Our Vision
Our mission is to say Thank You to our Military and First Responder communities, and to honor their service by creating opportunities for all Americans to express gratitude. We fulfill this mission by empowering communities, supporting local leaders, and preserving the stories that connect Americans with Service Members, Veterans, and First Responders through meaningful acts of appreciation.
Our Story
Operation Gratitude began in 2003, when our founder, Carolyn Blashek, met a soldier who felt forgotten. From her living room, she mailed four Care Packages to deployed troops in Iraq. In the 20 years since, tens of thousands of Volunteers have delivered more than four million Care Packages, each one filled with donated products, handmade items, and heartfelt letters. These packages were more than supplies—they were tangible reminders that Americans care. Today, Operation Gratitude is one of the largest hands-on volunteer nonprofits in the country, demonstrating the power of grassroots participation in expressing national gratitude. We fulfill this mission by empowering communities, supporting local leaders, and preserving the stories that connect Americans with Service Members, Veterans, and First Responders through meaningful acts of appreciation.
From Care Packages to Community Champions
As the needs of Service Members and First Responders evolve, so must the ways we say Thank You.
Operation Gratitude is transitioning from a centralized warehouse-based model to a grassroots, community-powered movement.
Starting in 2026, we will equip local leaders and Volunteers to create authentic, hands-on gratitude projects in their own communities.
One warehouse will give way to school gyms, living rooms, and community centers, as assembly lines transform into networks of neighbors working together.
Moments of gratitude will multiply into sustainable traditions of appreciation, unique to each community.
Our approach reflects the values that have guided us for two decades—gratitude at our core, a flexible “Semper Gumby” spirit, and a deep commitment to Volunteers and the Service Members, Veterans, and First Responders at the heart of our mission.
This is the natural evolution of a movement YOU built.
What’s Ahead
We are laying the foundation for a nationwide, community-powered movement of gratitude:
Community Engagement Resource Hub – Tools, templates, and guidance for meaningful, locally led gratitude projects.
Storytelling & Legacy Keeper Initiative – Preserving the voices and stories of Service Members, Veterans, First Responders, and the Volunteers who thank them.
Grassroots Grantmaking Program – Providing support and funding to empower community leaders to sustain authentic expressions of gratitude.
Creating the Future of Gratitude—Together
After two decades of connecting Americans with those who serve, we are ready for the next chapter.
Every Care Package assembled, every letter written, and every Volunteer hour given has built the foundation for what comes next.
Our impact now multiplies as we grow from millions of Care Packages assembled in one Operation Gratitude warehouse to countless grassroots initiatives across the country each one powered by Operation Gratitude and authentic to its community.
This is not an ending – it’s an expansion. Together, we are creating the future of gratitude—one community at a time.
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Our Vision
All who serve believe the American people care
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to say Thank You to our Military and First Responder communities, and to honor their service by creating opportunities for all Americans to express gratitude.
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