Two little girls are on a big mission.
Ava Spano and Graci Tubbs, both fifth graders at Seminole Elementary School, started Operation: Military Matters. They collect handwritten cards, toiletries and games to send to military members serving overseas.
- Two girls start service project called 'Operation: Military Matters'
- They send care packages to military members serving overseas
- They're working to register 'Operation: Military Matters' as a nonprofit
It all started last year, when the girls were asked to create a service project for their gifted program at school. They said they were inspired after attending a Veteran’s Day assembly at school and both girls have family members who served in the military.
"Ava and I were trying to figure out what we could do to help the military because we felt that our military needs more than just thank you,” Tubbs said.
The girls have sent more than 60 boxes overseas so far.
"They really appreciate what we send them,” Tubbs said. “All these little things build up to this one big care package or thank you notes and they get them and they send pictures back and all these nice things back. They just really appreciate it."
When the school project was finished, the girls weren’t. They were recognized by Seminole Mayor Leslie Waters and Congressman David Jolly. They’re now working to make Operation: Military Matters a registered nonprofit.
"We said we would do it as long as possible, but we didn’t think it would get this big. It just kept getting bigger and bigger,” Spano said.
"I just thought it was going to be two little girls just sending care packages and appreciating the military. I never thought everyone would be helping us,” Tubbs said.
There are donation drop off boxes as Seminole Elementary School, Seminole City Hall, Hendricks Enterprises and Answered Prayers Project.
Operation: Military Matters is always in need of donations, money to help ship the boxes and cards. You can also submit the names of friends and family serving overseas to become recipients.