Help 3 Clay fans support our Military troops!!!!

Hi Everyone! I'm helping to spread the news about Operation Gratitude, a great organization that will be sending gift packages to our military troops for this holiday season. Their web site states their mission, a wish list for donation of items, and opportunities for involvement, among other things.

Their mission statement:

Our Mission

Hundreds of thousands of American troops are stationed or deployed indefinitely in remote parts of the world, including the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, Africa, the Korean Peninsula and on ships throughout international waters. The physical conditions they must endure are difficult and they may be separated from loved ones for long periods of time. OPERATION GRATITUDESM, together with the
California Army National Guard, 746th QM BN, Van Nuys, seek to lift troops' morale, and bring a smile to their faces by sending Care Packages to service members overseas. OPERATION GRATITUDESM Care Packages contain food, toiletries, necessities, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation, all wrapped with good wishes of love and support.

Through Collection Drives, Letter Writing Campaigns and Donations of requested items or the cost of postage, OPERATION GRATITUDESM provides civilians anywhere in America a way to express their respect and appreciation to the men and women of the U.S. military in an active, hands-on manner.

OPERATION GRATITUDESM is a non-government 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, funded entirely by private donations and staffed exclusively by volunteers. For safety and security, the assembling of packages occurs at the 746th QM BN Armory in Van Nuys, California

The Wish List

Provide items from the Wish List (Unless otherwise noted, please provide new items only)

New DVDs, CDs and players
Disposable Cameras
AT&T Prepaid Phone Cards
Handheld electronic games
Puzzle, Word Game and Crossword books
Battery Operated Fans, Misty Mates or other cooling products
Commercially wrapped individual packets of Trail Mix, Beef Jerky, Nuts,
Cookies, Energy Bars, Sunflower Seeds, Candy
Ready To Eat Tuna or Chicken Salad kits
Boxes of Girl Scout Cookies
Packets of Powdered Cold Beverages
Commercially sealed Lip Balm
Individual packets of moist towelettes
Packets of Stationary
Novelty Items
New Knit Hats and Gloves
New T-shirts (sizes Large and Extra Large)
Travel Size containers of Foot Powder
Tobacco Products
Unsealed personal cards and letters



Two things I'd like to mention:

1) The lady who has been sending me the newsletters, and from whom I received permission to post info. about their group is a BIG fan of Clay Aiken. Quote: 'My daughter and I are in love with Clay Aiken!!!!!!!!!'

2) This organization is based in the San Fernando Valley in California. This is the same general area where Clay was renting his house for the past year. How about showing support to Clay's former and possibly still current neighbors !!!!

The following 2 messages will include 2 newsletters. The first has a description of a fund-raising program involving used ink-jet cartridges. The second message is the latest newsletter.

Thanks everyone!