JACKSON — The Township Council has recognized residents, businesses and local organizations for taking the time and making the effort to collect food and necessary items for American military personnel,
Speaking at the Oct. 13 meeting of the governing body, Councilwoman Ann Updegrave said, “It is a distinct pleasure of mine to recognize a project that has been going on for quite some time now. There are two women, Carol Blake and Denise Allmann, who put together a project to send packages overseas for all our servicemen and servicewomen.”
Updegrave said the project has taken off and said she thinks other towns can learn from what Blake and Allmann started.
The councilwoman said the project has brought people together for one main purpose: to think about the nation’s servicemen and servicewomen and about what they are doing to protect freedom in the United States.
Blake and Allmann received certificates which stated that throughout history, men and women have served in different branches of the military to protect the rights and freedoms of all citizens of the United States.
As a result of the attention being paid to the safety and with concern for the needs of America’s servicemen and servicewomen, residents have taken action to support the nation’s military personnel.
Updegrave thanked everyone in Jackson who has worked hard on this project.
“This was initiated by Denise Allmann, the mother of Will, who just returned from a tour of duty in Iraq and will be going to Afghanistan on another tour of duty, and Carol Blake, ‘grandmother,’ who put the needs of our military personnel above all else,” Updegrave said. “This project is strictly dedicated to the recognition and support of military personnel.
The council also recognized the Mug Rack, County Line Road, and Updegrave said the certificate was being presented to Danny, Steve and Denise Riccio in recognition of their support for America’s military forces.
Speaking on behalf of all of the organizations that supported the project, Allmann thanked the operators of the Mug Rack for their support.
“If it weren’t for them, we probably would not have as many [packages] sent out,” said Allmann. “Other organizations have also put in money to help us send the packages, which cost $12 each to send. To date we have sent 300 packages.”
Allmann asked Jackson residents to supply her with the names and addresses of individuals they know who are serving overseas.
“If you could supply that [information] to us, we would like to reach out to as many [of our military personnel] as possible,” said Allmann. “We would also like to thank the high school that got selflessly involved with the kids. One group of kids [even] had a bagel party.”
Allmann said donations of soups, hot chocolate packets, tea, coffee, mouthwash, hand sanitizer, socks and many other items are still being accepted.
There are drop boxes for the items at the Jackson municipal building; at the Melvin Cottrell Center for Senior Citizens and the Disabled; and at the Westlake, Four Seasons at Metedeconk Lakes, and South Knolls communities.
For further information, call Carol Blake, 732-928-6099, or Denise Allmann (evenings only), 732-928-4587