Treats For Troops Drive 2011, benefiting Operation Gratitude

We're doing it again this year! Mikk's Kid Krusaders "Treats For Troops" Drive, benefitting Operation Gratitude! On September 10, we attended the USC game honoring our military. Michael got to meet three Air Force pilots. We thanked them for their service & chatted with them about the drive Michael did last year. THEY thanked US! That gave us a new perspective & passion for the drive. I asked Michael today if he was interested, & he said "yes yes yes!" Here's the basics: WHO: Mikk's Kid Krusaders, created by Heather (mom) and Michael (9 years old) WHAT: "Treats For Troops" Collection Drive, benefiting Operation Gratitude WHEN: Now until December 1 WHERE: Long Beach, and online Our drive will consist of (2) parts: 1. Collection Drive 2. Fundraiser HOW CAN YOU HELP? 1. Donate items! 2. Purchase any of our fundraiser items. 3. SPREAD THE WORD! 4. Own a business? Let us set up a collection box! Here are some details. Need more? Just email us at mikkskidkrusaders@gmail.com OR leave a comment here! PART 1: COLLECTION DRIVE We plan on holding a big collection drive. Hopefully we'll be working with a bunch of local businesses to set up collection boxes throughout Lakewood and Long Beach. You can also send us your donations via postal mail. Can you fit this 12" tall bucket in your business? As we get locations, we'll let you know! COLLECTION DRIVE DATES: Coming soon! Wish List: * Knit Hats, Scarves, Gloves, Neck Gators * Beanie Babies, Webkinz, Trolls or other Small Plush Toys * Halloween Candy * White Socks * Energy Bars, Beef Jerky * Commercially sealed Lip Balm, toothpaste, toothbrushes, roll-on deodorant * Computer Flash Drives, DVDs and CDs, Video Games * Headsets (earpiece and microphone) and WebCams * Prepaid Phone Cards * Travel Size Board Games, Novelty Items, Yo-Yos, etc. * Bandana Coolers/Cool-Ties, Battery Operated Fans * Screenprinted T-shirts, Baseball Style Caps HANDMADE ITEMS: * Knit or Crochet Scarves (5-7" Wide, 45-50" long) * Hand-made Greeting Cards: We welcome hand-made cards with your personal message on them or cards that are blank that the troops can use to write to their loved ones (or to you!) * Written letters of appreciation PART 2: FUNDRAISER! We'll be selling a variety of items again this year! BIG thank you's to those who helped last year: Averyboo Arts for the First Fridays LB Event; 2nd Street Optical, Long Beach Depot For Creative Reuse, and Subject clothing store. ABOUT: Operation Gratitude is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, volunteer-based organization that sends care packages to individually named troops deployed overseas. We hold two campaigns each year: A Patriotic Drive in the spring, and a Holiday Drive in the fall-winter. We expect to send at least 100,000 care packages per year between the two campaigns. We accept donations of items for the Patriotic Packages from March 1 through May 5, and for the Holiday Drive from September 8 through December 5. We accept letters year-round.