Operation Shoebox welcomes volunteers at Saturday’s event
By Audrey Levine Staff Writer
Operation Shoebox New Jersey, created in February 2005, is preparing to send letters, cards and other items to soldiers spending the holidays overseas in an effort to get them necessary materials, and remind them of the people waiting for them to return home.
The organization will hold its annual holiday packing event Saturday at the Manville Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2290 on Washington Avenue.
”This is not a political organization,” said Rod Hirsch, who created the organization as a way to do something positive for those fighting in the war. “This is a humanitarian mission.”
Mr. Hirsch said the organization is consistently collecting items including lip balm, sunblock, shampoo, packets of instant oatmeal, athletic socks, batteries, candy and powdered drink mixes, among others from anyone willing to contribute. All these items are packaged and sent to as many as 60 people overseas at one time.
”We often mail up to 14 boxes to each person,” he said of the four to six packings they do each year. “The soldiers can then share the items with their comrades and other units.”
Mr. Hirsch said many schools hold drives to collect the materials for the troops. In addition, aside from the regular collections, he said, because it is the holiday season, Girl Scout troops from the Rolling Hills Council have donated boxes of cookies, in addition to candy canes and other holiday items that have already been gathered.
At the packing, Mr. Hirsch said, volunteers will have the opportunity to write out greeting cards and letters, in addition to taking the time to pack boxes that will immediately be given to the Manville Post Office to be sent overseas.
”We send priority mail, so the boxes should arrive with the troops in about three to four days,” he said.
Mr. Hirsch said the organization has done its collection at the Manville VFW in the past and has attracted as many as 1,000 volunteers to assist in the packing.
”The VFW is an ideal location,” he said in relation to the Operation Shoebox headquarters in Somerville. “It is centrally located.”
Mr. Hirsch said the organization is looking for as many volunteers as possible for the packing. He said they are expecting about 300 Girl Scouts to participate but always need more volunteers.
In addition, Mr. Hirsch said volunteers are also encouraged to donate money to help defray the costs of shipping the packages to Iraq and Afghanistan.
”This initiative is as much about the people at home as it is about the troops overseas,” he said. “I’m excited and honored to be a part of this. And soldiers and Marines always dwell on how good this program is.”
Volunteers who would like to help with the packing are asked to arrive at the VFW between 11 and 11:30 a.m. The packing will end at 2 p.m. Refreshments will be served.
For more information, call Operation Shoebox at 908-698-0333. To give a donation, send it to P.O. Box 273 Somerville, NJ 08876.
To find out what materials are accepted, visit the Web site at opshoeboxnj.org.