The Social Ministry Committee is collecting Beanie Babies through Sunday, April 22 to send to Operation Gratitude (also accepted are Webkinz and trolls). They don’t have to be new, however should be in good condition. Personal letters are also greatly appreciated by service members. Monetary donations are welcomed, to help defray the cost of shipping the items to California [the Committee is prepared to use some of its budgeted funds to cover the shipping].
Operation Gratitude annually sends 100,000 care packages filled with snacks, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation addressed to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed in hostile regions, to their children left behind and to Wounded Warriors recuperating in Transition Units. The Beanie Babies will be given to local children by the soldiers.