Operation Homefront and Dollar Tree, Inc. (NASDAQ: DLTR) have joined forces this holiday season to collect gifts for thousands of military children across the country. The effort will officially kick-off on Saturday, November 14th at the Dollar Tree store located at 7651 Arundel Mills Boulevard.

Last year, Dollar Tree patrons nationwide donated an estimated $5.8 million in toys; this year's goal is $6 million. The toys will be donated by customers of the more than 3,800 Dollar Tree stores nationwide, including the more than 80 locations in Maryland.

The toy drive comes at a time when Operation Homefront, a non-profit that helps military families in need and provides support to our nation's wounded warriors, has seen an increase for requests for financial assistance and 82 percent increase in requests for food assistance over last year.

Dollar Tree will collect items in its stores November 15 - December 15.

About Operation Homefront

Operation Homefront provides emergency assistance for our troops, the families they leave behind and for wounded warriors when they return home. A national nonprofit, Operation Homefront leads more than 4,500 volunteers in 30 chapters nationwide, and has met more than 105,000 needs since 2002. Operation Homefront is a four-star rated charity by watchdog Charity Navigator. Nationally, 92 cents of every dollar donated to Operation Homefront goes to programs. For more information, please visit www.operationhomefront.net.

About Dollar Tree, Inc.

Dollar Tree, a Fortune 500 Company, operated 3,803 stores in 48 states as of October 31, 2009, with total retail selling square footage of 32.3 million. To learn more about the Company, visit the Company's website, www.DollarTree.com.

WHO: Operation Homefront & Dollar Tree

WHAT: National kick-off event to collect more than $6 million in toys for military children this holiday season

WHEN: Saturday, November 14, 2009 from 9:30am (ET)

WHERE: 7651 Arundel Mills Boulevard; Hanover, Md.

PHOTO OP: Santa Claus, Wounded Warriors from the Operation Homefront Village, Military Families and Children (interviews 10:00am)

CONTACT: Vivian Dietrich, Operation Homefront, (703) 421-9033 or (703) 507-1003

/PRNewswire-USNewswire -- Nov. 12/

SOURCE Operation Homefront