Students spearheads project that benefits overseas troops.
By: Emily Craighead
WEST WINDSOR When you’re a soldier stationed in Iraq or Afghanistan, Tootsie Rolls and Twizzlers are a hot commodity.
A letter thanking you for your sacrifice is priceless.
West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South senior Stephanie Perl delivers both through Harry’s Heroes, a project she started last year.
The Township Council on Monday honored the Princeton University-bound West Windsor resident after she received the Prudential Spirit of Community Award Bronze Medallion as a distinguished finalist. The award recognizes Stephanie’s work collecting and sending toiletries, food and recreational items to troops stationed overseas. She took on the project to earn her gold award for Girl Scouts.
"What makes it all worthwhile is I’ve gotten e-mails from soldiers who have gotten my stuff," Stephanie said.
E-mails she has received contain expressions of gratitude, appreciation for the community’s generosity and pride in the soldiers’ mission.
Harry Perl, Stephanie’s grandfather and a World War II veteran, inspired Harry’s Heroes.
Mr. Perl "had a number of stories he shared, and I think when he passed away, Stephanie wanted to have something positive come out of her grieving," said Stephanie’s mother, Susan. "She thought she could honor her grandfather’s memory by helping current active soldiers."
Stephanie credits her grandfather with making her aware of the armed forces’ relevance to her life.
"The general message he was trying to impart to me was the importance of defending one’s country, the value of freedom, and being true to yourself, fighting for what you believe in," she said.
Since last spring, Stephanie has sent nearly 6,000 items overseas, in addition to a 131-box donation worth about $12,000 from Church & Dwight, the company that makes Arm & Hammer-brand products.
"I’ve gotten great responses from local businesses," Stephanie said.
Stephanie collects items in four categories: Comfort items, such as toiletries, hair brushes, sewing kits, washcloths and sunscreen; food items, such as candy (but no chocolate), microwave popcorn and Kool-Aid mix; morale items, like blank greeting cards, pens, pencils and holiday decorations; and recreational items, such as DVDs, batteries, playing cards and recent paperback books.
She also recruited local Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops to write letters to the soldiers.
One package went to a New Jersey soldier stationed in Tikrit, a city 90 miles north of Baghdad. He sent Stephanie an e-mail requesting not more candy or puzzle books, but letters and pictures from people back home.
Stephanie gathers the items from donation boxes she placed in the West Windsor and Plainsboro libraries, as well as in High School South.
When she began the project, she sent the donations through McGuire Air Force Base in Burlington County. Because of stringent security procedures at the base, she now sends them through the Red Cross.
"They basically include my stuff in their shipments," Stephanie said. "Luckily, I don’t have to spend anyone’s money it’s all donated resources."
Stephanie does not know ahead of time where her shipments will end up, but she has received word soldiers stationed in Germany, Iraq, Afghanistan and the Sinai have received them.
"It all goes to deserving soldiers, so I have no preference where it winds up in the long run," Stephanie said.
Her brother, Michael, a High School South sophomore, has played an important role in Harry’s Heroes, helping to collect, sort and package items to be sent overseas.
"My brother’s been a great help," Stephanie said.
She said she hopes to expand the project to Princeton when she starts college, but in the meantime, her brother plans to take over Harry’s Heroes in West Windsor.
"I’m really excited that I’m still doing this," Stephanie said.
For more information about Harry’s Heroes or to make a donation, e-mail Stephanie at [email protected].