Southern Reg. Students Collect $13K In Coupons For Troops

MANAHAWKIN, NJ — The Support Our Troops program now has more than $13,000 worth of new coupons. That was just one of many contributions that Southern Regional seventh-graders made Feb. 14 on the first-ever Southern Serves Day.

Students supported several charities, thanked first responders and military and sent Valentine's Day wishes to people in local nursing homes.

Among their activities, Southern students cut, organized and tallied $13,293.25 worth of "Troopons." The manufacturer's coupons can be used up to two months after expiration on some military bases.

Here's what else students contributed on Southern Serves Day:

• 3,600 individual plastic utensil sets rolled in napkins for soup kitchens that serve the homeless population
• 145 individually colored placemats to brighten meal time at soup kitchens
• 100 "thank you" cards for military personnel and their families
• 140 yellow braided bracelets for middle school students whose parents were recently deployed from Fort Bragg, North Carolina
• 30 chemo care bags for cancer patients from supplies provided by David's Dream and Believe Cancer Foundation
• 880 sets of individually fashioned beads for the Beads for Courage program, which supports children whose sibling is facing serious illness
• 240 decorated Valentine's bags with cards and treats for local nursing-home residents
• 160 "thank you" bags with cards and tokens of appreciation for police
• 145 bookmarks to accompany gently used books for inner-city Philadelphia schools

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