Honoring our hometown heroes.
For the past 17 years, GBU Life, with help from our many community volunteers and member donors, has packed and shipped care packages to send to deployed US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan through the Operation Reach Out program. Over the life of the program, GBU Life has sent more than 37,000 care packages to deployed troops.
This initiative is now shifting to recognize and support an even broader community of heroes, Hometown Heroes. In addition to shipping care packages to deployed troops, GBU Life is expanding the program to support veterans, as well as identifying new initiatives that promote ongoing military support throughout the year.
Hometown Hero Support is one of GBU Life's four community pillars. In 2024 alone, $345,000 was raised through donations, sponsorships, volunteer activities, and awareness campaigns driven by GBU members, districts, producers, and communities.
Quarterly Pack N' Prep
GBU Life hosts Quarterly Pack N’ Prep events where supporters can join us for a morning of purpose and camaraderie as we assemble care packages for our military community. Each event features the creation of three types of kits—hygiene kits, leisure kits, and snack kits—all packed with items that bring comfort and a reminder of home to those who serve.
Stockings for Soldiers
Each holiday season, GBU Life employees come together to pack festive stockings for our Stockings for Soldiers campaign. You can help spread some cheer by sponsoring a stocking filled with snacks, entertainment, and heartfelt holiday touches that remind deployed service members and veterans they’re appreciated and never forgotten. You can sponsor a stocking for $25.
With each sponsorship, you have the opportunity to include a personalized message inside the stocking.
OTA Initiatives
GBU Life has partnered with local organization, Operation Troop Appreciation to help fund two major military support initiatives each year: The Veterans Welcome Home Program and the Active-Duty Wish List program.