Donations To Troops Drop-Off Sites Now Nation-Wide

Aug. 26, 2010 - PRLog -- Flint, TX - August 24, 2010 -  American Veterans Traveling Tribute ("AVTT") and Operation Gratitude announced today that AVTT will be an official drop-off site nationwide for donations to  Operation Gratitude, which annually sends 100,000+ care packages filled with snacks, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation addressed to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed in hostile regions.

Operation Gratitude's (www.OperationGratitude.com) mission is to lift morale, bring a smile to a service member's face and express to our Armed Forces the appreciation and support of the American people.   AVTT (www.avtt.org) is a veteran-owned project that travels the USA to provide a forum for communities to HONOR-RESPECT-REMEMBER all who have sacrificed their lives for our country's freedom. In so doing, AVTT also honors all Veterans and those currently serving, by letting them know they will never be forgotten.

As part of its Drop Off  program, AVTT will provide collection boxes at all of its events to accept donations to the troops from the public.  AVTT will ship the donated items to Operation Gratitude's headquarters in Van Nuys, California, where volunteers assemble the care packages throughout the year.  The Drop Off program, which was designed to enable every American anywhere in the nation to express their appreciation to the Military,  will eliminate the need for a donor to pay the cost of shipping their own contributions.

"The public has been asking for drop-off locations nationwide since we began Operation Gratitude in March, 2003. This great partnership with AVTT will make it very easy for all citizens to show their support to our troops  with donations of personal letters and Wish List  items, all of which are greatly appreciated by our warriors in combat," commented Carolyn Blashek, Founder and CEO of Operation Gratitude.  

"AVTT currently visits over 50 cities across the country every year and by its nature draws people who feel a sense of commitment and duty towards all veterans and active Military serving our country.  It is a perfect fit for AVTT to partner with Operation Gratitude and assist in their mission of supporting
American Heroes serving in far off lands," said Don Allen, CEO of AVTT.

Drop boxes will be displayed prominently at all AVTT events.   Donated items and letters will be consolidated and forwarded to Operation Gratitude for distribution in their care packages.  "Operation Gratitude has sent over 550,000 packages to service members. Our hope is to help push that number to well over a million by easing the donation process for those who wish to give." added Allen.

The schedule and locations of AVTT events can be found on the AVTT website (www.avtt.org).  The Drop Off program will officially kick off during the Lake Havasu Community Patriot Days event (www.lhcpatriotdays.com) in Lake Havasu, AZ on September 16, 2010 at 6:00pm with a ribbon cutting ceremony for the first drop box in the program.  Drop boxes will be available at all AVTT event locations thereafter.

# # #

Non-profit, volunteer organization that annually sends 100,000+ care packages filled with snacks, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation addressed to individual U.S. Service Members deployed in combat. Mission: Lift morale & say thanks