAYS
Monday and Friday 9-4
Tues., Wed. and Thurs. 12-4

**CLOSED:
Monday, Oct 10 Columbus Day
Friday, Nov. 11 Veterans Day
Thursday, Nov. 24 Thanksgiving

WEEKENDS: 9am to 4pm unless otherwise *noted*

Sun. Sept 11 Ride to the Flags *6am-5pm* (Event Schedule and Info)

Sat. Sept. 17 PREP *9am to 12 noon *NEW DATE

Sun. Oct. 2 Down & Dirty New York *7am-2pm*

Sun. Oct 9 PREP *9am to 12 noon*

Sat. Oct. 15 ASSEMBLY

Sun. Oct. 16 Down & Dirty Atlanta *7am-2pm*

Sun. Oct. 30 PREP *9am to 12 noon*

Sun. Oct. 30 Down & Dirty Sacramento *7am-2pm*

Sun. Nov. 6 ASSEMBLY

Sat. Nov. 12 PREP

Wed. Nov. 16 Special Prep Day TBD

Sat. Nov. 19 PREP

Fri. Nov. 25 ASSEMBLY

Sat. Nov. 26 ASSEMBLY

Sun. Dec. 4 PREP

Wed. Dec. 7 Special Assembly Day TBD

Sat. Dec. 17 ASSEMBLY: Milestone Care Package Celebration

Due to the possibility of unexpected Military Operations, this schedule is subject to last minute changes. We accept item donations in-person at the armory only during our Volunteer Hours of Operation as stated above, from September 15- December 5.

"Prep Day" work consists of sorting donated items, folding shirts, screening letters, and otherwise preparing the products and the Assembly Line for our Assembly Days.

"Assembly Day" work includes production of the care packages, labeling, taping, custom forming, letter reading and writing, running packages, re-stocking the lines, breaking down cartons and many other tasks.

We have seated and standing jobs for everyone on both Prep and Assembly Days.

If you would like to volunteer in person for the Holiday Drive at the Armory, please email our Volunteer Coordinator at: OpGratVolunteer@yahoo.com. Be sure to write "Operation Gratitude Volunteer" in the subject line.

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