Al Meadows, the Public Relations Officer for Derby/Shelton AMVETS Post 43, was presented the National Outstanding Veteran Volunteer Award for 2011 from the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution at their National Defense Night at the 120th Continental Congress in Constitution Hall in Washington D. C. on July 1.
The notification letter stated “The selection committee was truly impressed by your dedication to our veterans, and your work with Operation Gift Cards is inspiring…”
Since October 2005, the Operation Gift Cards’ 73 monthly/bimonthly visits have presented 11,600 thank you kits which contained $232,000 in post exchange (military department store) gift certificates to our wounded troops in military hospitals in Washington D. C. and Bethesda, Maryland. An additional $153,690 in other gift certificates and special group product donations (Girl Scout cookies, corporate gift certificates etc.) have been delivered to the Soldier Family Assistance Center, the Fisher Houses, the Mologne House, the Navy Lodge, the Red Cross, and the Bethesda Casualty Affairs Office at the Walter Reed and Bethesda military bases, along with over $50,000 worth items on the “wish list” for both the wounded troops and their families.
Al, a combat wounded Vietnam veteran, created Operation Gift Cards with a program goal of having a different group of cosponsors collectively purchase, each month, between $3,000 and $5,000 in post exchange gift certificates in order to present all visited wounded patients in Walter Reed and Bethesda military hospitals with at least three “Thank You” kits containing at least $60 in gift certificates.
Thirteen Shelton veterans and spouses (Chris Ackley, Mary Ellen Cortillini, Tom Evans, Dennis Guerricci, Ken Hagen, Hank Kormornik, Al and Nancy Meadows, Richard Norko, April Paschos, Dennis Salzer, Mark and Bernice Scott) have traveled (many multiple times) to Washington D. C. and Bethesda, Maryland military hospitals to personally present thank you kits to our wounded troops for Operation Gift Cards. They also deliver, on each visit, donated items to between 15 and 18 locations at the military bases.
The Derby/Shelton AMVETS Post 43, the Shelton American Legion Post 16, the Derby/Shelton Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 1, and the Huntington Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10466 are the local veterans groups who have cosponsored visits to the wounded troops. A total of 173 representatives from 60 cosponsors have participated.
WISH LIST OF NEEDED NEW AND UNUSED ITEMS FOR WOUNDED TROOPS AND THEIR FAMILIES
Toiletries:
- Chapstick
- Q‑tips
- Nail clippers
- Band Aids
- Kleenex
- Full-sized body wash
- Shampoos
- conditioners
- lotions in many brands
- Feminine hygiene products
Clothing: - Bleach markers or Shout sticks
- Tennis shoes
- Socks
- Plain T‑shirts
- Boxers and briefs
- Pajama pants
- Shirts
- Breakaway pants
- Slippers and flip-flops
- Rain jackets
- Fall-type jackets
- Sports Bras
- Stocking caps
- Hooded sweatshirts (M, L, XL)
- Shower Shoes
- Sweatpants (women’s medium and large)
Canteen/Welcome Items: - Individually packaged chips
- cookies
- crackers
- Candy
- Individually bottled water and soda
- Gift cards
Electronics: - Gaming systems such as Nintendo or portable play stations and games
- Portable DVD players
- DVDs
- Digital alarm clocks
- ipod Touches
- Electric razors
- Prepaid cell phones and recharge cards
Food & Entertainment: - International phone cards from major brands
- National Chain Restaurant gift certificates ($40+)
- Movie passes
- itunes gift cards.
Other:
Sheet sets in a variety of sizes - Plain black backpacks
- Crossword puzzle and Sudoku books
- Baby food, diapers, wipes
- Magazine subscriptions (generic and general subjects, i.e. People, Reader’s Digest, Games, Highlights)
- Luggage
- Money for purchase of PO Gift Cards.
For more information about Operation Gift Cards, contact Al Meadows (203) 929‑3357 or visit the Operation Gift Cards website by clicking this link.
