Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski Memorial Fund has busy December Schedule

With the holiday season upon us and shoppers rush home with their treasures, the Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski
Memorial Fund has a busy December schedule to bring the joys of Christmas to the service men and women and their children left behind.

"Our troops are actively serving in all parts of the world, while some wounded warriors are being treated for their wounds and suffer from post traumatic syndrome," said Marion Zilinski, co-founder of the memorial fund name in her late son's honor. "Sometimes we take for granted that everyone has someplace to go or is being cared for. But little do we remember that there are American soldiers still on active duty protecting us."

For the past decade, the Zilinski Memorial Fund has supported our troops with various activities. The non-profit organization has several activities scheduled this season including its kickoff event on Dec. 4 when they
will trek to Long Island, N.Y. to help ship live Christmas trees to our troops overseas.

On Dec. 9, the Zilinski team will head to Washington, D.C. to Walter Reed Hospital to co-host a Christmas party for wounded warriors and their families. This is the organization's seventh year of participation. They will bring stuffed animals, donated by Pet Smart, to the children and provide gift cards to their wounded warriors and their spouses ($100 each) as well as a gift card in the amount of $50 for each child. The party includes snacks, soft drinks, food and a visit with Santa. Music is provided by John Woodall known as
"Elvis" and his band.

The Zilinski Fund will make its annual holiday visit to Pemberton in Burlington County on Dec. 14. Breakfast will be provided to the students at the Pemberton Early Development Center for the children and the parent, or grandparent, who is home with them while a parent, or both parents in some cases, are deployed. Located a short distance from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, students and guests at the Pemberton Early Development Center will be treated to breakfast. Each parent/grandparent will receive a $100 gift card while children will receive $50 gift cards and a stuffed animal courtesy of Pet Smart.

In addition, the Zilinski Fund has 70 boxes of items to be shipped to the troops. Nearly 300 students, teachers and parents of the Little Silver Elementary schools collected an assortment of goods earlier this month.

Additional donations have been collected at the Red Bank YMCA on behalf of the Swim Team and Christmas Ornaments were also collected by local business Raymond James Red Bank, which will also be shipped to the
troops.

For more information about the Zilinski Memorial Fund, visit www.runwithdennis.org. Or, if you would like to contribute, contact Marion Zilinski at (732) 431-1713.