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Sponsored by VETERANS And Their Supporters in 36 chapters, posts, detachments and units of the:
American Legion: Fairfield Post 74, Shelton Post 16, Fairfield Post 143, Derby Post 24, Milford Post 196
Disabled American Veterans: Stamford Ch. 13, Fairfield Ch.19, Enfield Ch. 52,
Greater New Haven Ch. 2, Derby Ch. 4, Milford Ch. 15, Manchester Ch. 17, Bristol Ch. 5, West Haven Ch.18
Marine Corps League: Stamford Detachment 910
Military Order of the Purple Heart: Shelton/Derby Ch. 1, Greater New Haven Ch. 103, New Britain Ch. 51, Darien Ch. 1932
Veterans of Foreign Wars: Fairfield Post 9427, Derby Post 10585, Ansonia Post 597, Huntington Post 10466
Also sponsored by: State HQ of CT: AMVETS, DAV, MOPH, & VVA
Vietnam Combat Vets Mon. & Tues. Evening Groups from the New Haven Vet Center, Employees of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Vietnam veteran Gary Plassman, Actress Ellen Muth, Order of Sons and Daughters of Italy in America West Haven Lodge 2832, the Affinion Group, Vets Who Care Committee, and Naugatuck Valley and Derby Boy Scout Troop 3.
* Each Sponsor has purchased a minimum of $500.00 in post exchange gift certificates for the wounded. Several sponsors have purchased over $10,000 in gift certificates during the duration of Operation Gift Cards.
Since October 2005, the Operation Gift Cards’ 45 monthly visits have presented 6,810 thank you kits which contained $136,200 in military store gift certificates to our wounded troops. An additional $71,000 in other gift certificates and special group product donations (Girl Scout cookies, corporate gift certificates, etc.) have been delivered to the Soldier Family Assistance Center, the Fisher Houses, the Mologne 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.
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Click for a printable pdf version of OGC Operation Summary Page, OGC Sample Thank You Kit
PRESS RELEASES: May 09, Apr 09, Mar. 09, Feb. 09, Jan. 09, Dec 08, Nov 08, Oct. 08, Sept. 08, Aug. 08. July 08, June 08, May 08, Apr 08, 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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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 87 representatives of 35 units of 7 Connecticut veterans organizations (American Legion, American Veterans (AMVETS), Disabled American Veterans, Marine Corps League, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Vietnam Veterans of America.
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 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 DAV Chapter #13 (write in the memo area of the check “For Operation Gift Cards”) and mail to Al Meadows, 17 Cedar Hill Rd., Huntington, CT 06484.
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.
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 35 sponsors have delivered their own unit's thank you kits to the wounded.
Contributitors:
Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation - $20,000 in grants
Employees of Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Stratford Plant over $8,000
Gold - $1,000 or more
Affinion Group
Hollander Foundation, Inc.
Soldiers' Angels
Spectrum Associates, Inc.
Gary Plassman (Vietnam Veteran)
Silver - $500-$999
Clayton Holdings, Inc.
Marine Corps League, Housatonic Detachment
Royal Bakery Patrons
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
Sixpack - Katherine Pando
Union Memorial Church - Stamford
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 of Connecticut for donating cookies worth over $32,000
Affinion Group for donating $3,500 in corporate gift certificates (in addition to co-sponsoring one month)
Matt Frovarp and Boy Scout Troop 3, Derby Connecticut. As his Eagle Scout project, Matt collected $16,500 "Wish List" items for distibution to our wounded troops and their families with the assistance of his troop.
Site last updated Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 6:10 AM
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