Operation Stocking Stuffer was founded to support deployed Marines and their families. We respect and admire the members of the other service branches, but due to historically low levels of support given the Marine Corps, we believe that our efforts are best spent in their support, primarily. In a few cases, we support members of the other services, but these are considered on an individual basis. Our preferred response is to transfer the request to other organizations that are better able to provide the requested support. The following statement sent to us by a Marine Corps sergeant captures the essence of why we support the Marine Corps. How we do that is up to each and every American who helps Operation Stocking Stuffer support our deployed Marines and their families. “We are the smallest US Military branch making up only 13% of America’s 1.5M troops. Because of our minuscule numbers we are taught to do more with less. We make do with hand me downs and left over’s that trickle down to us through the other branches. The saying "Adapt and overcome" is commonly over used in the Corps. We believe that is why the Marine Corps is always the "First to fight!" We're the insurance policy for American Freedom. We are instilled with the virtues Honor, Courage, and Commitment. Whether you believe or not in what we do, we will continue to lay are lives on the line for you. I challenge you to not ask why, but how?” -- Sgt Ivanov, USMC |
