About Operation Pinecone
Operation Pinecone is a grassroots, nonprofit organization with 501(c)3 tax exempt status as determined by the I.R.S. You may view our determination letter by clicking on the previous link. We are based in South Riding, Virginia and consist of all volunteers who assemble gift and care packages for service members primarily stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. The organization also brings comfort items and offers various methods of support to the wounded service members, families, and loved ones located at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. and Bethesda National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD as well as their supportive housing facilities such as; the Fisher Houses, the Mologne House Hotel, etc.
Operation
Pinecone was officially launched in November 2005, while founder, Mary Hacker,
and her husband were preparing holiday packages to be shipped to the soldiers
stationed in Iraq.
The name Operation Pinecone originated when Mary decided to include a
little symbol from home for the holidays. Pine cones are found in nearly
every state in America.
Thus, a pine cone continues to be lovingly placed in each package that is
shipped to our beloved heroes!
We have contacts in Iraq and Afghanistan who are U.S. officers or NCOIC who are able to handle distribution of the quantities and sizes of care packages we send. Those who are in central command locations instruct their staff to distribute our packages to different camps/units and to those who don't receive many packages. We have shipped packages to combat support hospitals in both of these countries as well.
In addition we make deliveries of goodies and necessities on a routine basis to local military hospitals and ship packages to other military hospitals in the U.S. caring for the influx of OIF/OEF ill and wounded and other veterans. We continue to add to our list of contacts as we are made aware of them.
To view a video of our president, Mary Hacker, preparing packages at our headquarters as seen on the FOX News, "Power of One" segment in 2007, click below:
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/power-of-one-mary-hacker/2714686354
Mary and has also appeared on the ABC Morning Show, with Leon Harris to talk about Operation Pinecone.
In appreciation for the work we do, Mary and her husband have also been an honorary guest of President George Bush for a brunch at the White House, followed by presidential memorial services at Arlington National Cemetery.