Our “quick release” design (or “quick deploy”) is preferred. The older cobra design can take 2–5 minutes to take apart, and in an emergency, that’s a LOT of time. Our quick deploy bracelet is just that—quick! The bracelet can be deployed in just 15–30 seconds.

We will accept all styles of bracelets, but we would prefer that you make the quick deploy style of bracelet. All other styles of bracelets will be sent to Veterans and First Responders.

No. If you are making a quick deploy bracelet, a wooden jig is not necessary. We have created a printable page with the starting layout for you to use above. This “jig” sets the length of your bracelet and shows you how to lay out the cord prior to making the bracelet.

We offer pre-cut lengths of 550 paracord through our eBay page. Each kit will contain enough cord to make five (5) bracelets.

You can also search the internet for 550 Paracord, and a long list of companies will appear or you can purchase your cord on Amazon. Please note, you will need to cut and seal the ends yourself.

Please use 550 paracord only. 550 paracord is designed to hold 550 pounds. It has seven to nine individual strands inside that can each hold 50 pounds. You do not need to buy “MIL-SPEC” ie: military-grade or heavier “750” paracord. 

Please do not purchase and send rope. Bracelets made from rope will not be sent in our Care Packages. We have found that a lot of hardware and craft stores are selling rope and labeling it as paracord, so please READ THE LABELS CAREFULLY!

If you purchase the supplies yourself, you will need to cut the cord into 7½ foot lengths. When you cut the cord, please heat the open ends hot enough that they melt, and then flatten them with a pair of pliers. This will keep the inside strands from spilling out while you make the bracelet.

8 to 9 inches long.

As a general rule, we try to use the colors that our troops normally wear when out in the field.

Olive drab, black, brown, sand, green, multi-camo, or any of the military camo colors are all good. We want our troops to blend into their environment. We ask that you do not send bracelets that are overly bright colors such as neon yellow, orange, and pink.

DO NOT send reflective paracord! Why? It’s because it reflects light at night, and can make our troops highly visible while they are on patrol in the dark.

Finally, please do not send two-tone bracelets. While they look great, they are made by melting two short pieces of cord together and we promise the recipient a minimum of 7.5 solid feet of cord. Also, the melted ends will no longer hold 550 pounds and usually break in an emergency.

Yes, in fact, we encourage you to include a note for every bracelet you make! The note should be no larger than the size of a business card because our bracelets are sent in a 3″ x 5″ plastic bag.

The note can be as simple as “Handmade with Love” and include your first name and email address or “snail mail” address—so the recipient can send you a “thank you” if they have time. Please understand that we can not guarantee that you will ever receive a reply, but we do hope that you’ll give the recipient a chance to say thank you.

Please do not attach the note to the bracelet. Simply put all of your notes in a single plastic bag and we will include one in the bag with each bracelet.

If you are uncomfortable using your personal address, feel free to use ours (info@operationgratitude.com). Please be sure to include your full name so if we receive a note about your item, we can be sure to forward them to you.

We are happy to receive your bracelets all year long!  and do not have a deadline for your handmade items to arrive, unless they are part of a challenge. Feel free to send in all your bracelets when your box is full!

And once you ship your box, find another one and fill it up too!

Keep the bracelet(s) flat and do not put the knot through the loop. This allows you to put more bracelets in each box or envelope.

Depending on how many bracelets you’re sending, you might want to use a USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Box. A small box can hold 15–20, a medium box can hold 200, and a large box can hold 300 or more flat bracelets. This way, you’re paying a flat rate regardless of weight.

Absolutely! You can drop off your items Monday–Friday from 9 am to 3:30 pm at our facility in Chatsworth, CA. Please be sure to fill out our Product Donation Form and include a copy in every box/bag/envelope you drop off!

Please be sure to fill out our Product Donation Form and include a copy in every box/bag/envelope you send!  We want to know who the donation is from, and we want to be able to send you a thank you letter for your donation!

Our address is:
Operation Gratitude
9409 Owensmouth Avenue
Chatsworth, CA 91311

Absolutely! We want to know who is sending each and every item to us since it allows us so we can send you a letter of gratitude. Please be sure to include your email address on the form, so that we can send you further updates.

Yes, you can earn one hour of community service credit for every five (5) paracord bracelets made and returned to our facility or mailed to us with a Donor Form. Please include a note requesting Community Service Credit, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

For additional information please visit our community service page.

Please understand that our normal turnaround time for community service forms can be 2–4 weeks due to transit time. Turnaround time during November and December can be delayed by 4–6 weeks due to the large volume of inbound donations.