Recently, Operation Gratitude CEO James Johnson spoke with iHeart Radio about the impact Care Packages can have on recipients and how you can help. Listen to the full interview below and come join us on the journey to thank all who serve!
And if you can’t listen to the interview, here’s a summary:
In March of 2003, a soldier came into our founder Carolyn Blashek’s office asking for a chaplain and broke down at her desk. He was on leave from a war zone for his mother’s funeral, his wife had left him, and his only child had died as an infant—he had no one else in his life. It was then he told her…
“I’m going back over there. I know I won’t make it back this time, but it really doesn’t matter because no one would even care.” Right then, Blashek realized that when bullets are flying, troops must believe that someone at home cares about them as an individual. “I have to do more than just serve hot dogs” she said.
When Blashek’s kids were younger, she used to put together Care Packages for them as they went off to summer camp to remind them of home. Immediately she jumped at the idea of sending the troops a piece of home in the form or a Care Package. That’s when operation gratitude was born.
Four care packages were shipped out that week from Blashek’s living room. 19 years and more than 3.5 million care packages later, Operation Gratitude is now supported by Americans all over the country donating items and writing letters to express their gratitude to our service members, First Responders and Veterans. We are continuously committed to lifting the spirits of the men and women who have raised their hands to serve our country.
Visit our volunteer page to learn how you can get involved.
