Goods For Troops To Be Collected at Jefferson Day

The following is from the Jefferson Arts Committee:

As there is still an American presence in Afghanistan, member Jack Kelly has resurrected the 2006 committee to address the personal needs of our troops, specifically Jefferson Township residents.  Kelly has been in close contact with Jefferson resident Colonel Jeff Elam, who is presently on assignment in Kabul working on engineering projects for the US Army.

At the Committee booth on July 14th, member Faye Woomer will monitor the Bean Jar Contest where members of the public will be able to make a monetary donation and enter a guess as to how many beans are in the jar.  Each person making a donation will receive a small American flag (while supplies last).  The winner who guesses the correct number of beans in the jar will receive a large American flag that can be flown on a flag pole. 

The Operation Enduring Freedom Committee is looking for more volunteers and asking other groups and organizations to join in promoting and preparing care packages for our military men and women.  In addition to the initial collections beginning on July 14th, collection containers will be set up in stores, banks, etc.; and donation monies will be used to purchase items requested and help cover postage costs.

The wish list of items to be collected includes Keurig coffee K-cups, iTunes gift cards, peanut/nuts/dried fruit snack packs (or other grab-and-go single-serving snack packets), coffee beans or fresh ground coffee, new release movies/DVDs (1 or 2 copies of each that will be added to the library and passed around), bread machine mixes, bath and body lotions for the women,  chocolate  bars,  Girl Scout cookies are always welcome, Amazon gift cards, new or recent best seller fiction and non-fiction books, laundry soap and dryer sheets (either packets or small bulk containers), and beef jerky. 

The Committee also wishes to compile a list of Jefferson Township residents who are presently serving their country in Afghanistan.  Anyone wishing to submit  the name of a Jefferson Township resident who is serving in Afghanistan should contact committee member Donna West by mail at P.O. Box 2604, Oak Ridge, NJ 07438; call 973-697-5520; or email donna.jeffersonarts@gmail.com with the individual’s full name, his/her unit and APO mailing address as soon as possible. Names can also be left at the Jefferson Township Day booth.