Operation Gratitude

[Ron H]

As Independence Day approaches, thought I’d share something my wife is doing with the hundreds of Beanie-Babies and other toys she collected years ago. Most are still sealed in their wrappers. Hard to believe how she collected so many. I’d come across them every so often wondering WDH are we going to do with them. Thought of donating to Goodwill or other places we typically donate to. She came across Operation Gratitude, their mission is to say thank you to our military and first responders. They include among a number of other great things, sending care packages to these fantastic folks containing all sorts of nice stuff. This includes little toys our troops can hand out to children in areas where they are deployed. My wife read about soldiers saying how this has fostered some rapport, goodwill, and giving them to sick or injured kids in hospitals here and abroad.

We got several priority mail cartons and she has been busy packing the toys and dropping off at the PO. Each one can handle about 25 beanies and she has packed at least ½ dozen boxes…well, so far.

Have a Happy July 4th

 

[T2R9]

That's fantastic! When I was stuck on a Navy ship escorting tankers in and out of the gulf during the gulf war we received anonymous boxes like that and it made everyone's day. Greatly appreciated by those that receive them and have been the recipients of such! Tell her I say thank you!

 

[Scott Engelhardt]

Thats awesome!

 

[Hey-O]

I wish I would have known about that a few years ago. Well done and thanks for sharing!

 

[cosgig]

There are a lot of programs out there thst help folks less well off than us here in the US. There’s a program out there that you can send your used guitar strings to that disperses them to those in need around the world, where new strings are unheard of. I’ve sent dozens of strings there.

Tell your wife to keep up the good work, she has a big heart. I’m sure when she started collecting them that she never would’ve thought they could be of such good use in the future.

 

[Ron H]

Tell her I say thank you!

Thanks, I will let her know. She has a heart of gold, always helping someone and volunteering her time. She has been packing those boxes so carefully, extra sealing in plastic (they could get wet) and extra cardboard in the box where they would likely get cut open, to prevent cutting the contents. Lol, I said how did you acquire so MANY of these toys? She says I bought them! Well ok, dah..

 

[Ron H]

I’m sure when she started collecting them that she never would’ve thought they could be of such good use in the future.

No doubt, it was nice she found this org. We're at the age trying to figure out dispersing our possessions, our kids have their hold on what they want or have already taken it, we've taken tons of things to Goodwill, scrap recycler (stuff I couldn't find a taker for) and when we look around - looks like we haven't done anything! We are looking closer at organizations like Operation Gratitude to donate to.

 

[68BabyBlue]

This is great, thanks for posting. Some recent events compressed the time table my wife and I had set for leaving our current home. Most folks shy away from parting with possessions ahead of time, we are now trying not to get stuck in that rut. Good move on your part, and I appreciate you making us aware of that organization.