A Message from our Founder
For more than 20 years, Operation Gratitude has connected Americans seeking to say thank you with those who serve. With the extraordinary support and efforts of countless grateful citizens, we have delivered millions of heartfelt expressions of appreciation to members of our service communities.
As the circumstances and needs of those communities evolve, so too must we. Staying true to our “Semper Gumby” (always flexible) spirit, we are shifting from a centralized warehouse model to a grassroots, community-anchored approach, equipping individuals and organizations across the country to host local acts of gratitude.
This change represents more than two decades of learning how best to serve our Military Members, Veterans, and First Responders. While our mission to say thank you to those who serve remains unchanged, how we fulfill that mission is evolving to meet the needs of today’s world.
In 2026, we’ll launch a new platform designed to equip local leaders and volunteers with the tools and resources to organize their own gratitude projects—ensuring that our mission reaches even further, in ways that are meaningful to each community. We remain fully committed to honoring existing partnerships and programs throughout this period.
As Operation Gratitude transitions into this new chapter, you may have questions about what this evolution means for our mission, our community, and your continued involvement.
I want to be completely open with you during this transition. On our FAQ page, you’ll find answers to questions we’re hearing from our community of supporters, volunteers, donors, and partners. If you don’t see your question there, please feel free to reach out to me directly at carolynb@operationgratitude.com.
We’ll be sharing more detailed information in the coming weeks as we continue to develop our new community-powered approach. Your questions and feedback are welcome and important to us as we write this next chapter together. I look forward to your continuing support and involvement.
With deep appreciation,
Carolyn Blashek
Founder and Board Chair, Operation Gratitude
Our mission continues
Our mission remains unchanged: 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.
As we transition to a community-powered organization, we’re excited to empower local leaders and volunteers across the nation to create meaningful expressions of gratitude in their own communities.
Together, we’re creating the future of gratitude—one community at a time.
Join Our
Email List
Our Mission is to
Honor the service of our Military and First Responders by creating opportunities to express gratitude
We Believe In
- Honoring the Service of our military and first responders
- Embracing the spirit of Volunteerism
- Appreciating the Generosity of our supporters
We Envision a Future Where
All who serve believe the American people care
Our Mission is to
Honor the service of our Military and First Responders by creating opportunities to express gratitude
We Believe In
- Honoring the Service of our military and first responders
- Embracing the spirit of Volunteerism
- Appreciating the Generosity of our supporters
We Envision a Future Where
All who serve believe the American people care
