As 2011 comes to a close, let us take time to remember our soldiers. Operation Shower is an incredible organization that celebrates military families by hosting unit-wide baby showers for them.
Over 650 women on military bases for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and National Guard have been helped to date through 18 baby showers.
Operation Shower started in 2007 as a simple project, when founder LeAnn Morrissey, was looking for a way to give back to her uncle who was deployed overseas. LeAnn asked her uncle what she could do. He replied that many people send items to the soldiers, but what she could do was send a card to four women who were expecting babies while their spouses were deployed.
His response sparked an idea, so LeAnn got family and friends together to send a “shower in a box” to each mom. After the joyous reception those first boxes got, she knew she was onto something that really made a difference to these women and to their husbands.
So LeAnn teamed up with a friend and held the very first unit-wide shower at Ft. Bragg, NC in June 2007. Earlier this year Operation Shower was asked to participate in the kick-off of the “Joining Forces” initiative by hosting a shower at Camp Le Jeune attended by First Lady Michelle Obama, Dr. Jill Biden and Martha Stewart.
Operation Shower has used Nashville Wraps packaging inside the Showers In-A-Box, as well as decor for showers in Atlanta at the PGA Tour and Ft. Campbell, KY (moms pictured above). See how they worked with our friends at Anders Ruff Designs to put together the most adorable baby shower “Red, White and Coo”.
Chief Event Organizer, Amy Belle Isle stated, “The Nashville Wraps products were key players for our tables’ designs with both gable boxes holding our box lunches and wraps and ribbons used to wrap boxes for our centerpieces. They brought the party to life!”
Like any non-profit, their greatest need right now is funding. They have many generous companies who are starting to come on board and assist with products and individuals who want to help them give back to our soldiers.
If you are interested in helping Operation Shower give back to military families, you may go to their “Wish List” on Amazon.com where you can purchase items and have them sent directly to be included in their Showers In-A-Box.
Their goal for 2012 is to hold at least eight unit-wide showers. Amy Belle commented, “We are also starting to work on a program to better utilize those around the country who want to volunteer. We also hope to acquire some small office and storage space to let LeAnn and her family have their finished basement and garage back!”
If you would like to help this wonderful organization, please contact them directly at www.OperationShower.org. Also, “Like” their Facebook page and share this video about them below with your friends.
Buffie Baril
Internet Advertising Manager
Nashville Wraps
For those interested in helping with Operation Shower or inviting them to come to your local military base, please contact LeAnn Morrissey: [email protected]
I live in Columbia, South and I am currenty in the process of opening up a gift shop “Everyday Things”. I would like to have an Operation Shower at Fort Jackson.
I have to say – this was such an amazing event and so much fun to help style. Of course, we couldn’t have done it without all of the wonderful products to work with….. Raffia, Gable Boxes, Ribbon…. amazing!
I’ve been pulled to Nashville wraps for a few projects that i’ve created and today while searching for my next upcoming project I realized they did this lovely gesture called “Operation Shower”. I being a Navy Wife can not tell you how much this means to expecting moms. Even though I myself have not lived through it I have seen the expecting moms alone and many times with no family to give them a hand. People like Nashville Wraps among other that I know have done similar things know they are doing nice things but the impact they have is truly significant. The mom’s are being shown that they are not alone and that people care about them. Its truly amazing, and I thank this company… and of course the committee that put the shower together.
Glad to see a post from you guys on Operation Shower. We’ve been lucky enough to be a small part of these events; therefore, so have you since we use your products to package our pops 🙂
I can’t thank Operation Shower and all the companies and volunteers enough for what you did for us! I’m still emotional over it all! I went home from the shower with a full heart, and my husband was blown away by it all, as well. Their support means more than we could ever express!