Honoring Our Heroes NCL Celebrates National Day of Service

It’s not widely known, but starting in 1994, the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday also became a National Day of Service, when Americans are encouraged to spend time volunteering to help their communities. Organizers advise people to take “a day on, not a day off,” moving our country closer to Dr. King’s vision of a beloved community. It is a mission the mothers and daughters of National Charity League (NCL), Colorado Springs Chapter, take to heart.

This year, more than 40 members of NCL dedicated the January 16 holiday to supporting Operation Gratitude. Volunteers decorated pillows and wrote thank you notes to be included in care packages sent to military members and first responders. They colored flags, hearts, and other symbols on pillows to express patriotism, encouragement, and gratitude, as part of the Sleep Tight initiative.

Discovery Canyon Campus High School senior Ella Bender says, “Living in Colorado, we obviously have a heavily populated military community. I think it’s really important to help support them and give them reassurance that they are truly valued.” Maddie Wagner, a DCC junior, drew a Captain America symbol to celebrate American warriors. She agrees, “I hope they’ll look at it for inspiration and enjoyment, to understand that we do care about them and that we are looking out for them.”

The national nonprofit Operation Gratitude started 20 years ago when founder Carolyn Blashek heard a soldier comment that he was headed back to deployment, and might not come home – but no one would even care. Blashek started sending care packages to service members from her living room in California, and now Operation Gratitude sends up to 200,000 packages each year.

The organization welcomes thank you letters, and other care package contributions, from individuals and corporations alike. Volunteers can collect hygiene items, make paracord lanyards (useful for creating makeshift shelters, rescue harnesses, and other purposes), and create battalion buddies — bears sent to comfort children of deployed troops. It’s a perfect service project for someone wanting to help from home or a company looking for a team-building volunteer opportunity. Find information on how to get involved at www.operationgratitude.com.

Operation Gratitude is one of about 15 philanthropies supported by the Colorado Springs Chapter of NCL. With about 150 members, the group is made up of mothers with daughters in grades 7 to 12, who are committed to community service, leadership development, and cultural experiences. In the past three years, the Colorado Springs Chapter of NCL has donated 6,322 volunteer hours. Visit www.nationalcharityleague.org/chapter/colorado-springs for membership information.

By Meegan McCorkle