The contents of Operation Gratitude Care Packages are intentional and thought out in order to not only be comforting, but practical for the military, first responder, and healthcare heroes who receive them. One former San Jose police officer says that was especially true for him--even months after the fact.

The Every Day is a Day On series spotlights volunteers at Operation Gratitude who go above and beyond to support servicemen and women, their families, and first responders.

Our second spotlight features Jeanne Bauer, a former middle school teacher who has been involved in community outreach in the San Carlos United Methodist Church in San Diego for more than ten years. The main focus of her congregation’s involvement with Operation Gratitude involves knitting hats and scarves and writing Christmas cards, which are all sent during the holiday season in care packages to those currently serving in the military.

In January 1991, I sat in the desert of Saudi Arabia deployed with 2nd Battalion 10th Marines from Camp LeJeune NC for the Gulf War. As a young Second Lieutenant, I was a little scared—but most of all I missed my family as I spent my first holiday season away from them. I know our COO, Paul Cucinotta, who spent four Christmas holidays away from his wife and four children over his 27 year career feels the same way—as do the other veterans and military spouses on our team who spent hundreds of birthdays, special occasions and holidays separated from their loved ones.

Operation Gratitude has delivered upwards of 5 million individual items to include snack, hygiene, and comfort products, tens of thousands of Handmade With Love items and personal letters of gratitude - positively impacting more than 300,000 Frontline Responders, but our reach extends far beyond that to their families, patients, and communities.

This is a guest post by Air Force Spouse and Operation Gratitude volunteer Sara Field. April is the month of...

"What you are doing at Operation Gratitude is strengthening the fabric of our nation. You are helping unite Americans and to inspire them to press on together. That’s noble and will bear fruit in future generations."

I sat down to write this blog and share some reflections following two hectic and emotional weeks as the CEO...

Over the years, I’ve learned that no matter how hard we try, we can never manage to “out thank” the...

In September, Operation Gratitude volunteers helped bridge the divide between grateful Americans and thousands of Heroes serving in uniform both...

In July, Operation Gratitude shipped 5,254 Care Packages to U.S. Troops serving around the globe, from Romania and Korea to...