BY CHRISTINE VARNO
Staff Writer
The owners of the Long Branch-based WindMill restaurants will be helping to make the holiday season a little brighter for soldiers stationed in Iraq.
“We sincerely believe that these people are protecting our freedoms and whether or not you support the war is not relevant,” Rena Levine Levy, whose family owns the WindMill Gourmet Fast Foods restaurants in Long Branch, Belmar and Ocean Grove.
For the second year, the WindMill restaurants are collecting items to be shipped to the members of the U.S. Marine Corps Sixth Motor Battalion in Iraq. The Sixth Motor Battalion is headquartered in Red Bank and home base to many New Jersey Marine Reservists.
When the war started two years ago, Levy, chief executive officer of the fast-food restaurant chain, said that she and her brother, Steven, who is chief operating officer of WindMill, wanted to get involved and show their support for the soldiers.
“We looked to see what was local to our area so we called Fort Monmouth who put us in touch with [the Sixth Motor Battalion],” she said.
The Sixth Motor Battalion is responsible for transporting goods in Iraq, according to Levy, who said the job is very dangerous because the soldiers are constantly on the road traveling.
Last year the Levines collected and sent more than 1,000 pounds of supplies to the soldiers serving in Iraq for the holidays. Items shipped included magazines, white socks, toothbrushes and toothpaste.
But this year, the needs of the soldiers have changed, Levy said.
“Last year we collected items to help them get established over there,” she said. “They had nothing and they were not set up yet.”
Levy said items high on the wish lists coming out of Iraq include DVDs, books, coffee, candy and personal care items.
“But it really does not matter what is in the boxes,” she said. “What matters is that someone here is thinking about them.”
Levy is a parent and she said she organizes the collection because the soldiers in Iraq are somebody else’s children.
“To take the time out of my life to make boxes is the least I can do as an American,” Levy said.
But, she said, support for the project is far less than last year.
“Too many other disasters coupled with the lack of support for the war have taken people’s minds off of the fact that these young men and women are in Iraq risking their lives so that we here in the United States can enjoy all of the freedoms and benefits associated with being American citizens,” she said.
But Levy added that the WindMill restaurants are committed to providing soldiers with supplies this holiday season.
“People are tapped out and have no energy or money,” she said. “We understand, but we still have energy.
“We respect the job that these reservists are doing and want them to know that the work that they are doing is appreciated.”
And, the family’s support isn’t limited to the holidays. Soldiers serve in Iraq year round, Levy noted, so they have also sent packages to soldiers at Easter last year and on July Fourth.
Anyone wishing to donate gifts for the soldiers of the Sixth Battalion can drop off donations at the WindMills in North Long Branch, West End, Belmar or Ocean Grove.
Those who wish to make a monetary donation to offset the cost of shipping the packages can send a check made payable to the United States Post Office and mail it to WindMill, 200 Ocean Ave., Long Branch 07740.
For more information, call Levy at (732) 870-8282 ext. 3.

