Burlington County Freeholders announced last week they are partnering with Operation Yellow Ribbon of South Jersey and Burlington County College to sponsor a county-wide collection of items for care packages for o
Burlington County Freeholders announced last week they are partnering with Operation Yellow Ribbon of South Jersey and Burlington County College to sponsor a county-wide collection of items for care packages for our troops stationed overseas.
”We are collecting items for our troops that will hopefully bring them a little holiday cheer and let the men and women who fight every day to protect us know that Burlington County supports and honors them,” said Burlington County Freeholder Deputy Director Leah Arter.
Items will be accepted at selected County locations during normal business hours through noon on Friday, Dec. 6. Collection boxes will be in the lobbies of the following locations:
• County Administration building and Court facility at 49 Rancocas Road in Mount Holly
• Human Services building at 795 Woodlane Road in Westampton
• Health Department at 15 Pioneer Boulevard in Westampton
• Engineering building at 1900 Briggs Road in Mount Laurel
• The Eco Complex at 1200 Florence Columbus Rd in Bordentown Township
• All county library facilities
• BCC Mount Laurel Campus, Route 38
• BCC Pemberton Campus, 601 Pemberton Browns Mills Rd
• BCC McGuire Education Center, room 107, Building 3829, 4 School Road, McGuire AFB
Operation Yellow Ribbon of South Jersey sends over 2,300 pounds of treats and personal notes each month to our brave women and men deployed to Afghanistan, according to a county release.
”This is a great way for residents to get into the holiday spirit this season by showing our appreciation for our U.S. Armed Forces,” said Freeholder Arter. “We are asking residents to help us collect items and also personal, unsealed notes of thanks and encouragement.”
Adults can include an address or email if they would like a possible response from our recipients. Some of the troops will respond but some do not have e-mail access, so they might not write back. Children are encouraged to create or write their own holiday cards or notes to show support to our troops, but no last names, addresses, email addresses or phone numbers can be included.
”Burlington County residents have been so supportive of our food drives and toy collections in the past and I am confident that they will whole-heartedly join us in this effort as well,” she said.
The following items have been requested from our troops:
• Tastykakes/cupcakes or those type snacks
• Rice Crispy treats
• Sealed packets/bagged tuna and chicken
• Gum/candy etc. (Skittles, Swedish Fish, Twizzlers)
• Breakfast Bars
• Roasted peanuts/mixed nuts or dried fruit
• Potato chips in cylinder or can
• Beef Jerky
• Crystal Light drink mix individual packets
• Powdered drink mix (Gatorade etc.)
• Ground coffee or tea
• Pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds
• Baby powder/foot powder
• Baby wipes
• Visine or saline eye drops
• Chapstick/lip balm
• Tissues
• Small hand sanitizer
• Puzzle or small crossword books
• Batteries (AA, AAA, C, D)
• Hand held electronic games: poker, bingo, etc.
Participants are asked not to send magazines, books or hotel toiletries. Open, used, out of date or similar items are similarly prohibited.
Operation Yellow Ribbon of South Jersey will also be hosting a holiday cookie and baked goods drive to send to the troops deployed in Afghanistan and supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Items will only be accepted on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m.– 2 p.m. at the 8th Legislative District Office at 176 Route 70, Suite 13 in Medford.
For more information, contact Dave Silver at [email protected].
Volunteers will pack and box all donated items to be mailed to recipients on the care package mailing list. Besides baked goods, store bought cookies and treats will also be accepted and shipped.
Cookies should be put in layers in large plastic zip closed bags or in light weight disposable containers. Containers of any type will not be returned because they will be used to ship to recipients.