Operation Shoebox Hosts Packing Day for Troops

Volunteers are invited to join Operation Shoebox New Jersey staff pack gift boxes and send Christmas greetings to U.S. troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan at on Saturday, Dec. 3.

 The packing is being held in conjunction with members of the Hillsborough Rotary with volunteer registration beginning at 10 a.m., followed by opening ceremonies at 11 a.m. A light lunch will be provided by the restaurant . The school is located at the corner of Amwell Road and Route 206 north.

Operation Shoebox New Jersey  anticipates several hundred volunteers, including the employees from 12 Cheesecake Factory restaurants in New Jersey and New York and students from Burlington County Community College as well as local Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops. The Civil Air Patrol wing based at Central Jersey Regional Airport will also attend.

Soldiers and Marines who were recipients of Operation Shoebox New Jersey gift packages during their overseas deployment are expected to attend and extend their thanks to the volunteers.

Volunteer packers are encouraged to donate personal care items for shipment, including snacks and toiletries. Check the shopping list on our website and bring along a bag of needed items.

The packages sent overseas will include a box of Girl Scout cookies donated by the Girl Scouts; bagged candy collected from 14 Walgreen stores donated by shoppers as well as Halloween candy donated by area dentist offices; cans of tuna, cans of fruit, trail mix, beef jerky, gum, candy, granola bars, powdered drink mixes, coffee, tea, oatmeal, hot chocolate, toothpaste, tooth brushes, ear swabs, moist wipes, sun block, eye drops, soap, shampoo, socks, stationary, envelopes, pens, batteries and other items.

Volunteers will also have the opportunity to sit down and write a short letter or Christmas card to the troops; all cards and letters will be inserted into the boxes. We'll also add stuffed animals and other gift items for the troops to hand out to young Iraqi and Afghan children.

There will be raffles with hourly drawings for prizes and gifts.

Operation Shoebox NJ will also be selling its 2012 gift calendar, filled with photographs of US troops overseas.

Since its founding in February, 2005, Operation Shoebox New Jersey volunteers have shipped over 50,000 personal care packages overseas.

Financial support is also needed to help pay the costs of shipping the packages. All donations are tax deductible. Volunteers are asked to sign up in advance on the OPSHBX NJ website.

Call Operation Shoebox New Jersey headquarters at (908) 698-0333 for further information or check the website at www.opshoeboxnj.org.