Another Way to Give Back: @OpGratitude

For those who know the history of Kicking Back, it was in part initially conceived to be a place for a place to give back to the community that essentially raised me when I was not home.

Like many of you out there I'm sure, we find ourselves out and about in the name of The Game on a very regular basis. During that time we are always interacting with others in ways that can certainly make us connect and grow. JAFO put it just right in the article "Making Connections" where Soccer Is Life and giving back is paramount.

The day after Halloween I was forwarded a mail from a neighbor who detailed a very clever way to connect and give back from a group called Operation Gratitude. From their website:

Operation Gratitude annually sends 150,000+ care packages filled with snacks, entertainment, hygiene and hand-made items, plus personal letters of appreciation, to New Recruits, Veterans, First Responders, Wounded Warriors, Care Givers and to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed overseas. Our mission is to lift the spirits and meet the evolving needs of our Active Duty and Veteran communities, and provide volunteer opportunities for all Americans to express their appreciation to members of our Military. 

One of their neatest programs however is their Halloween Candy Drive where you can donate candy that is left over and give back to a variety of communities that I am certain could use it.

What would seem like a simple way to give back, will put smiles on a lot of faces ... and keep those evil little candy bars away from me.