ClearanceJobs donated more than $15,000 to Operation Gratitude in 2013, enough to send more than 1,000 care packages to deserving service members, wounded warriors and veterans.
The donations were a part of an on-going charity campaign. For every ClearanceJobs subscription purchase made in 2013, a donation of $15 – enough to send one care package – was made.
“We’re grateful for each of our customers, and we’re also grateful for all those who serve in the military,” said Evan Lesser, founder and Managing Director of ClearanceJobs.com. “Operation Gratitude is a great charity that displays how one act of kindness can make a critical difference.”
Operation Gratitude recently sent their one-millionth care package. They’ve been serving men and women overseas and at home for more than a decade, and as focus on deployed troops wanes, their commitment to remembering all who serve continues.
Each care package contains 50+ items, including candy, personal hygiene products and hand-written notes. For service members who may not get mail from home, the packages can be a vital ‘thanks’ for their service.
“It doesn’t have to be from someone they know, it just has to be from someone who cares,” said Senior Chief Petty Officer David Danielson, who came to know the organization in 2003, when he was deployed to Iraq with the U.S. Navy. “I personally received letters from people that I am still in touch with now.”
Thousands gathered at the Army National Guard armory in Van Nuys, California, to commemorate the milestone care package. Operation Gratitude founder, Carolyn Blashek, and two board members of the organization also made a special visit to the USS Harry S. Truman in Bahrain. They hand delivered the one-millionth package.
In 2013 Operation Gratitude assembled and shipped:
- 59,972 Deployed Troops Care Packages
- 50,597 Veterans Care Packages
- 22,437 Battalion Buddy Packages
- 14,646 Halloween Candy Care Packages
- 2.430 Disaster Relief Supplies Packages
- 1,251 Military Family Care Packages
- 1,003 Wounded Warrior Care Packages
- 691 Care Giver Care Packages
- 486 First Responder Care Packages
153,513 Total Care Packages sent in 2013