Announcing Comics For Soldiers*

As of today, Thanksgiving Day, Monitor Duty is launching a major fundraiser for Operation Gratitude. 

For several years, Operation Gratitude has been sending out care packages to our people stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan and other remote parts of the world where contact with home is infrequent.  A package of goodies and notes from stateside can brighten their day.

For the last two years, I've been supporting Operation Gratitude privately with contributions of comic books for inclusion in care packages.  I recently contacted Carolyn Blashek, who tirelessly runs Operation Gratitude, to ask her if she wanted another box of comics this year.  She told me that they actually prefer having comic books to send because they're small and don't take up a lot of room like regular books do.  They're a great item to stick into an almost-full care package.

In World War II, many soldiers shared copies of Action Comics and Detective in-between the fighting.  That tradition continues today; comics can be passed from bunk-to-bunk, with a comic providing entertainment for an entire barracks. 

Comics also have the advantage that they can be passed along to children who can enjoy them even if they don't understand the words.  Care packages often include items for kids, especially beanie babies, because the soldiers give them to kids to win them over and then the kids come back to tell them where bombs are planted or explosives are stored.  So you never know: Sending a comic book, game or toy could actually save a life!

I'm stepping up my donation, folks.  In addition to a box of comics this year, I'm going to make it my mission to use my carpal tunnel-riddled hands to sign EVERY SINGLE COMIC IN THE BOX with a message of support. I'm doing that this weekend, after Thanksgiving. And one more important thing: I'm sending a check for $100 to their cash donation address.  $100 may seem like a fair bit of cash, but it's actually barely enough to ship 10 care packages.

Here's my challenge to the readers of Monitor Duty during the "Comics For Soldiers" fund-raiser:

• If you're a comic shop owner, look over the racks and grab an assortment of what's available.  Perhaps take that pile of comics you were going to spend the next night bagging up, pricing and filing in the back issue bins, and instead set that aside.  Grab some thin trade paperbacks off your shelves, or some nice thick Showcase/Masterworks compilations since they are are cheap and provide hours of entertainment.  Then look for some small games or even beanie babies if your store has them.  Maybe grab some DVDs from your DVD section.  Don't bother with action figures, though; the packaging is too bulky.  Looking around the average comic shop, one will find many of the items on the Operation Gratitude Want List  Total your pile up (you'll want to know the total so you can claim the full amount on your taxes) and put it in a shipping box.  Send it off to the address below.
• If you're a comic book pro, sign and send some copies of your own work. If you're on a company comp list, take that stack of unread comps from your publisher and send it off.
• If you're a self-publisher, maybe you have a few extra boxes of your work that are unsold?  Perhaps you overprinted your first issue, thinking it would be the next Ninja Turtles?  Well, here's a win-win situation: Send a box or two to Operation Gratitude and then claim it on your taxes.  Of course, be honest: Does it suck?  Is it some bizarrely incomprehensible alternative comic?  Then maybe don't do this option.
• Are you just a fan who would like to give of himself?  Buy some comics, manga, DVDs, or any of the items on the Operation Gratitude Want List and send it off.
• In all of the cases above, please do one more thing: Send a check for at least enough money to pay the shipping on one care package ($10).  Gift items are nice, but Operation Gratitude can always use money for shipping.  Oh, and don't throw that check in with the items; it needs to go to a different address.
  

A few things to bear in mind:  Items need to be new and unread.  Items need to be small enough to fit into a box about the size of a Priority Mail box. Also, don't get "cute" and send antiwar stuff like JLA #83.  (Come on; use your head.) 

Why should you do this?  Gratitude for the service of others that allows us to live free?  Altruism?  A tax write-off?   Promotion of the joy of comic books?  Advertising?  Maybe you were a smelly hippy who shouted "Baby Killer!" at vets back in the 1970s and now you want to buy your way into Heaven?  Well, sure, any and all of the above, but I've got one more reason to sweeten the deal:

Everyone contributing to the Comics for Soldiers fund raiser will get a nice bit of promotion on Monitor Duty.  Simply reply to this post (or any of our future "Comics For Soldiers" posts) and let me know you're contributing to Operation Gratitude.  Feel free to let us know what you're contributing; I know that may seem like bragging, but it can encourage others to match your generosity.  (You may also e-mail me privately at thehutch-ATSYMBOL-thehutch.com)  I will keep a running list of all contributors and I will keep publishing the names as the list grows, and I will provide a final summary when the collection drive ends on December 15th.  I'm willing to link to your web site and name your current project, too.  If you're willing to donate your time, money and comics to provide some Christmas cheer for our servicemen (and women!) abroad, I'm willing to make it worth your while!

Here are all the gory details:

Operation Gratitude (opgratitude.com)

Send your items to:

Operation Gratitude/California Army National Guard

17330 Victory Boulevard

Van Nuys, CA 91406

Charlie Othold:  818.437.6201

For cash donations, you can either donate online or make checks payable to:

Operation Gratitude

16444 Refugio Road
Encino, CA 91436

This Thanksgiving, don't forget to give thanks for all of our military personnel.

*  I know, I know, I'm using "soldiers" as an inclusive term when I should be saying "soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines and National Guard".  That was too long to fit in a catchy title.