Volunteer Info & Schedule
Volunteer Hours & Donor Delivery Information
OPERATION GRATITUDE SCHEDULE
We hold two major campaigns every year: The Patriotic Drive in the spring and the Holiday Drive in the fall-winter.
Due to Military operations at the armory, this schedule may change suddenly.
PLEASE CHECK OUR EMAILS AND THIS PAGE ON A REGULAR BASIS FOR UPDATED INFORMATION.
To receive email updates, please click here Join our Mailing List and check off “Volunteers and Locals” on the “Interests” page.
For security reasons, the armory address is not posted on this page. For address and additional details, please read this page in full and then email:
OpGratVolunteer1@yahoo.com
NO BAGS, BACKPACKS, BRIEFCASES ALLOWED IN THE ARMORY. Please keep cell phones and cash (for the PX and Lunch) in your pockets
All volunteers must sign a Release Form (parents/guardians must sign for minor under 18). To download and print, please click here: RELEASE FORM
Operation Gratitude Volunteer Schedule 2013
Product Deliveries / Donation Drop-Offs: During all Volunteer Hours
**Summer Schedule July 1 to August 31**
Monday through Friday 8am to 1pm
Closed: July 4th & 5th
Weekends (all Assembly Days 9am – 4pm; all Prep Days 9am – 12 noon)
Sat. Oct. 26: Assembly 9 – 4
Sat. Nov. 9: Assembly 9 – 4
Sun.Nov. 24: Assembly 9 – 4
Fri. Nov. 29: Prep Day 9 – 12
**Closed**
Mon. May 27 Memorial Day
Thurs. July 4 Independence Day
Fri. July 5 Independence Day
Mon. Sept. 2 Labor Day
Mon. Oct. 14 Columbus Day
Mon. Nov. 11 Veterans Day
Thurs. Nov. 28 Thanksgiving Day
Tues. Dec. 24 Christmas Eve Day
Wed. Dec. 25 Christmas
Tues. Dec. 31 New Years Eve Day
Wed. Jan. 1 New Year’s Day (2014)
“Prep” work consists of sorting donated items, folding shirts, screening letters, and otherwise preparing the products and the Assembly Line for our Assembly Days. In addition, if time allows, we will provide instruction and materials (at cost) for making Paracord Survival Bracelets on site. Questions? Email: OpGratParacord@gmail.com
“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 Patriotic and/or Holiday Drives at the Armory, please email, our Volunteer Coordinator at: OpGratVolunteer1@yahoo.com beginning two months prior to the first weekend. Write “Operation Gratitude Volunteer” in the subject line.
We welcome every Volunteer to join us on as many days and for as many hours as you are available and comfortable–during both the Prep and Assembly days. Please feel free to stay longer than your assigned shift on the Assembly days (shifts are 9am-12 and 1pm-4pm) Please consider working the afternoon shift! We regularly have many volunteers for the morning shift, and we do not want you to feel that we have more volunteers than we need. You assistance is critical to accomplishing our goals, so whatever time works into your schedule is great with us. But, when possible, if you can join us in the afternoon, you may get that job you really want! And…you will be in attendance for the Door Prizes we often give out at the end of the day!
As in the past, we welcome children ages 12 and older; those ages 12-16 must have a responsible adult with transportation on the premises at all times. Due to insurance, liability and safety concerns, we must strictly adhere to these rules–there are no exceptions. Younger children are encouraged to write letters and organize recycling drives from home.
Lunch Program:
On Assembly Days we work from 9am to 12 Noon and from 1pm-4pm. From 12 to 1:30 pm, we will have Gourmet Lunch Trucks on the premises with delicious and varied meals available for our volunteers and members of the public. The cost of these meals will range from $5 to $12. Each vendor has agreed to donate 10% of all proceeds back to Operation Gratitude. To find out which trucks will be present on a given Assembly Day, please sign up to receive “Volunteer Emails” here: Join our Mailing List –we will send out a notice the week before the Assembly day.
COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES:
1. At the Armory: Certificates are provided for students who require documentation of the number of hours they volunteer. In order to obtain a certificate, it is necessary to SIGN IN upon arrival on the Community Service sign-in sheet, and SIGN OUT upon departure when finished each day.
2. Students Earn Community Service Hours Through Cell Phone Collection & Recycling
Students everywhere can earn community service hours through the collection and recycling of used cell phones. Through this free, easy and exciting program, students can help the environment, raise money for Operation Gratitude, and earn community service hours!
For more information, please contact Michele Triana at info@grcrecycling.com Phone: 954-744-3646
3. Make Paracord Bracelets - Students, earn 1 hour of community service credit for every 5 Paracord Bracelets you make and bring in (or send) to us.
Click here for instructions: How to Make a Paracord Bracelet or download: How to Make a Paracord Survival Bracelet and Make a Weaving Apparatus
For more information and/or to order materials: OpGratParacord@gmail.com and http://bit.ly/XwtUIq. We welcome Paracord Bracelets year-round.
GROUPS OF MORE THAN TEN (10) VOLUNTEERS:
BASIC VOLUNTEER RULES AND INFORMATION:
We greatly appreciate your volunteer efforts and spirit! To ensure your own safety and enjoyment, and to preserve our welcome at the Armory, we ask that you read and follow the following requirements:
1. Parking will be in the parking lot surrounding the building and on the dirt lot adjacent to the building. Please follow the directions of the Soldier-Guard at the Gate. No vehicles are allowed in the motor pool area (where the Military vehicles and our supplies are located). There are no exceptions, even for dropping off or moving donations.
2. Speed limit on base is 10 miles per hour. In congested areas, the limit is as slow as safety permits–even if that means a complete stop for an extended time.
3. Inside the Armory, volunteers are ONLY allowed on the Drill Floor; please do not go into Military offices or upstairs.
4. Food and Drinks:
~Please bring your own on Prep Days and Weekdays. As volunteers may not use the Armory Kitchen or refrigerator at any time, consider bringing a small cooler.
~Lunch will be available for purchase on Assembly Days only. The lunch vendors will donate a portion of sales to us!
~NO FOOD OR DRINKS ON DRILL FLOOR AT ANY TIME PLEASE!
5. Clothing, Shoes, Purses, Cell Phones
~ Please wear closed-toe shoes, no sandals or flip-flops.
~ Wear comfortable, but respectful clothing; (NO “short-shorts” or revealing tops please); please avoid political statements on clothing.
~ Please lock purse or other valuables in your car: We do not have a safe place for them and will not accept responsibility for personal property.
NO BAGS, BACKPACKS, BRIEFCASES ALLOWED IN THE ARMORY. Please keep cell phones and cash (for the PX and Lunch) in your pockets
~ Cell phones are for emergency use only. Please do not make phone calls while volunteering.
6. Sign-In and Release Form
~All volunteers must sign in at the Volunteer Table by the front door and fill out a new Release form for the current Drive–even if you have volunteered in the past.
~Due to heightened security requirements, all volunteers must present a government or school issued I.D. with photo
~Please wear a nametag at all times.
~To receive Community Service Credit, you MUST sign-in upon arrival and sign-out upon departure at the COMMUNITY SERVICE TABLE–this is separate from the Volunteer Sign In Table.
7. Donation Drop-Off:
~Please drive to the Northwest Corner of the parking lot to drop off donations.
~Fill out the donation log-in sheet and receive an acknowledgment.
8. Register to Volunteer:
If you have not already done so, please sign up to work on the Assembly days by emailing OpGratVolunteer1@yahoo.com; write “Operation Gratitude Volunteer” in the subject line. State day(s), shift(s), number of volunteers and email addresses. Shifts are 9am-12; and 1pm-4pm.
9. TWITTER and Website Announcements:
Please always check our Twitter account: www.twitter.com/OpGratitude and/or our website: www.OperationGratitude.com and/or your emails for last minute schedule changes or closures prior to leaving for the armory. To sign up for Volunteer Email notices, click here: Mailing List and check “Volunteers and Locals” on the “Interests” page.
10. Questions:
~At the Armory:
Supervisors will be wearing Royal Blue T-shirts–please follow their instructions.
Rich Hernandez and Eric Meyerowitz, Co-Directors, have the final say on all matters.
~By Email: OpGratVolunteer1@yahoo.com (write “Operation Gratitude Volunteer” in subject line)
~InfoLine: 800-651-8031
To see a typical day at the armory, check out this video: Volunteers at the Armory