See’s Candies Invites Consumers to Visit Local Shops to Write Personalized Thank-You Notes for U.S. Service Members

I love See’s Candies! Here is some information on how they support the troops 🙂

See’s Candies Invites Consumers to Visit Local Shops to Write Personalized Thank-You Notes for U.S. Service Members

See’s Candies Expands Partnership with Operation Gratitude to Show Appreciation for Men and Women in Uniform

LOS ANGELES – June 26, 2014 – See’s Candies, one of the most trusted and timeless candy makers in the country, is expanding its partnership with Operation Gratitude to support members of the U.S. military.  Starting Saturday (June 28) through July 6, See’s will provide materials in its shops for customers to write personal notes of gratitude to our troops. Shop associates will collect these notes which will be delivered to Operation Gratitude, to include in their care packages and send to service members who are stationed all over the world.

See’s has worked with Operation Gratitude since 2006, providing candy for care packages. The organization assembles packages year-round and delivers them to veterans, first responders, recruits, wounded warriors, care givers, and U.S. service members deployed overseas. Their mission is to lift spirits and meet the evolving needs of the active-duty and veteran communities, and provide volunteer opportunities for all Americans to express their appreciation to members of our Military. See’s fans and customers can now join the candy maker in showing their own appreciation by visiting a shop and writing a personalized message for the troops.

“As we approach Independence Day, we at See’s think it’s important to make sure our military know how grateful we are for their service,” said Brad Kinstler, president & CEO of See’s Candies. “We’ve been working with Operation Gratitude for years to share our American-made chocolate with U.S. service members.  We’re pleased that we can now invite our customers to join us in supporting our troops by sharing their thanks in personalized, handwritten letters.”

See’s fans and customers who are unable to visit a shop before July 6 can show their support by visiting www.sees.com/operationgratitude and completing an online form with their personal messages for U.S. service members. See’s will print the notes and deliver them to Operation Gratitude for inclusion in their care packages.

The troops often express surprise and appreciation when they receive these special care packages and personalized notes.  In response to receiving a package, one lieutenant colonel wrote, “I received an unexpected care package from you today and it is a little embarrassing how touched I was by your generosity. I have been sitting here trying to understand why this care package was so different from the others. I think it’s because you don’t know me. We expect to get things from friends and family, but you sent me something out of a deep respect for your country and its defenders. That’s powerful. I wanted you to know that your thoughtfulness made today better for all of us.”

About Operation Gratitude:

Operation Gratitude annually sends 150,000+ care packages filled with snacks, entertainment, hygiene and hand-made items, plus personal letters of support, to Veterans, First Responders, Recruits, 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. Each package contains donated product valued at $75-100 and costs the organization $15 to assemble and ship. Since its inception in 2003, Operation Gratitude volunteers have shipped more than One Million Care Packages.

About See’s Candies:

Delivering deliciousness since 1921, we happily continue to make candy Mary See’s way, using only the finest ingredients — with no added preservatives. Our chocolates and treats are American-made in our own candy kitchens, from our decadent truffles and chocolate-covered nuts to gourmet lollypops and our crunchy Peanut Brittle, its quality you can taste in every piece.

Step inside one of our shops, and you’ll see a crisp, clean black-and-white checkered motif inspired by Mary’s original kitchen.  Each day, visitors are welcomed with the friendliest service and can choose a delicious piece of candy to try.

Headquartered in sunny California, we have over 200 retail shops across the country and an online shop that serves See’s fans around the world. We continue to uphold our commitment to delivering the highest level of taste, quality, tradition and service.

Mary would be proud.