The purpose of Operation: Thank You is to support the U.S. military with cards, letters of encouragement and support along with care 
                                                             packages filled with basic
                                                             items, such as personal
                                                             toiletries, instant foods and
                                                             drink mixes that they find
                                                             hard to come by in a war
                                                             environment.  When these
                                                             types of requested items
                                                             are readily available to the
                                                             soldiers, then the care
                                                             packages make their down-
                                                             time more enjoyable and
                                                             relaxing.

Operation: Thank You was started in October of 2004 to show our troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan that the American public appreciated their sacrifices and admired their patriotism by sending messages written on Christmas cards.  This started as a private project (called Project: Thank You at the time) with a goal of 500 cards.  That first year, 3,000 Christmas messages were sent to the troops.  As others found
out about the project they wanted to get involved.  Civic groups joined in getting the cards signed.  The first branch chapter was formed in Newark, Ohio.  During 2005 about 50 care packages were sent and 6,000 Christmas cards were delivered to the troops.  In the winter of 2006 the second chapter formed in Springboro, Ohio.  The volunteers there collected 1,300 Valentines to send to the troops.  The project was privately financed at this point.  However, the project was getting so large and the cost of items and postage was growing rapidly.  It was decided we should look into becoming a non-profit organization.  Papers of incorporation were filed.  In the fall of 2006, the push to get Christmas messages was again underway.  The local newspapers and TV channels jumped on the bandwagon doing stories that told the public how they could get involved.  That is what Operation: Thank You, Inc. does.  It shows those that want to do something to support our military just how to go about doing it.  It also supplies the names of local soldiers.  Parents and friends contact us when they learn what we are doing to tell us about their family or friends serving this country.  Many of these friends become volunteers and help prepare the cards and packages for shipment. 

 

Operation: Thank You prefers to work with troops from the Cincinnati/Dayton area of the local Chapter, but this is not a requirement.  If we learn of someone, no matter where he/she is from that does not get much support from home, then we start to write and send packages.  This information usually comes from a troop we are working with.  There are no set rules or regulations about who we work with.  We usually supply items to the full unit through our one point of contact. 

 

By the end of 2006 Operation: Thank You  had shipped a total of 18,000 Christmas messages and some 250 packages.   In January 2007, the local schools joined into Operation: Valentine, headed by the Springboro Chapter, bringing the total Valentines shipped to 3,000. There are some 45 soldiers that the Operation is working with that will be receiving packages until they return home.  Many times we are given names in the replacing unit.  So on we go.  Almost weekly we are given new soldiers to write to or send things to. 

 

During 2007 Operation: Thank You grew to unexpected numbers both in number of troops being served and in the volunteers at home supporting them.  During  2007 we grew to over 400 volunteers, in 6 states and served some 125 units, through one contact in each unit, with 73 units still on active duty in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Qatar.  Late in the year the soldiers serving at Guantanamo Bay Cuba were added to the list.  These units were as small as 3 and as large as 200.   By 2007 Operation: Thank You  had set itself apart from other support groups by taking special requests from the troops.  Some of the more unusual items shipped included blankets, sheets, pillows, microwave, DVD player, socks and underwear,  special sports equipment, hot plates, pots, pans, electric skillet, coffee urns, sneakers and clothes to a hospital for the less seriously wounded, popsicles, and hand warmers.  Probably the most unusual items were back-packing tents and a microscope.  The Christmas messages exceeded 18,000.   Operation: Valentine in February 2008 topped 1,400.  The Easter Jelly Bean Project is expected to top last year’s figures.  The Girl Scouts of Cincinnati donated over 300 cases of cookies in 2007 for the troops and they are working hard to top that figure in 2008.  Special projects to assist in projects run by Chaplains for the people of Iraq include baby food, formula, bottles, and clothes and school supplies.

 

 

Operation: Thank You, Inc. is operated by 100% volunteers and no one connected with Operation: Thank You is or has ever been paid for their services.  There are no membership fees or dues for membership.  The only requirement for membership is a love and respect for our military and a desire to show appreciation and support for our men and women in uniform. 

 

Operation: Thank You, Inc. is a non-profit organization with a 501(c)(3) classification.  All donations are tax-deductible.