“Service Above Self”
 

For Immediate Release 12/4/2017

 
MEDIA CONTACT INFO:
 
Rich Salem (908) 448-6630

 

 
Hillsborough Holiday Spirit is Alive and Well at December Packing Event Hosted by
the Rotary Club of Hillsborough
 
Hillsborough, N.J. December 4, 2017… Hillsborough residents turned out in record numbers this Saturday to help pack the 1500 boxes of food and toiletry items that are now on their way to American troops serving abroad. The community volunteers, young and old, waited on a line stretching around the Hillsborough YMCA gymnasium for their turn to join Rotary Club of Hillsborough and Operation Shoebox volunteers at the sixth annual packing event held Saturday, December 2, at the Hillsborough YMCA.
 
“It is a humbling experience to see how many Hillsborough families come out for this event each year,” commented Anthony Franchini, president of the Rotary Club of Hillsborough.  “It’s clear that we all know how important it is to show our appreciation and support for the young men and women protecting our freedom abroad.”
 
Along with providing manpower to help organize and operate the event, The Rotary Club of Hillsborough donated $2,000 to help off-set the cost of shipping the boxes to their ultimate destination in foreign lands where American troops are stationed. These funds received a significant boost from representatives of Acme supermarkets, who arrived at the event with a check for $10,000 that they presented to Rod Hirsch, Operation Shoebox founder.  
 
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 Rotary Club of Hillsborough 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 The Landing Restaurant in Hillsborough.
 
For more information about the event and making cash or in-kind donations, please visit our website hillsboroughnjrotary.com.
 
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