Click for a printable pdf version of OGC Flyer, OGC Summary Page, OGC Sample Thank You Kit
Press releases: Mar 08, Feb 08, Jan 08, Dec 07, Nov 07, Oct 07, Sept 07, Aug 07, July 07, June 07, May 07, Apr 07, Mar 07, Feb 07, Jan 07, Dec 06, Nov 06, Oct 06, Sept 06, Aug 06, July 06, June 06, May 06, April 06, March 06, Feb. 06, Oct. 05 (first visit), |
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Operation Gift Cards was started to:
• Thank our wounded or injured troops (personally when possible) for their service to their country and for their sacrifice for freedom.
• Present all visited wounded or injured patients in Walter Reed and Bethesda Military Hospitals with 3 or more “Thank You” kits, each including a $20 gift certificate enclosed in a specially designed thank you card (with group photo) from the sponsoring chapter, post, or detachment.
• Inform the patients about the free programs the sponsoring organization has developed that help our troops, our veterans, and their families.
• Provide a means for veterans organizations, other groups and individuals to donate items from the “Wish List” of both Family Medical Assistance Program and the Bethesda Fisher Houses
and present them to the patients or mentioned groups.
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Since October 2005, the Operation Gift Cards’ monthly visits have presented 4,550 thank you kits which contained $91,000 in military store gift certificates to our wounded. An additional $44,000 in other gift certificates and special group product donations (Girl Scout cokies, etc.) have been delivered to the Soldier Family Assistance Center, the Fisher Houses, the Malogne House, the Navy Lodge, the Red Cross, and the Bethesda Casualty Affairs Office, along with several thousands of dollars worth items on the “wish list” (listed below) for both the wounded troops and their families.
During the typical monthly Operation Gift Cards visit at Walter Reed and Bethesda Military Hospitals in Washington D. C. each of our visited troops, (who were wounded or injured in Iraq or Afghanistan) receive between $60.00 and $120.00 in military store gift certificates enclosed in the thank you kits from 61 representatives of 27 units of 6 Connecticut veterans organizations (American Legion, American Veterans (AMVETS), Disabled American Veterans, Marine Corps League, Military Order of the Purple Heart, and Veterans of Foreign Wars).
Connecticut veterans participating on Operation Gift Cards have also been delivering, to the wounded, items on the Medical Family Assistance Center’s ”Wish List” as listed at bottom of page. We would be glad to deliver any of the wish list items on our monthly visits for anyone donating them.
To participate in Operation Gift Cards or for additional information contact either Al Meadows (203) 929-3357 (e-mail: al.meadows@snet.net) or Tim Kelly (203) 937-3420 (e-mail: kellytmthy@aol.com). Or read the OGC summary page or the OGC information flyer (both can be downloaded from Web site). Operation Gift Cards will be an ongoing project; check our Web site for future events and our progress reports. To donate money for the purchase of the above mentioned items, make your check out to MOPH Chapter #1 (write in the memo area of the check “For Operation Gift Cards”) and mail to Burke Ross, 47 Christine Drive, Shelton, CT 06484-2503.
SOLDIERS FAMILY ASSISTANCE CENTER WISH LIST
(FOR THE WOUNDED TROOPS):
Movies (VHS and DVD), music CDs (from top 20 cd list), games for Xbox, games for playstation 2, batteries AA, AAA, C and D, portable CD players, portable DVD players, disposable cameras, electric razors, quality magazines, puzzle and crosswoed books, books and paperbacks, flip flops, plain black backpacks, duffle bags, boxer shorts Large & XLarge, sneakers (with Velcro) Male 8-13 Female 6-12
FISHER HOUSE WISK LIST
(FOR FAMILIES OF THE WOUNDEDF):
Commissary (food purchases) and Exchange (department store) Certif-checks for families (to order-1(877) 770-4438), taxi gift certificates (Taxi Company-Barwood 1-800-831-2323), Metro transportation gift certificates, restaurant cards (in DC), phone cards greater than 60 minutes, Gift Certificates from Staples, Home Depot, Office Depot, CVS, Giant, Target and Safeway. VCR/DVD combination players, umbrellas and rain ponchos. Auto shut off irons and ironing boards. Air mattresses with pumps. Non-perishable foods and snacks, condiments, ketchup, mustard, peanut butter, coffee, tea, sugar, sweeteners, coffee creamers, cereal bars & pop tarts, single serving sizes of canned goods and convenience foods that do not require refrigeration. Things easy to take on the go to the hospital.
Consumables: toilet paper, Kleenex, laundry detergent, bleach, fabric sheets for dryer, paper towels, napkins, batteries AA, AAA, C and D, light bulbs 60 watts (energy efficient), cleaning supplies, soft scrub, sponges, toilet cleaners, dish washer detergent, liquid soap refills. Tooth brushes, toothpaste, deodorant, disposable razors and shave cream.
Representatives from Connecticut veterans groups will hand deliver, each month, any items donated for the wounded troops or their families. Contact Al Meadows (203) 929-3357 or e-mail: al.meadows@snet.net
Sponsors are listed at top of this page.
Each Sponsor has purchased a minimum of $500.00 in PX gift certificates for the wounded. Several sponsors have purchased over $10,000 in gift certificates. All 27 sponsors have delivered their own unit's thank you kits to the wounded.
Contributitors:
Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation - $10,000 grant
Gold - $1,000 or more
Employees of Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
Hollander Foundation, Inc.
Soldiers' Angels
Spectrum Associates, Inc.
Gary Plassman
Silver - $500-$999
Clayton Holdings, Inc.
Marine Corps League, Housatonic Detachment
Ulbrich Stainless Steel and Speciality Metals, Inc
Bronze - $100-$499
Bridgeport Elks Lodge 36
Jack Bass
Corvette Club of CT
Huntington VFW Post 10466
James Stutz Paving
Kathleen Downer
Tom Evans
PME Enterprises
Vets Who Care
Richard Volpe
Royal Bakery
Sixpack - Katherine Pando
Honorable Mention - $50-$99
Rich and Susanne Alcott
Bob Grier Photography
Hartford Jewish War Veterans
Wayne and Mary Spinei
Warnaco Industries
Special Thanks to:
Verterans of Foreign Wars Dept.of Connecticut for donating Hallmark greeting cards worth over $31,000
Girl Scouts Connecticut Trails Council for donating cookies worth over $9,000
Affinion Group for donating $3,500 in corporate gift certificates
Site last updated Thursday, April 10, 2008, 6:41 AM
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