Operation American Soldier

Operation American Soldier is a Watertown nonprofit that sends personalized care packages, which it calls cheer boxes, to U.S. troops deployed overseas. Each box is curated to bring small comforts of home to service members, with snacks, toiletries and handwritten notes of thanks. The organization was founded on the belief that no soldier should ever feel forgotten, and it works with volunteers, families and community partners to lift morale during deployment.

Packing is a hands-on community effort. The group hosts public packing sessions and private ones that companies book as team-building events, held locally at the Shutt Detachment of the Marine Corps League. Beyond boxes, the organization connects troops with supporters through letters, special requests and ongoing communication, and it works to raise awareness of the sacrifices troops make. One letter from Camp Dahlke in Afghanistan called the packages the best put together they had seen.

What to Know

• Operation American Soldier has been sending care packages since 2003 and has shipped thousands.
• Its website shares letters from soldiers who received boxes.
• It also points visitors to resources for veterans and military families.
• The organization has been featured on television.