Navy Humor Website Raises $20K for USS Gerald R. Ford Crew

Operation Panty Drop provided much-needed supplies to sailors dealing with deployment challenges.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 11:10pm

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A vibrant, high-contrast silkscreen print depicting a grid of brown t-shirts and pairs of underwear in a pop art style, conceptually representing the essential supplies donated to the USS Gerald R. Ford crew.A creative fundraising effort by former Navy members provides much-needed supplies to the crew of the USS Gerald R. Ford during a challenging deployment.Norfolk Today

The crew of the USS Gerald R. Ford has faced several issues during their deployment, including plumbing problems and a laundry fire. In response, the operators of the humor website The Reactor Is Critical launched 'Operation Panty Drop' to raise funds and purchase supplies for the sailors, ultimately collecting over $20,000 in donations.

Why it matters

The USS Gerald R. Ford is one of the U.S. Navy's newest and most advanced aircraft carriers, and the well-being of its crew is crucial. This grassroots effort by former Navy members to support their peers highlights the strong sense of community within the military and the creative ways they can come together to address challenges.

The details

After hearing about the crew's issues, Kelsey Eckelman and Mike Lassiter of The Reactor Is Critical website decided to take action. They launched Operation Panty Drop, which quickly raised over $20,000 in donations. With the funds, they purchased much-needed supplies for the sailors, including 600 brown t-shirts, feminine hygiene products, hair ties, and 600 pairs of underwear.

  • The USS Gerald R. Ford was deployed in June 2025.
  • In January 2026, the ship experienced plumbing issues.
  • In March 2026, a laundry fire displaced over 600 sailors.
  • Operation Panty Drop was launched shortly after the laundry fire incident.
  • The supplies are currently being shipped to the crew and are expected to arrive soon.

The players

Kelsey Eckelman

Co-founder of the humor website The Reactor Is Critical, which focuses on current and past members of the U.S. Navy's nuclear power program.

Mike Lassiter

Co-founder of the humor website The Reactor Is Critical, which focuses on current and past members of the U.S. Navy's nuclear power program.

USS Gerald R. Ford

One of the U.S. Navy's newest and most advanced aircraft carriers, currently deployed.

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What they’re saying

“At the end of the first day, we brought in $6,000, and then $12,000 by the second day. And then, by the time we sent everything out, it was about $20,000.”

— Mike Lassiter, Co-founder, The Reactor Is Critical

“They really did need underwear and shirts that they could wear with their uniforms. A lot of the female sailors were asking for hair ties and hairbrushes, just really basic stuff that they weren't able to get themselves.”

— Kelsey Eckelman, Co-founder, The Reactor Is Critical

What’s next

The supplies purchased through Operation Panty Drop are currently being shipped to the USS Gerald R. Ford crew and are expected to arrive soon. The aircraft carrier is scheduled to return to Norfolk, Virginia, in May 2026.

The takeaway

This grassroots effort by former Navy members to support their peers on the USS Gerald R. Ford demonstrates the strong sense of community within the military. By creatively addressing the crew's needs, Operation Panty Drop provided a much-needed morale boost during a challenging deployment.