FREDERICK, MD (August 1, 2008) – Some local Ft. Detrick military families won’t have to hassle with crowded back-to-school aisles at area stores thanks to a local school supply drive. GTI Federal has collaborated with the D.C. Metro chapter of Operation Homefront to support its Backpack and School Supply program. Operation Homefront is a nationwide nonprofit that provides aid and morale to troops and the families they leave behind. Their School Supply program collects backpacks and various school supplies to donate to military families in need.

Over the past weeks, GTI employees along with fellow employees from Ace Info Solutions, and L1 Enterprises collected various school supplies such as backpacks, pencils, glue sticks, and notebooks at their various locations. Additionally, GTI reached out to local retailers to see if any could contribute to the effort. Joseph Griffin, Store Manager at the Frederick Wal-Mart on Guilford Dr, quickly responded to the request and contributed a $100 Wal-Mart gift card.

The collective effort resulted in 50 backpacks filled with over $1,000 of new school supplies. With the assistance of Vivian Dietrich, Vice President of the D.C. Metro Chapter of Operation Homefront and Dennis McMillen, Ft. Detrick Army Community Services Outreach Programs Manager, we were able to connect with a local Ft. Detrick group called Something More. Something More, lead by Volunteer Coordinator-Caroline Pippen, provides support to military families that have a deployed family member. Caroline Pippen was ecstatic to hear of the local collection. The supplies came just in time for their Back-to-School event being held in mid August.

“GTI is excited to be working with Operation Homefront on this project. It is great to know we are relieving some local parents of a little stress and helping kids get off to a great start for a the new school year,” said Kristen Blanchard, Director of Marketing at GTI Federal.