Rich Salem (908) 448-6630

 

 

 

Hillsborough, N.J. November 10, 2014… During the holiday season, a package containing favorite foods and toiletries is always a welcomed gift, but never as much as when it is received by a member of the military serving abroad.  The Hillsborough Rotary Club, in association with is Operation Shoebox New Jersey, will help ensure that our troops abroad receive this special gift by organizing the fourth annual Christmas Packing Event on Saturday, December 6, from 10 AM to 2 PM, at the Hillsborough YMCA (19 East Mountain Road, Hillsborough, NJ). Members of the community are invited to participate in this special event.

 

“The holiday season is a particularly difficult time for military to be away from home and family, “noted Hillsborough Rotary Club President, Anthony Franchini, “and receiving a package from home filled with familiar items goes a long way in keeping up morale.”

 

“The Rotary’s packing event is not only very organized, it is a fun event for all who participate,” mentioned Rod Hirsch, Operation Shoebox Director. “We receive wonderful feedback directly from the troops about how much they look forward to receiving these packages.”

 

At last year’s packing event, over 1100 packages containing a wide assortment of foods, treats and toiletries were assembled by over 100 volunteers - both young and old - from Hillsborough and adjoining communities. The individual bags are grouped together into small boxes and then into larger containers for shipment abroad.  The cost of shipping these boxes to the troops is funded by donations from the Hillsborough Rotary and caring members of the public. Cash donations to off-set shipping costs can be made at the event or sent in advance by check to Operation Shoebox, 152 Route 206, Hillsborough 08844.  Donations of appropriate, non-perishable food items, snacks, and toiletries, etc. can be dropped of at the same location.

 

To participate in the packing event, volunteers need only show up at the Hillsborough YMCA between the hours of 10 AM and 2 PM on Saturday, December 6, and Rotary volunteers will provide packing instructions. 

 

Operation Shoebox New Jersey, based in Hillsborough, was founded in February 2005. It is an all-volunteer grass roots organization dedicated to collecting donated supplies and shipping care packages to U.S. troops based in Iraq, Afghanistan and other Middle East countries.  Operation Shoebox seeks donations of food and personal care items that are placed in personal care packages shipped to members of the US military deployed overseas. Requested items include canned tuna, canned fruit, 1 oz. boxes of cereal, dried fruit, trail mix, granola bars, beef jerky, small bags of pretzels and chips, small tubes of toothpaste, toothbrushes, small packets of moist wipes, soap, deodorant, small canisters of powder and small bottles of shampoo.

 

About Rotary


 

Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world's most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 34,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work improves lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world.

 

The Hillsborough NJ Rotary Club currently has over 40 active members from Hillsborough and surrounding communities.   Members include business and professional leaders who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world.  The Hillsborough Rotary serves the Hillsborough community.  All funds raised at the Rotary Fair are donated back to community projects. The Hillsborough Rotary Club meets every Wednesday, at 6 pm, at Pheasants Landing Restaurant in Hillsborough.

 

For more information about the event and making cash or in-kind donations, please call Anthony Franchini, Hillsborough Rotary Club president, (908) 561-6271.

 

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(above and below) Residents from Hillsborough and surrounding communities joined Rotary members last December at the Hillsborough YMCA to assemble special gift packages for troops serving abroad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operation Shoebox Director Rod Hirsch, and Army Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Mullins were on hand at last year’s packing event to welcome the volunteers and explain how important it is to the soldiers to receive the holiday packages from home. Staff Sergeant Mullins is based at Fort Dix, and served two overseas tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

 

 

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