First Choice ER - The Woodlands partners with Operation Gratitude

THE WOODLANDS, Texas — First Choice Emergency Room, an Adeptus Health company, is again partnering with Operation Gratitude and will be hosting a collection drive between March 28 and April 9 to support active duty military and veteran communities.

All 64 First Choice Emergency Room facilities across Texas, including The Woodlands facility, will serve as drop sites and will be collecting a variety of necessities, as well as personal letters of support. The items collected will be used to fill care packages and sent to individual Soldiers, Sailors, Airman and Marines deployed overseas; their children; and Veterans, New Recruits, First Responders, Wounded Warriors and their Caregivers.

“We are honored by First Choice Emergency Room’s support of Operation Gratitude’s patriotic cause through this tremendous collection drive effort,” said Carolyn Blashek, founder of Operation Gratitude. “We plan to assemble and ship more than 200,000 care packages to the military and first responder communities this year alone. The generous contributions received at the drop sites will help fill those packages with important items and meaningful letters. First Choice Emergency Room’s dedication and commitment to all who serve is making a real difference to this organization and to our heroes in uniform.”

Operation Gratitude’s mission is to lift the spirits and meet the evolving needs of Active Duty and First Responder communities, and provide volunteer opportunities for all Americans to express their appreciation to all who serve our nation. Operation Gratitude sends 200,000+ care packages annually.

“We are proud to partner with Operation Gratitude for a second year in a row and help support our troops overseas and the veterans who have served our country,” said Thomas S. Hall, Chairman and CEO, Adeptus Health. “In 2015, with the help of the community we collected an overwhelming amount of care package items and with 64 conveniently located facilities across Texas, we hope to do the same in 2016.”

Items needed most include Beanie Babies/Ty/Webkinz plush toys; warmers (instant hand and foot); batteries (AA & AAA, 4 pack); earbuds; earplugs; socks; hats; scarves; gum; mints; iPods; video games; DVDs; playing cards; and sodoku puzzles. Other items accepted include personal care products including chapstick; disposable razor packs; toothbrushes and toothpaste; dental floss; moist towelettes; Q-Tips; facial tissue; sunscreen stick (no liquid); OFF! towelettes and foot powder.

First Choice Emergency Room facilities will be clearly marked as Operation Gratitude drop sites with large military eagle inflatables, banners, wind flags and more. Furthermore, the facilities are open 24/7, making it even more convenient for generous community members to drop off their donations items to say “thank you” to our troops and veterans.