LAKEWOOD — Mayor Charles Cunliffe and the Township Committee have designated the week of June 5 as “Support Our Troops Week,” an opportunity for citizens to recognize and support the efforts of veterans and those on active military duty, by donating nonperishable items that troops can use in a desert environment such as baby wipes, batteries, personal items, razors, non-chocolate candies and sweets, and dry noodle soups.
Patrick O’Keefe, a member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Local 400, Wall Township, and the organizer of the drive, is also requesting donations of packing tape and shipping boxes.
“We spend $70 to $80 just for a couple of boxes and tape,” O’Keefe said,” and another $350 to $500 for shipping. We ship about 1,500 to 2,000 pounds at a time.”
Since last February, IBEW has collected and shipped overseas 15,000 pounds of goods and about $2,000 worth of phone cards.
“Having served in Bahrain in 1998, I know how important it is to receive these packages,” said O’Keefe.
Donations can be dropped off at the IBEW, 3301 Highway 138 East, Wall Township, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily; or at the June 8 BlueClaws baseball game scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m. at First Energy Park, Lakewood.
Township officials and sponsors of the Support Our Troops event are hoping to pack the stadium with those who want to honor all those serving the nation.
To honor the troops, Richard Orne, of Lakewood, retired master sergeant of the New Jersey Air National Guard/US Air Force, has arranged for the 76th Air Refueling Squadron from McGuire Air Force Base to fly overhead with a KC-10 at the closing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
The sponsors of this event are New Jersey Army National Guard, Toms River Armory, Family Support Group, the Monmouth-Ocean AFL-CIO Central Labor Council, the Monmouth and Ocean County Building Trades, and IBEW Local 400. For more information call (732) 486-1184.