Launch Letter Writing Campaign To Benefit Troops
Overseas
VAN NUYS, CA - To celebrate May's
Military Appreciation Month, Operation Gratitude and BJ's Wholesale Club are
challenging their supporters and members to write 50,000 letters for inclusion in care packages
mailed to U.S. troops deployed in combat zones this year. In turn, BJ's Charitable Foundation will donate $1 to Operation
Gratitude for each letter received, up to $50,000, which will
help defray the cost of shipping care
packages.
"BJ's
Wholesale Club is proud to partner with Operation Gratitude to gather personal
letters from our club members and team members expressing admiration and thanks
to the brave men and women who serve our country," said Laura Sen, President and
CEO of BJ's Wholesale Club. "We believe our local communities will
enthusiastically share our interest in relaying our deepest support to the U.S.
Service Members."
Letters can
be dropped in the Operation Gratitude mailbox at any BJ's Club or submitted
online via BJ's Facebook page: Write Letters. If letters are unable to be brought
intoa BJ's Club or
postedonline by May 31,
supporters can mail them directly to: Operation Gratitude; 16444 Refugio
Rd.; Encino, CA 91436.
Operation
Gratitude is a nonprofit, volunteer-based organization that annually
sends more than 100,000 care packages filled with snacks, entertainment items
and personal letters of appreciation addressed to individual U.S. Service
Members deployed in hostile regions. The organization will assemble and ship
50,000 packages during its "Patriotic Drive" this month. More than 800
Operation Gratitude volunteers produced and sent an astonishing 11,040 care
packages in just one day on May 2. Additional Assembly/Ship days are scheduled
for May 15, May 29 and June 6 at the Army National Guard Armory in Van Nuys,
CA.
"Troops tell
us that letters are the most cherished items they receive and are often placed
next to their hearts or in their helmets to read again and again," said Carolyn
Blashek, Founder and President of Operation Gratitude. "We are excited to
partner
with BJ's
Wholesale Club and look forward to sending the collected letters to
lift morale and put smiles on the faces of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and
Marines deployed overseas."
For more
information about the campaign and to receive helpful writing tips: Letter
Campaign
To request a care package for deployed service
members: Request
Package
For details on the Operation Gratitude Patriotic Drive: How You Can Help and Volunteers
Direct Links:
To Submit
Letters Online: http://www.facebook.com/bjswholesaleclub?v=app_115050645192949
Writing
Tips: http://www.bjs.com/about/news/content/item1,140.shtml
Package
Requests: http://www.opgratitude.com/packages.php
How You Can Help:
http://www.opgratitude.com/howtohelp.php?page=individual
Volunteers:
http://www.opgratitude.com/volunteer_hours.php
About
Operation Gratitude
Operation Gratitude
(www.OperationGratitude.com ) is the 501 (c) (3)
non-profit, volunteer organization thatannually sends 100,000+ care
packages filled with snacks, entertainment items and personal letters ofappreciation addressed to
individual U.S. Service Members deployed in hostile regions. Our mission is to
liftmorale, bring
a smile to a service member's face and express to all Armed Forces the
appreciation andsupport of the American people.
Each package contains donated product valued at ~$125 and costs the organization
$15 to assemble and ship. Since it's inception in 2003, Operation Gratitude has
sent more than 544,000 care packages to American Military
overseas.
About BJ's Wholesale Club
BJ's is dedicated to providing
members with high-quality, brand-name food and merchandise at prices that
aresignificantly
lower than supermarkets, supercenters, department stores, drug stores and
specialty retail stores.BJ's carries the most product
variety of any wholesale club with more than 7,000 items, including
supermarket-sized staples, USDA Choice meats and stock-up items. BJ's is the
only wholesale club to accept all manufacturers' coupons and for greater
convenience, offers the most payment options including EBT.
Headquartered in Natick,
Massachusetts, BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. is a leading operator of warehouse
clubsin the
eastern United States. The Company currently operates 188 clubs and 105 gas
stations in 15 eastern states. Learn more and shop online at BJs.com or for exclusive content visit
www.bjs.com/facebook.
About BJ's Charitable Foundation
BJ's Charitable Foundation was
established with the mission to enrich every community BJ's Wholesale
Clubs serve. The Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that primarily
benefit the underprivileged in the area of basic needs (hunger prevention, self
sufficiency, education and health). For more information about BJ's Charitable
Foundation please visit, www.bjs.com/charity.
