Atlantic Grille Picks Up $900 Tab to Get Chocolate to Troops

Mission accomplished!

That's what town and school officials can now say thanks to the generosity of s, who picked up the $900 shipping costs to mail about 600 pounds of chocolate to troops in Afghanistan, as well as the Hershey's company, which sent 12 cases of 24-count "King Size" PayDay candy bars (288 bars) directly to the troops after contacted by Semonelli. 

Early Monday, William and Richard Armstrong, who own the  and , notified Town Council President Christopher Semonelli that they would donate the entire shipping cost and within a few hours they quietly hand-delivered the check to school officials, modestly avoiding invitations for photo ops or publicity, school officials said.

Semonelli had launched Middletown's "Operation Chocolate Challenge" last month as a simple way to provide a common comfort of home to U.S. troops in Kabul, Afghanistan after hearing U.S. Navy Lieutenant Alexandria L. Prescott of North Kingstown speak on a local radio program about missing the snack and the scarcity of fresh American chocolate there.

Having "met and exceeded" the Chocolate Challenge beyond, Semonelli  reiterated that the simple gesture was to "honor those serving and fighting for our freedom" by bringing them a taste a home.

"I am overwhelmed by the generosity of the community to help our troops overseas," said Semonelli. "This started as a small request after listening to a phone call on the radio station, WADK...It ended as an amazing example of selfless spirit and support by an incredible amount of individuals and organizations."

"Wow, this is great!" Lt. Prescott shared in an email Monday. "I am in awe. Thanks so much. Yes, Chris, you and the participants have truly outdone yourself!"

Since launching the chocolate drive for the troops several weeks ago, in addition to the Hershey's donation, the 600 pounds of candy was collected from all four Middletown public schools, a collection box at Town Hall, CCRI-Newport, the Newport County YMCA, Tiverton Middle School, Fort Barton Elementary School in Tiverton, and personal donors from Newport, Middletown and Portsmouth, as well as other communities in Rhode Island.

"Every time I turned around there was another email from people asking where to drop off chocolate they'd collected," said Community Outreach Coordinator Carmela Geer, noting that a huge wave of chocolates also flowed in after Halloween.

Chocolates collections ended Friday Nov. 5, but donations were urgently needed to help cover the cost to send the chocolate overseas via United States Priority Mail.

Delivery is expected to take just a few days to reach the troops this week.

Each Priority Mail Flat Rate shipping box costs $12 and school officials packed up about 75 flat rate boxes to send the roughly 600 pounds of chocolate.

Geer and Semonelli have also been in frequent contact with the troops to receive the chocolate. Geer noted, "They're eagerly awaiting the 'truckload' of chocolate they've heard was coming their way, and it turns out we do have a truckload to send them!"

According to U.S. Navy Lieutenant Alexandria L. Prescott, "troop favorites" include: Snickers, Three Muskateers, Kit Kat, Twix, Nestle Crunch, Milky Way, both Hershey's Kisses and Hershey's Hugs, and white chocolate.

In Kabul, Afghanistan, news of Middletown and Tiverton's "Operation Chocolate Challenge" seems to have touched the hearts of U.S. Troops with boots on the ground there—from the rank-and-file to the NATO Commander in charge of that region.

United States Army Lieutenant General William B. Caldwell—Commander of the NATO Training Mission in Afghanistan who revealed an affinity for Snickers bars and white chocolate—recently learned about Middletown's "Chocolate Challenge" and applauded Lt. Prescott for inspiring the effort during her interview last month aired on Newport-area public radio.

Lt. Prescott recently shared that email with Middletown officials who initiated the drive. Commander Caldwell wrote, "Alexandra, I was checking out the news and I noticed that we have a few truckloads of chocolate headed our way—seems a high speed Sailor jumpstarted a multi-city chocolate drive for the troops!"

The Commander's email continued, "What a great example of the tremendous impact your interview—and all of the 50 States in 50 Days interviews—are having on the American people back home. Look at the response this has generated! Am also hopeful that a little bit of the white chocolate and Snickers might make its way over to the Ark."

Middletown's Operation Chocolate Challenge had also made its way onto an Afghanistan Troop Blog by U.S. Air Force Capt. Renatta K. Martine.