Make an impact for military families on Sept. 27

LW residents can join Operation Gratitude on Saturday, Sept. 27, at the Starbucks on 2311 Seal Beach Blvd. in Seal Beach starting at noon for an afternoon of assembling “Battalion Buddies” with friends and neighbors.

Battalion Buddies is an event that is hosted by Operation Gratitude, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to showing gratitude to active military personal, veterans, first responders and their families by sending care packages, stuffed animals and other acts of gratitude.

At the event, people will assemble “Battalion Buddies,” stuffed animal companions for children of deployed service members to provide comfort while their loved one is away. For more information, visit www. operationgratitude.com.