Military service members deployed in combat zones are special to family members and friends. An unexpected letter of appreciation can boost spirits of those in harm’s way. In honor of Veterans’ Day, a San Leandro, Calif.-based gourmet coffee company (http://www.rogersfamilyco.com ) - in partnership with Operation Gratitude (http://www.operationgratitude.com ) is sponsoring a contest that encourages Americans to write letters to our troops for the holidays and at the same time earn prizes for individuals and much-needed money for their favorite schools.

This holiday season Operation Gratitude plans to send more than 70,000 care packages to troops deployed overseas and hopes to get enough submissions from the contest to include at least one letter in every box. To meet this goal, Operation Gratitude needs students, parents, teachers, and all caring Americans to write letters.

The “Letters To Our Troops” contest will provide Americans a way to show their appreciation for our troops overseas and help raise money for schools at the same time.

To enter the contest, participants can visit http://dearhero.opgratitude.com and click on the “Write a Letter” button. Upon registration and submission of their letters, participants will be entered to win one of three prize packages, which will include gift cards, a grand prize of $2,000 donated to the elementary or high school of the winner’s choice, a $250 gift card and a $100 iTunes gift card.

The winning letter will be included in Operation Gratitude’s milestone 400,000th care package in December.

A second prize will be $1,000 donated to the elementary or high school of the winner’s choice, a $50 gift certificate and a $50 iTunes gift card.

A third prize offers $500 donated to the elementary or high school of winner’s choice, a $25 gift certificate and a $15 iTunes gift card.

According to Carolyn Blashek, founder of Operation Gratitude, “We encourage everyone to participate in this unique and rewarding opportunity to thank those men and women in uniform who will not be home with loved ones this oliday sdeason,“ said Carolyn Blashek, Founder of Operation Gratitude. “The impact of a personal letter is incalculable,“ she continued. “As one service member wrote: ‘The care package was great! However, at the end of the day, I had eaten the snacks and watched the DVD; but there was a letter from a young school girl that really touched my heart. I folded it up and put it in my helmet. That letter goes with me everywhere and I will cherish it always.‘ “

The contest, designed and hosted by Strutta Media Inc. (http://www.strutta.com ), is open to all U.S. residents and runs through Dec.12. All appropriate letters submitted in the contest will be sent to service members via Operation Gratitude care packages.

Maybe you can help.