To celebrate May's Military Appreciation Month, BJ's Wholesale Club is challenging the communities in which it has clubs to write 50,000 letters that will be included in care packages distributed to our troops overseas in partnership with the nonprofit Operation Gratitude®. In turn, BJ's Charitable Foundation will donate $1 to Operation Gratitude for each letter received, up to $50,000, which will help defray the cost of shipping care packages.

"BJ's Wholesale Club is proud to partner with Operation Gratitude to gather personal letters from our club members and team members expressing admiration and thanks to the brave men and women who serve our country," said Laura Sen, President and CEO of BJ's Wholesale Club. "We believe our local communities will enthusiastically share our interest in relaying our deepest support to the U.S. Service Members."

Letters can be dropped in the Operation Gratitude mailbox at any BJ's Club or submitted online via BJ's Facebook page at www.bjs.com/facebook. If letters are unable to be returned to a BJ's Club or submitted online by May 31, those interested can mail them directly to Operation Gratitude, 16444 Refugio Rd., Encino, CA 91436.

Operation Gratitude is a nonprofit, volunteer-based organization that annually sends more than 100,000 care packages filled with snacks, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation addressed to individual U.S. Service Members deployed in hostile regions.

"Troops tell us that letters are the most cherished items they receive and often place them next to their hearts or in their helmets to read again and again," said Carolyn Blashek, Founder and President of Operation Gratitude. "We are excited to partner with BJ's Wholesale Club and look forward to sending the collected letters that will lift morale and put smiles on the faces of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines deployed overseas."

For more information about the campaign and to receive helpful writing tips, visit www.bjs.com/about/news/content/item1,140.shtml. To request a care package for deployed service members, visit www.opgratitude.com/packages.php.

About Operation Gratitude
Operation Gratitude (www.OperationGratitude.com) is the 501 (c) (3) non-profit, volunteer-based organization that annually sends 100,000+ care packages filled with snacks, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation addressed to individual U.S. Service Members deployed in hostile regions. Our mission is to lift morale, bring a smile to a service member's face and express to our Armed Forces the appreciation and support of the American people. Each package contains donated product valued at ~$125 and costs the organization $15 to assemble and ship. Since its inception in 2003, Operation Gratitude has shipped more than 520,000 packages to American Military deployed overseas.

About BJ's Wholesale Club
BJ's is dedicated to providing members with high-quality, brand-name food and merchandise at prices that are significantly lower than supermarkets, supercenters, department stores, drug stores and specialty retail stores. BJ's carries the most product variety of any wholesale club with more than 7,000 items, including supermarket-sized staples, USDA Choice meats and stock-up items. BJ's is the only wholesale club to accept all manufacturers' coupons and for greater convenience, offers the most payment options including EBT.

Headquartered in Natick, Massachusetts, BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. is a leading operator of warehouse clubs in the eastern United States. The Company currently operates 188 clubs and 105 gas stations in 15 eastern states. Learn more and shop online at BJs.com or for exclusive content visit www.bjs.com/facebook.

About BJ's Charitable Foundation
BJ's Charitable Foundation was established with the mission to enrich every community BJ's Wholesale Clubs serve. The Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that primarily benefit the underprivileged in the area of basic needs (hunger prevention, self sufficiency, education and health). For more information about BJ's Charitable Foundation please visit, www.bjs.com/charity.

BJ's Wholesale Club

BJ's Wholesale Club

About BJ's Wholesale Club

Headquartered in Westborough, Massachusetts, BJ's is a leading operator of membership warehouse clubs in the Eastern United States. The company currently operates 207 clubs in 15 states.

BJ’s provides a one-stop shopping destination filled with more top-quality, leading brands including its exclusive Wellsley Farms and Berkley Jensen brands, which are all backed by BJ’s 100% money-back guarantee; more fresh foods from USDA Choice meats to premium produce to delicious organics in many supermarket sizes; and more great value and amazing savings every day. BJ’s is also the only membership club to accept all manufacturers' coupons and for greater convenience offers the most payment options.

Giving back has always been at the very core of BJ’s culture, too. Through local clubs, volunteerism, BJ’s Feeding Communities and BJ’s Charitable Foundation, the company supports and enhances programs that provide vital services within each community it serves. Additionally, BJ’s is focused on preserving the Earth for future generations through a wide array of responsible sourcing and sustainability efforts. For more information, visit www.bjs.com/community.

To check out all the MORE BJ’s has to offer, visit www.bjs.com and for exclusive content find us on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

About BJ’s Charitable Foundation

BJ’s Charitable Foundation was established with the mission to enrich every community BJ’s Wholesale Clubs serve. The Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that primarily benefit the underprivileged in the areas of hunger prevention and education. To learn more, visit www.bjs.com/charity.

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