Operation Gratitude: Clear Your Stash Challenge

Operation Gratitude

Operation Gratitude is a non-profit organization that provides care packages to American military and first responder heroes. Most recently, emergency medical personnel on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic have been added to the list of care package recipients.

Each care package contains approximately $75.00 worth of entertainment, snacks, and hygiene products. They also include handwritten letters and, my personal favorite, handmade items.

In less than 20 years, Operation Gratitude has delivered more than 2.5 million care packages! That’s about 300,000 per year and each of those is individually addressed.

Virtual Volunteerism

Because COVID-19 has prevented us from gathering for volunteer opportunities, Operation Gratitude’s current focus is on Virtual Volunteerism. If you can write letters, make paracord bracelets, or knit or crochet hats and scarves, you can help!

And you can do so from the safety of your own home.

Operation Gratitude also recently established OG in Action, a Facebook group for OG volunteers. There you can connect virtually with other knitters, crocheters, letter-writers, crafters, and donors!

Clear Your Stash

Next month OG Virtual Volunteers are launching the Clear Your Stash Challenge. From September 1st to September 29th, knitters and crocheters are who sign up for the challenge will focus on making hats and scarves for care package recipients.

Each of these scarves and hats will be included in Holiday Care Packages sent to service members who are deployed for the holidays as well as veterans, wounded heroes, and caregivers here at home. Because of this, they should be postmarked no later than October 5, 2020.

Important to Know

You can use any stitch pattern you like!

All hats and scarves should be made with worsted weight yarn (size 4). Projects made with bulky weight yarn will not be accepted. (We know these work up quickly, but they also take up too much room in packages!)

Hats with pompoms will also not be accepted. (Again, these take up too much room!)

Scarves should be 4-6″ wide and 48-50″ long.

Recommended colors are muted military classics: black, blue, brown, green, grey, tan, or red. You can also use red, white, and blue together in a single garment.

Let’s Do This!

Register for the Clear Your Stash Challenge

Share Your Creations

I’ll be posting my process pics on Instagram and pics of the finished projects right here. Be sure to tag @opgratitude and use #virtualvolunteerism when you share yours!

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