Community collects items
to aid American soldiers
By kathy baratta
Staff Writer
HOWELL — While large scale military action is but over, it also appears that United States troops will remain in Iraq for the foreseeable future.
Although Uncle Sam will continue to feed and shelter them, there are many people back home who want to see the soldiers receive the personal amenities and hygiene supplies that will help then maintain a certain quality of life.
To that end, Howell residents Linda Calascibetta and Bill Fosgreen contacted officials at town hall to inquire if the township would be initiating any projects for American troops serving in the Mideast.
According to Judy Kloniecki, assistant deputy township clerk, at the direction of Township Manager Bruce Davis, a committee was formed to coordinate a collection effort that would identify the items needed and see to their proper delivery.
Kloniecki said the municipality worked with representatives of the Howell Chamber of Commerce, the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars along with the Board of Education to get the word out in the community by displaying posters in schools, stores and restaurants.
The posters inform the public the army’s commissaries are not able to stock enough supplies to meet the needs of the more than 250,000 troops stationed in the Persian Gulf region.
The Howell High School peer leadership group, under the supervision of Alan McTague, was then brought on board to help pursue the township’s involvement in Operation Hands Overseas.
According to Kloniecki, the peer leadership group ran the drive and got the entire student body involved with collecting, packaging and wrapping the items that will eventually make their way to the soldiers.
Joe LaBruno, 17, along with other peer leadership group members Julie Suppa, 18, Natalie Vadus, 17, and Mariel Arose, 17, said the gathering of the goods was felt to be a patriotic necessity by those participating.
Remarking as to how the entire student body jumped on board to help in the week-long drive, LaBruno said, "Howell High School has a reputation for helping."
Vadus said besides the sundries and toiletries requested, she put out the word to include pocket-size games and playing cards.
Suppa said she was motivated to "do something" following the death of Michael Curtin, a graduate of Howell High School, who became one of the first American casualties of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Arose said the group sold yellow ribbons in order to help defray shipping costs.
Howell resident Frank Longo volunteered the use of his truck, and he and Fosgreen left this week to drive the 4,500 pounds of collected goods down to Charleston Air Force Base in South Carolina.
"I was told by one of the contact people, ‘You have no idea what this will mean to them,’ " Kloniecki said, referring to the troops that will be the recipients of the collected goods.
According to Kloniecki, the Operation Hands Overseas group is working to make it possible for the group to continue to collect and send these goods to the troops for the duration of their stay.
Among the favorite items requested are breath freshener, lip balm, eye drops, international phone cards and last, but maybe not least, due to the rampant sand flea problem — clear flea collars.
Kloniecki said the goods will be shipped from the air force base in South Carolina to Kuwait for distribution to the American troops.
Anyone wishing to volunteer to assist the continuing effort can call (866) 448-6467 or locally, (732) 542-8802 or send e-mail to [email protected]. The Internet Web site address is ohos.ece.