Each year, the Franklin PTA collects candy the week after Halloween. Although there are a few tears here and there, the children (and parents) are happy to send their excess sweets to those that have served us through Operation Gratitude.
Operation Gratitude anually sends 200,000+ care packages filled with food, entertainment, hygiene, and handmade items, plus personal letters of appreciation to Veterans, First Responders, New Recruits, Wounded Heroes, their Care Givers, and to individually named U.S. service members deployed overseas and their families waiting at home.
Our mission is to lift the spirits and meet the evolving needs of the Military and First Responder communities, and provide volunteer opportunities for civilians anywhere in America to express their appreciation to all who serve our nation.
Each package contains donated product valued from $45-100, and costs the organization $15 to assemble and ship.
Since its inception in 2003, Operation Gratitude volunteers have shipped more than 1,600,000 care packages.