Berkeley Man Gives His All For The Troops

The United States military doesn't stop, and neither does Lloyd Mullikin. The Berkeley resident has been running the "Support the Troops Project" since 2004, leading collections for military members around the world.

The organization mails over 400 large packages per year, some weighing as much as 70 pounds, Mullikin said. Rather than sending one or two enormous packages, they send many small shipments over the course of a deployment. They have given soldiers from Ocean County and New Jersey the most support, he said.

"Some of the units are deployed in forward operating bases and live in tents, sometimes under very primitive conditions," Mullikin said. "Because of the nature of their mission, they are also not always able to eat regular meals, or have ready access to the basic necessities of life."

Mullikin recommends the following donations:

• energy food including granola bars or other snack items such as cookies, candy or chips
• Entertainment material of interest to young adults, such as magazines and DVDs
• Toiletries, first-aid supplies, laundry soap pods and non-military clothing such as sweatshirts or t-shirts
• Blank greeting or note cards which the soldiers can use to write home
• Items for their children, such as school supplies, clothes or toys

Postage is the organization's greatest expense. Mullikin thanked individuals and organizations such as American Legion Post 348 in Brick, Holiday City Berkeley Veterans & Friends and the In God's Hands charity for donations to this purpose.

He also credited Berkeley councilwoman Judy Noonan; Nancy Seibert, who manages the Cell Phones for Soldiers project; several senior communities in Berkeley; and individuals throughout Ocean County and the state for supporting the Support the Troops Project.

To donate, call Mullikin at 732-269-1397 or email him at lloyd.mullikin@gmail.com. Mullikin says individuals can make deductible donations by check to the "Troop Mailing Fund" and sending them to VFW Post 9503, 383 Veterans Blvd., Bayville, NJ 08721.

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