Donation Drive For Afghan Refugees Organized In Berkeley

BERKELEY, NJ — Ocean Mental Health Services in Bayville is collecting donations to help Afghan refugees who have arrived in New Jersey.

The Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is providing temporary housing to Afghan refugees as the United States withdraws its military presence, according to federal officials.

The donation drive is collecting these items for adults and children:

• bottled water
• female conservative clothes (nothing tight fitting)
• male clothes
• winter jackets
• new shoes
• gloves
• feminine hygiene pads
• wheelchairs
• walkers and canes
• smart phones
• female scarves
• diapers
• kids clothes
• formula
• baby bottles
• pacifiers
• baby wipes
• soccer balls
• toys that don't have instructions (blocks/trucks)
• pencils and crayons
• notebooks
• school supplies

Items can be dropped off Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 160 Route 9 in Bayville.

The Ocean MHS Phoenix Program organized the drop-off location. The Phoenix Program serves military service members and veterans with serious mental illness (SMI) or co-occurring disorders (COD), along with their family members in Ocean County.

Ocean MHS joined the initiative led by the American Red Cross with support from the New Jersey State Veterans Chamber of Commerce. Ocean MHS is currently among 13 drop-off locations across the state.

For more information contact the Ocean MHS Phoenix Program at 732-349-1977, ext.601 or email phoenix@oceanmhs.org.

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