Operation: Thank You was started in 2004 as a one-time thing sending Christmas messages to the troops to let them know they were not forgotten during the holidays. The founder of Operation: Thank You (OYT) is Carol Alexander of Morrow, Ohio, the wife of a 24 year veteran of the USAF. Her idea of just a few cards grew when she asked one group, then another, what they needed and filled those needs. The next thing she knew friends started to help and the number of volunteers started to grow as did the list of troop units. After a couple of years of working out of her house it was decided if her hobby was going to grow there needed to be some changes. Operation: Thank You, Inc. was born and registered with the government as a 501C3, tax-exempt organization opening many doors to receive financial help. The big change that was needed was a location to move out of the Alexander house. This was finally found. A very gracious family offer to donate space in a warehouse and the supplies needed to set up and grow there. This move helped OTY to grow from serving 15 to 20 units to serving about 100 during late 2009 and to having about 1,000 volunteers and supporters on the mailing list.
The OTY staff and volunteers work most all year getting Christmas messages and cards ready to be delivered to the troops during the holidays. Over 65,000 messages have been delivered over the past years. At Valentine and Easter the children host special projects to send greeting to the soldiers also. OTY volunteers are invited to have a booth at local festivals, fairs, bike nights, car shows and such events. These are always fun and a good way to meet people and tell them about what we are all about. During 2009 OTY hosted a Blanket Bike Ride as well as a 5K Walk and Run to raise blankets for the troops as well as the money to ship them. The winter of 2009 over 3,000 blankets were sent to Iraq and Afghanistan to help keep our troops warm.
We are always interested in finding new volunteers and sponsors. We have some large companies that proudly sponsor Operation: Thank You, Inc. - People's First Savings Bank, Universal ! Credit Union, Best Buy, Gold Star Chili, Kroger, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Sam's Club, Liberty Tax, Skyline Chili, Bowling Carpet, Family Dollar, Dollar Tree, plus many Masonic Bodies, Eastern Star groups, churches and schools - the list goes on and additions are made almost daily.
We are also looking for newly deployed service personnel as well. If you know of someone please provide us with their name, APO/FPO address, email address, and birthday as we send birthday wishes when we are told of them.
MISSION -- To show our service personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and areas in support of these wars, that the people back home appreciate and support their efforts and understand the sacrifices they, and their families, are making to keep us safe and preserve our freedom.
Through a contact in each unit we supply personal care items, items of relaxation, and items that will make life a little more comfortable for our BRAVE HEROES. We look for troops from our local area but do not turn down groups from other locations. Our care packages are filled with personal care items, microwaves, food items, bedding, drink mixes, games, power bars, hand warmers, socks & foot products, down to gum and hard candy. Each item is packed with love and appreciation for their service to this country.
All we ask in return from our BRAVE HEROES, if we ever get to meet them in person, is to allow us to show one more sign of appreciation with a big hug to welcome them home.