USS Miami Sailors' Children to Receive 'Operation Gratitude' Gift Boxes

By Lt. Cmdr. Jennifer Cragg, Commander, Submarine Group 2 Public Affairs

GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- Military children will receive gift boxes from the non-profit organization Operation Gratitude at a local community center in Groton, Nov. 30.

USS Miami (SSN 755) Family Readiness Group President Christy Thomas, a mother of two, and several other Miami spouses have spearheaded an endeavor to have more than 150 children of the deployed Sailors be recognized during National Military Family Appreciation Month.

In addition to receiving Operation Gratitude gift boxes, Miami Ombudsman April Holtmeyer, also a mother of two, held a potluck during the scheduled event to recognize the sacrifice all of the Miami spouses and their children.

"In conjunction with the Operation Gratitude gift boxes we are also hosting a 'We are Thankful potluck dinner' for many of the wives married to Sailors serving aboard USS Miami and their children," said Holtmeyer.

Thomas and other Miami spouses first contacted the organization when the submarine deployed to inquire if the children of deployed Miami Sailors could receive gift boxes. Since the organization is accustomed to working with military personnel assigned to shore and sea units who regularly receive mail, the challenges of working with submarines whose operations prevent regular mail shipments were immense.

"When we contacted Operation Gratitude, it looked like an impossible task because their organization is set up to send boxes to the deployed Sailors, soldiers, airmen and Marines and their children during the deployment," said Thomas. "They are not set up to send gift boxes to submarines."

Holtmeyer also assisted with the Operation Gratitude endeavor and was impressed with their ability to adapt.

"The organization was shocked that in a world of iPhones we go long periods of time without hearing from our service members. They stepped up to the challenge to overcome logistics to deliver their boxes to us," said Holtmeyer.

"It was quite a surreal experience to finally get a yes by the organization to help our smallest heroes feel appreciated," said Holtmeyer.

Thomas added with nearly 50 percent of the 134-member crew aboard Miami are married and have children, the support for their loved ones give new meaning for the deployed fathers.

"The kids are the heroes in their dads' eyes because they have thrived in their daily lives while they have been gone," said Thomas.

Holtmeyer said the gift boxes donated by Operation Gratitude and the potluck is just one example of the tight bonds the wives have formed through the deployments.

"We are a family. Often we don't have family that is close by," said Thomas. "We help each other out, and while I don't have any sisters, these other wives are like the sisters I never had."

According to their website, Operation Gratitude sends 100,000 care packages filled with snacks, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation addressed to individually named U.S. service members deployed and to their children left behind as well as Wounded Warriors recuperating in transition units.

Operation Gratitude Delivers Big On Board Ronald Reagan

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Anthony Johnson, USS Ronald Reagan Public Affairs

USS RONALD REAGAN, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines on board USS Ronald Reagan received a surprise delivery of individual care packages June 30, sent from volunteers and members of Operation Gratitude, while deployed to the 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

Operation Gratitude is a non-profit organization that has supported forward-deployed troops around the world with care packages for eight consecutive years and counting.

"We sent packages to every person stationed on the USS Ronald Reagan, USS Chancellorsville and USS Preble," said Carolyn Blashek, founder and president of Operation Gratitude.

The organization sent more than 4,500 packages to the three ships out of the roughly 100,000 packages sent annually worldwide. Exhibiting a deep appreciation for servicemembers, volunteers and donors provide products for care packages, with an average box consisting of approximately $50 dollars worth of donated items.

"Operation Gratitude's mission is twofold; to put a smile on every servicemember's face, letting them know Americans care, and providing an avenue for every American to express their appreciation to our military and their families," said Blashek.

Blashek has oversight for the entire organization, but recognized volunteers and donors throughout the United States.

"We work with supporters all over the country who organize collection drives for us to provide items and letters for the packages," said Blashek. "There are several more opportunities to support our program such as recycling, knitting, and fundraising."

Volunteers of Operation Gratitude put a lot of care and effort into putting together care packages by hand-making stuffed animals, holding letter-writing campaigns throughout the community, recycling used cell phones, and even knitting and crocheting scarves.

"My satisfaction in sending the packages is in feeling that I am serving the United States, and at the same time, hopefully putting a smile on the face of a hero in harm's way," said Blashek.

Blashek said that so far more than 650,000 packages have been sent to deployed servicemembers and expects that number to increase to 250,000 annually.

Many Sailors and Marines aboard Reagan expressed gratitude for the surprising gesture.

"I think Operation Gratitude is awesome," said Chief Aviation Ordnancemen Jorge Maldonado. "I haven't received a single package during this deployment, so for people I don't even know to unexpectedly send something to me brought a lot of joy to my day."

Maldonado said he hopes crewmembers feel appreciative of the support, and seek opportunities to give back and support this organization and its members.

"If I could speak to Operation Gratitude organizers and supporters, I would say thank you. The program is very well thought out, you touch a lot of Sailors and Marines through care packages," said Maldonado

Many Sailors and Marines get a morale boost when they receive packages from home and unexpected packages such as those from Operation Gratitude boost morale even more.

"It makes you feel pretty good to get a package because it brings up morale," said Logistics Specialist 1st Class Atiba Johnson, Reagan's post office leading petty officer. "It's definitely nice knowing someone's thinking of you. It adds excitement to life, and it reminds us why we're out here doing the type of job we're doing."

Ronald Reagan CSG is comprised of Ronald Reagan, guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7, which includes guided-missile destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88).

Embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14 includes the Black Knights of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 154, the Argonauts of VFA-147, the Blue Diamonds of VFA-146, the Death Rattlers of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 323, the Black Eagles of Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 113, the Cougars of Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (VAQ) 139, the Providers of Carrier Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 30 and the Black Knights of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4.

Operation Homefront & Operation Gratitude Join Forces for Pepsi Refresh Project

Online Contest Gives Supporters Chance to Vote on Recipients of Grants up to $300,000

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – It won’t cost a dime in October to help military service members and their families.  Thanks to Operation Homefront and Operation Gratitude, patriotic Americans can give real support with the click of a mouse.  By selecting the organizations’ joint grant proposal in the Pepsi Refresh Project, online voters can help the two military support groups win up to $300,000 for holiday programs supporting the men and women serving in harm’s way and their families back home.  

The two nonprofits are competing in two separate grant categories -- $250,000 and $50,000. Winners are determined solely by the final vote count. The top two charities in the running for $250,000 will win the grand prize. The top 10 charities competing for $50,000 will win that amount.

Voting on the joint proposal is open every day through the month of October. Supporters are encouraged to vote each of three different ways daily:  

1.  On the Operation Homefront/Operation Gratitude applications in the $250,000 and $50,000 categories at  http://www.RefreshEverything.com/MilitaryFamilySupport

2.  Through the Pepsi Refresh Facebook application

3.  By texting 103268 for the 250K grant and 103144 for the 50K grant to PEPSI (73774).  (Standard text messaging rates apply.)

Operation Homefront provides emergency assistance to military families and wounded warriors, and  Operation Gratitude sends care packages to deployed service members.  If successful in winning a grant, the two organizations will use the funds to send holiday care packages to troops deployed in Afghanistan,  give holiday toys to military children and provide food to wounded warriors and military families throughout the holiday season.

“We know we’re on the same page when it comes to our commitment to military families, but we also know the competition for this grant money is intense,” said Jim Knotts, CEO of Operation Homefront. “We really believe that by working together and pooling our supporters, we can win this.”

“This is what social networking truly is all about,” said Carolyn Blashek, president of Operation Gratitude. “We’re both nonprofits with limited finances and boots on the ground. We have to do more with less. Through this partnership, we now have more than we could ever muster on our own.”

About Operation Homefront

A national nonprofit, Operation Homefront leads more than 4,500 volunteers across 23 chapters and has met more than 267,000 needs since 2002.  A four-star rated charity by watchdog Charity Navigator, nationally, $.95 of total revenue donated to Operation Homefront goes to programs.  More information is available at www.OperationHomefront.net.

About Operation Gratitude

Operation Gratitude annually sends 100,000-plus care packages filled with snacks, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation addressed to individually named U.S. service members deployed in hostile regions. Our mission is to lift morale, bring a smile to a service member's face and express to our armed forces the appreciation and support of the American people. Each package contains donated product valued at $125 and costs the organization $15 to assemble and ship. Since its inception in 2003, Operation Gratitude volunteers have shipped more than 560,000 packages to American military deployed overseas.  For more information: www.OperationGratitude.com.