Operation Troop Appreciation: Boosting the Morale of US Troops Overseas

Operation Troop Appreciation is a top-rated non-profit dedicated to supporting the deployed members of the US Armed Forces. The mission of Operation Troop Appreciation is to build and sustain the morale of deployed troops, assuring them that the American public appreciates their service and sacrifices. The organization provides men and women of the Armed Forces with wish list items that boost their morale, presenting a united front of support and appreciation for their efforts.

Operation Troop Appreciation started as a personal project by Kristen Holloway. In March of 2004, she set out to provide Under Armour T-shirts to a local Pennsylvania National Guard Platoon of about 40 soldiers deployed in Iraq. The project received an overwhelmingly positive response not only from the soldiers but also from friends, family, and other people who helped. Within a few months, Holloway's personal project evolved into a national organization, and Operation Troop Appreciation was established as a non-profit corporation in the state of Pennsylvania on July 1st, 2004.

Since then, Operation Troop Appreciation and its individual donors, business partners, and corporate sponsors have sent wish list items to hundreds of thousands of US soldiers deployed overseas. Most recently, Operation Troop Appreciation provided wish list items to 20 separate units serving in Afghanistan, Kuwait, Egypt, and the Philippines. Items supplied include tactical gear, snacks, DVDs, hygiene items, cold weather clothing, gym equipment, gaming systems, nutritional supplements, Keurig coffee, and more.

Aside from accepting monetary and in-kind donations, Operation Troop Appreciation allows individuals, companies, schools, churches, and other civic groups to adopt a deployed unit through its Sponsor a Unit program. Sponsoring groups are sent details about their unit, after which they raise the necessary funds and send them to Operation Troop Appreciation along with their personal greetings for the troops. Operation Troop Appreciation will then secure the wish list items on behalf of the sponsoring group.