19th Annual Veterans Day 5K Race
Hampton Community Park
Sunday, November 10th, 2024 at 8 am
Run, walk or stroll your way through this challenging 5K course! Prizes are awarded in all age groups while supporting our brave troops in the process!
Support Our Troops and Veterans by Shopping at Operation Troop Appreciation’s Overstock Extravaganza Sale
Get a sneak peek at the newly renovated Operation Troop Appreciation Headquarters and Event Center
WHEN: October 19th & 20th – 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
WHERE: OTA Operation Headquarters and Event Center
2017 Pennsylvania Avenue
West Mifflin, PA 15122
Visit the newly renovated Operations & Events Center and take advantage of brand-new merchandise that can’t be used for our charity programs.
Here’s your chance to score some great stuff! We have inventory we can’t use for our programs and are making it available to the public:
Make Us An Offer – Like to bargain? Make us an offer we can’t refuse and score some cool swag in our flea market section!
Gift Basket Row – You can walk away with themed baskets chock full of great gifts in our raffle!
There’s Something For Everyone!
Clothing*Tools*Electronics*Household*Automotive*
Sporting goods* and new items including Furniture!
US Steel Supports OTA Building Renovations!
We extend our deep gratitude to US Steel who presented OTA with a $50,000 donation to support building renovations on our Events & Operation Center. US Steel’s Don German and John Kline toured the facility, and received a first-hand look at the work OTA performs on behalf of our deployed troops and veterans.
In the picture: Don German, Irvin Works Plant Manager, Sherry Einhaus, OTA COO, Monica Orluk, OTA CEO and John Kline, Supervisor
PZetta Media Podcast with Monica Orluk
PiZetta Media: Content with a Cause focuses on telling authentic stories about people on the frontlines, non-profits, and mental health journeys on streaming, podcasts, and YouTube channel has over 41K subscribers and hundreds of thousands of views. Michael VanZetta, CEO, recently interviewed Monica Orluk, CEO, of Operation Troop Appreciation.
Spectacular Costume Jewelry Sale To Benefit Our Troops!
FRIDAY, November 8, 2024 (9 AM – 6PM) AND SATURDAY, November 9, 2024 (9AM – 6PM)
Nothing is priced more than $5!
Operation Troop Appreciation (OTA) is inviting the public to find great deals on gently used jewelry. Prices start at $1.00, and there is nothing more than $5.00! Since 2004, Operation Troop Appreciation has served over 200,000 returning home veterans and currently deployed soldiers. They are listed as one of the top 12 rated charities on greatnonprofits.org (with 90% of their funding going directly to the needs of soldiers and veterans). They are a completely volunteer organization.
According to OTA Volunteer Representative, Kathie Gasior, who has hosted this event for the last 11 years states, “This sale is so important for our troops well-being. What we make at this sale goes directly to our veterans, those returning and those currently serving. I am honored to be able to organize this sale for nine years that is dedicated to our veterans.”
The sale is being held at the South Park Community Center at the South Park Municipal Complex, 2675 Brownsville Road, South Park, PA 15129 (behind South Park Library).
They will also accept used jewelry for the upcoming sale. Email or contact Kathy Gasior with any
questions or donations: kgasior2@gmail.com 412-833-7561
Help Support Operation Renovation!
Help Support Operation Renovation!In September of 2022, we purchased a building at 2017 Pennsylvania Avenue, West Mifflin PA 15122. So far we have renovated the work rooms for our Active-Duty “Wishlist” program, Veteran “Welcome Home” program, installed a brand new roof, HVAC and electrical systems. This work was completed through the generosity of GBU Life, Home Depot, The Jefferson Regional Foundation and the hard work and sweat effort of our volunteer team and members of American Legion Post 712.
As you can see, the building needs a lot of work! We’re leaving this part of the renovation to the pros and we need your help to complete renovation of the main event space, kitchen, pantry, bathrooms and a special private space for veterans we call the “Veterans Lounge”. Once complete, veterans will have FREE ACCESS to events, benefits, resources and will be able to use our veterans lounge to meet with case workers or just chill away from the crowd at larger events. All food, beverages, events and activities will be provided at NO CHARGE to the veteran.
You can help our local veterans by donating to this special campaign. We want to provide our veterans with a place they can socialize, relax, get information or just enjoy a cup of coffee and a light meal.
July 1st marks our 20th anniversary and our goal is to hold our Grand Opening/20th Anniversary Event by the end of July. We are excited to bring resources and a gathering place to the veterans living in and around the Mon Valley of Western PA. By contributing to our Building Renovation campaign, you will make a significant positive impact on their lives. What better way is there to say THANK YOU for your service and sacrifice!
Thanks from Kuwait HQ responsible for processing all troops deploying throughout the Middle East.
Dear OTA:
Thank you very much for the items and the Christmas cards that were sent over.
We distributed these to HQ and among those who transit our base as an administrative step in tracking their missions in Iraq and Syria.
The tide pods and smell good items were extremely favored.
The women said thank you for thinking of them, and everyone mentioned how good of quality the razors were.
We cook the food among different sections of HQ to make it seem more like home.
While the items were delivered directly to our HQ, we could not take immediate pictures due security regulations of our sections.
So we brought them out the next day for PT to take pictures then .
One of our guys actually got injured that day during PT, so while he was laying on the ground we just put a bag beside him so he could semi-participate in the photos.
He was in extreme pain but laughed when we did it. So way to go in making the pains of war disappear.
Operation Troop Appreciation has been awarded a 2024 GBU Foundation Community Grant Award of $10,000.00 as the first-place winner in GBU Life’s Hometown Hero Support Community Pillar.
GBU members and donors helped launch the GBU Foundation’s inaugural Community Grant Awards program as part of the foundation’s 60th Anniversary celebration. Charitable organizations were voted on in each of GBU’s four Community Pillars–Wellness, Education, Charitable Giving and Hometown Hero Support.
Operation Troop Appreciation was awarded first place in the category of Hometown Hero Support receiving a donation of $10,000 that will be used to support OTA’s two programs, the Active Duty Wish List and the Veteran’s Welcome Home Program. Monica Orluk, CEO of OTA stated, “We are so grateful to GBU for this donation and to all of those who voted for OTA. This donation will go a long way to continue our mission in the last two decades to support both our troops and veterans. Thank you!”
Happy Holidays!
My team and I can’t thank you enough for sending out those Christmas stockings to us that were full of awesome goodies. It really lifted our spirits during the hard days we’ve had lately being separated from our families during this holiday season. We sincerely appreciate all that your organization does for those overseas. I have attached some photos of my guys holding the stockings you sent over. Happy Holidays!
Thank you so much, and let me know if you need anything else from me.
Happy New Year!
Monica
