Jul 14, 2009: SAN JOSE, CA — Operation: Care and Comfort, (OCC) an all volunteer military assistance program, reached a major milestone Monday by mailing over 7,000 pounds in their latest monthly shipment of care packages to deployed troops. In total, the San Jose, CA based group has shipped over 250 tons of care packages since 2003.

Co-founders and volunteers, Julie DeMaria, Randy Bye and Cookie Crissman, never dreamed that their mission would take on a life of its own. “Our supporters continue to be the backbone of our organization” said DeMaria. “A small percentage of the money we raise is from corporations. Instead, we rely on fund raisers where the average donation is about $20. At $1 a pound to pay mailing costs, that takes a great effort and a lot of fund raisers!” continued DeMaria. OCC has no paid staff, and all money raised is used to cover mailing costs and nominal program expenses.

July 1st – 5th, Operation: Care and Comfort teamed up with 211 Old Navy stores in 14 states, on “Operation Old Navy.” Customers were invited to bring in an item for our troops, which entitled them a discount on their purchase that day. Some customers chose to purchase items such as socks, under wear, and flip flops in the store to donate. In all, 50,000 items were collected for Operation: Care and Comfort through this joint effort. OCC has received 22 pallets of items, and boxes are still being received daily.

Operation: Care and Comfort has received national recognition for the work they do for our military. In addition to mailing monthly care packages to over 100 military units, OCC also spearheads two San Francisco Bay area efforts to support service members, veterans and their families – “Adopt a Military Family” and “Tickets for the Troops.” These innovative programs have allowed OCC to support over 500 local military families with anonymous gifts of support, and thousands others with donated sports and entertainment tickets from every professional sports team in the Bay Area. “We have distributed over 30,000 tickets, free of charge, to military families and veterans. What a great way to say that the Bay Area, including our sports teams, supports our troops!” stated DeMaria.

About Operation: Care and Comfort: Since April 2003, the all-volunteer Operation: Care and Comfort program, unique to the Silicon Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross, has shipped over 250 tons of care packages for distribution to Marine, Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard personnel deployed in conflict regions. Adopted military units receive care packages monthly, until they return home. Operation: Care and Comfort is a member of the Department of Defense “America Supports You” program, and has received national awards and recognition for its work on behalf of the military. For more information on how you can support this worthy program, please visit www.operationcareandcomfort.org.