For the July letters that we got back from our troops, CLICK HERE.

 

The OPERATION: THANK YOU NEWSLETTER                   

November 2009

 

ATTENTION ALL ACTIVE DUTY AND VETERANS

In recognition of your service to our country, all veterans and active duty military personnel are invited to eat free at Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar Restaurants this Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009.

As you may recall, Applebee's launched a pilot program last year on Veterans Day offering free entrees to military service personnel and veterans. Because the response was so overwhelmingly positive, Applebee's is extending the invitation throughout the country this year.

We would appreciate your help in spreading the word.

Please help us share details across your various communication channels.

* All U.S. veterans and active duty military with proof of current or former military service will eat free at all Applebee's nationwide on Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009.

* Proof of service includes: U.S. Uniform Services Identification Card, U.S. Uniform Services Retired Identification Card, Current Leave and Earnings Statement, Veterans Organization Card, photograph in uniform or wearing uniform.

THANKS GO TO MANY PEOPLE

October was a very active month for OTY.  We walked, we ran, we rode, we got cards signed, we spoke, we visited and we ate.  There are many who were involved and each one deserves my personal thank you and appreciation.  OTY could not exist or do what it does without volunteers who are willing to step up and take over events like these.  As well as volunteers who spread the word about our work and get us invited to speak to groups and get them involved.  Sarah Burkhart and her mother, Sue Moran deserve a big thanks for organizing the 5K Run and Family Walk.  This was done in a very short time but was a big success for the first year.  It was tied to the Morrow Family Fest that Donna Thorman and Jackie Norris help to organize with the village of Morrow then manned the booth all day getting cards signed.  There were 79 people who turned out that day for the 5K and we cleared almost $2,000.  Thanks to all who came out to enjoy the nice day for a little exercise (OK, it was a little windy).  That same day Jon and C J Doughman and a bunch of their friends got together for a Bike Ride to raise blankets for the troops.  Boy! What a job they did and had a great time doing it.  Later in the month many got together at Buckhead’s MT. Grill in Bellevue, KY for a meal with friends and raised $200 as an extra bonus.  Thanks to all who came out!  This month I have been kept busy with speaking engagements and I would like to thank all those churches, clubs and organizations that invited me in.  Many are working on special projects now to help our troops. 

Here is a special note from C J to all those who came to the Bike Ride and enjoyed the day and evening.  I am sorry to say C J did not make her goal of raising money enough to purchase 1,000 blankets for the troops.  No, she missed it, she went way past her goal.  She raised 1,185!!!  GREAT JOB, CJ and Jon!!!

Jon and I wish to take this moment to thank each and every person that assisted and participated in the 2nd annual Blanket Ride!
 It was a chilly but still very successful day! There were 38 bikes registered however, we lost some on the return due to weather, so some did not make the photo. But still wish to extend our thank yours. With out all of you, we could not have done it. Thank yours also goes out to the bands, Legacy, Michael Wayne Stacey n the Train wrecks, and the Dry Run Band, for donating your time and entertaining us so well. You guys are awesome! All of the staff that day was incredible; we sold doughnuts and coffee, a hot buffet dinner upon returning, raffles, 50/50 drawing, silent auctions, as well as merchandise. We raised 202 blankets and $1100 to go buy more (275 blankets). The Lebanon Eagles also donated to our Blanket drive $2500 allowing us to purchase an additional 625 blankets. Which allowed us to reach and surpass our goal of 1000!!! Many thanks to the Mike Bunner and the Milford K-Mart, who made it possible to buy so many great blankets at such a great price! Many service members will be warmer this winter thanks to everyone who helped! Again, we could not have done it with out you all! Thank you!

 

 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

November’s schedule is not letting up a bit and your can add to the special dates the packing of over 2,000 blankets, as well as proof reading and packing who knows how many Christmas cards plus keeping up with our regular shipments.  I’m worn out just thinking about it! 

WE NEED ALL THE CHRISTMAS CARDS TURN IN TO US BY NOVEMBER 15^TH TO GIVE US TIME TO GET THEM SHIPPED IN TIME. 

NOVEMBER

This November is Military Appreciation Month and Universal 1 Credit Union of Dayton will run radio commercials about their Safe and Secure Banking message with a salute to our troops for keeping us safe and secure.  What better way to honor them than collecting needed items for the month of November?  They will also contain information about OTY and all collected items will be sent to the troops through OTY.

2^nd Speak at the Church of Christ on Rt 123 in Lebanon

4^th PACKING  10:30AM   If you have the day free PLEASE COME HELP!

9^th – 15^th Culver’s in Mason – take in a donation and get a FREE cup of custard.

10^th Scouts from The Park UMC coming to help with cards  6:30pm

11^th PACKING  10:30AM   If you have the day free PLEASE COME HELP!11^th Hoxworth Blood Centers will be having all their donors write cards to the troops and then Hoxworth  plans to pack a box per donor to ship to OTY troops for the holidays.

14^th  Kidd Coffee at 20-Mile in Landen will be having a special card signing party all day.

15^th ALL CHRISTMAS CARDS NEED TO BE TURNED IN

18^th PACKING  10:30AM If you have the day free PLEASE COME HELP! 

19^th  7PM Salute to the military parade in Miami TWP.  Parade will end at that K-Mart store in Milford where there will be a special sale from 8:00 to Mid-night.  OTY Staff will ride in the parade on the K-Mart float then be at K-Mart getting messages for the troops written.  This will be a fun evening and a great time to punch a hole in your Christmas gift list.

25^th  No packing   Thanksgiving preparations

26^th  Thanksgiving Day, enjoy your family.  Remember to thank God for those men and women who will not be home with their families but stationed around the world giving us our freedom.

DECEMBER

2^ND  PACKING  10:30am

 

WAYS YOU CAN HELP OTY AND NOT SPEND A PENNY.

Download the new GoodSearch/GoodShop Toolbar to ensure that every search and purchase count!

Goodsearch.com is a search engine through Yahoo but by using Goodsearch.com every search will a one penny to the OTY tally.  By adding the toolbar you can shop and not have to worry about forgetting to go through Goodshop.com because if you open a site that will donate a percentage of your purchase it will set it up automatically.  When you first go into Goodsearch it will ask you what charity you wish to donate to.  Just type in Operation: Thank You, Inc. and it should always show that in the toolbar.  If the company you are shopping with will donate to OTY it will light up in the toolbar.  A penny per search or 2% of your purchase price might not seem like much but stop and think how many times you do a search on the web or how much you purchase over the web then multiply that times  over 630 on the OTY email list – It will add up and once a year we will get a check I’ll need one of our troops to escort me to the bank with.

 

KROGER Rewards Cards are another way that is so easy to support OTY and it not cost you a penny.  If you are a Kroger shopper and are not already using a Rewards card please contact me and I will send you as many as you can use or give to your friends and family.  They are only loaded with $1 to keep them from expiring.  For those that don’t know about this, you load the card – only gotten from OTY staff – with you grocery and gas money for a week or month, whatever, up to $500 at a time then you just pay for your groceries or gas with the Rewards card.  You part is that simple!  Then Kroger add your loaded amount to the OTY monthly accrued balance and once a month they send us a check for 4% of the monthly total.  These checks have been covering about one weeks shipping charges lately – just over $500!  Call me or email me if you need a card.  If you have one and have not been using it please do use it.

 

BLANKETS, BLANKETS, AND MORE BLANKETS

The request that went out for blankets was so we could supply one group but the response to that request has just floored me.  I mentioned before the Bike Ride and C J’s efforts brought in enough to purchase 1,185 but I have to admit that really is not the whole story by any means.  Blankets have come from churches, social groups, and Little Miami High School, Harrison High School, Glen Estes High School, Goshen High School, American Heritage Girls.  I know I am leaving out some, forgive me.  Plus Loveland High School raised $1,400 in cash for postage.  I do appreciate everyone jumping in and helping out.  We are starting with Afghanistan because winter is already hit in the mountains.  We have already sent the 800 that Chaplain Lou requested. Plus about 400 to some other locations.  This week we hope to get most of Afghanistan completed – at least the contacts we have today.  There are new ones daily.  We have a little more time for Iraq since it is still in the upper 80s now that it has started to rain there.

 

If you have blankets that have not been turned in please try and do that ASAP so we can see if we need to purchase more.  They may be dropped at People’s First Saving in Mason or Morrow, Culver’s in Mason, Kidd Coffee @ 20-Mile in Landen or call me if there are too many to drop and we can make arrangements to meet at the warehouse.

 

Thanks again to each and every person who took part in this project.  I don’t know why but I am always amazed how everyone comes out to help with these special projects.

 

 

 

 

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his/her life, wrote a

Blank check made payable to ' United States of            
   America ' for an amount of  'up to and including my Life’    
   

 

 

Operation:  Thank You - Serving Our Troops While They Serve Us.

 

"Never believe that a few caring people cannot change the world.  For, indeed, that's all who ever have." - Margaret Mead

 

 

 

 

 

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