LETTERS: Help out the troops

To the editor:
   
The holidays can be a very difficult time for our service men and women, thousands of whom will spend the holidays far away from their friends and families.
   I recently attended a troop send off at the Trenton War Memorial where many more of our New Jersey National Guard members headed overseas. These men and women are sacrificing so much for us, and now more than ever we need to show them how much we appreciate them.
   Sensing the community’s desire to help, I offered my office this past summer as a clearinghouse for letters to our troops overseas. The response from people wanting to help and be engaged was overwhelming.
   Because of that outpouring of support we thought of sending baskets with morale boosters and things our soldiers need. New Jersey National Guard Adjutant General Glenn Reith offered to take the baskets to troops overseas and we began collecting them at my office.
   Sending gift baskets for our troops gives us an opportunity to let the men and women serving overseas know how grateful we are and that they’re in our thoughts this holiday season. It’s a great way for us as a community to show our commitment, appreciation and respect for our heroes overseas.
   Civic organizations, schools, churches, businesses and caring individuals have brought in boxes of donated items, cards and letters. Children have started neighborhood collections. The good will of central New Jerseyans will remind our soldiers that they’re in our thoughts this holiday season.
   The Monroe and Jamesburg community has shown such a commitment to this project that we recently established a drop-off location in town. We are continuing to collect items through the month of December. If you’d like to join us, the following list includes some suggestions by the New Jersey National Guard Family Assistance Center: international pre-paid phone cards, boxed holiday cards, chewing gum, toiletries, deodorant, razors, books, audio books, hard candy, pens, playing cards, sewing kits, stationery and puzzles.
   Items can be dropped off at a Special-Tee Shop in Jamesburg at 71 E. Railroad Ave. or at my legislative office in Hamilton at 2239 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road. They will be hand-delivered by Gen. Reith to our troops overseas.
   Thank you for making this holiday a special one for our troops.
Bill Baroni
Assemblyman
14th District