Pizza Inn has selected Operation Gratitude as its official nationwide nonprofit partner, the company announced. Operation Gratitude’s mission is to forge strong bonds between Americans and their military and first-responder heroes through volunteer service projects, acts of gratitude and meaningful engagements in communities nationwide.

To celebrate the partnership, Pizza Inn will host a donation drive during Military Appreciation Month in May to raise funds to ship care packages to deployed troops serving in more than 40 countries and aboard U.S. Naval vessels on all seven seas.

“Pizza Inn couldn’t be more excited to partner with Operation Gratitude,” said Denise Pedini, Executive Vice President of Marketing. “We had the honor of having the CEO of Operation Gratitude, retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Schmiegel, speak at our Marketing Summit last month. The organization was founded in 2003 and has already delivered more than 2.2 million care packages to our heroes serving overseas and here at home. We can’t wait to do our part in helping raise funds for Operation Gratitude’s incredible work as we say thank you to the brave men and women that serve to protect our country.”

Every year, Operation Gratitude sends hundreds of thousands of individually addressed care packages to soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen deployed overseas; to their children left behind; and to first responders, new recruit graduates, veterans, wounded heroes, and their caregivers. Each package contains snacks, hygiene products, entertainment, and handmade items, as well as personal letters of support. Through collection drives, letter writing campaigns, craft projects, and care package assembly events, Operation Gratitude provides civilians anywhere in America a way to say “Thank You” through active, hands-on volunteerism.

Pizza Inn, as part of RAVE Restaurant Group, operates more than 200 restaurants domestically and internationally.