FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — To commemorate Veterans Day and to thank American soldiers who are serving overseas, seventh-graders at the Eisenhower Middle School donated care packages and put them in boxes that will be sent to troops who are stationed in Iraq.
A special event was held at the Eisenhower Middle School on Nov. 12. Veterans Day was Nov. 11.
The idea to show support for America’s military personnel was developed last year and spearheaded by Brett Schwerin of the National Contract Management Association. He helped jump-start the project with his mother, Helen Schwerin, who is a language arts teacher at the school.
“We just want to offer moral support for the troops,” Brett Schwerin said. “Hopefully they know we are behind them and that we fully embrace everything they do.”
Also present as the donations were made by the students was Capt. Anthony Whitfield from Fort Monmouth, Eatontown.
All of the packages the students donated will be sent to his wife, Capt. Altwan Whitfield, who is stationed at Forward Operating Base Warhorse in Iraq. The base is about 35 to 45 miles northeast of Baghdad.
Helen Schwerin explained that “some kids have family members either stationed in Iraq or they have had tours in the past. This (project) is great because people will positively talk about the military and it can help the kids cope who have difficulty with knowing their parents or friends are overseas.”
Last year was the first time the project was held and only the students in Schwerin’s homeroom participated. This year the entire Eisenhower seventh grade took part. Next year it is hoped to involve the entire school in sending care packages to the U.S. servicemen and servicewomen.
In addition to putting together care packages, which included toiletries, DVDs and food, the students wrote letters to the troops and created hand-painted flags.
Seventh-grader Kevin Gilboy said, “I just feel that it’s a good thing to help out the soldiers. I am just happy to show them support in any way I can.”
There were about 10 classes of students who brought out donations for the troops. Each student personalized his or her box of goodies and helped pack them into larger kits.
Seventh-grader Nathan Herrington said, “This is all so nice. I am honestly surprised we were able to get this many packages, so it’s cool that we are able to make this big a difference.”
After all of the students brought out their boxes, Whitfield and Brett Schwerin answered questions from the youngsters. Schwerin estimated that the school doubled the number of packages that were collected last year and said he could not wait for them to reach the troops in Iraq.