Morris Teen Gets Thousands Of Dollars' Worth Of Donations For Local Veterans

MORRISTOWN, NJ — A Morristown teenager’s fundraiser to fill a World War II-era Jeep with items for veterans received over $1,300 in monetary contributions, and filled several vehicles with donations from the community.

Nicholas Heusel and his mom Michele said the contributions from neighbors, the Morris School District community, and other supporters ended up filling two rooms of their house, and totaled close to $7,000 worth of items.

"It surpassed my expectations," he said of the drive. "I think it went really well."

The Morristown High School junior, whose grandfather served in World War II, launched the "Help Me Fill a Willy's Jeep" campaign earlier this year to support veterans receiving care at the Lyons VA Hospital.

The Willys MB was used by the U.S. Army and the Allied forces in World War II — including by Michele's father, Dr. Robert Newhouse of Florham Park. Newhouse served with the 78th Infantry Division during the Battle of the Bulge, and will celebrate his 100th birthday later this year.

Michele said that after Nicholas publicized the fundraiser through the Morris School District district and talked with Patch in February, Nicholas was flooded with supportive emails from supporters and messages from Amazon donors.

"Somebody would say, 'My father was in the Battle of the Bulge,' and 'Thank you Nick, you rock," she said. "Just things to root him on and keep encouraging and motivating him. It was really amazing. People really wanted to give back and help."

Nicholas is a member of the New Jersey Military Transport Association, and several group members brought their Willys Jeeps to join a more modern Jeep Wrangler and a Jeep Gladiator for a drive to the Lyons VA Medical Center several weeks ago.

They loaded up the vehicles with items for veterans receiving care throughout the medical center, including: Snacks and cereal, coffee and creamer, two coffee makers, clothing, slippers, blankets, activity books and other arts materials, and Dunkin' gift cards.

"It was great having the amount of support that I did, especially from my parents, the school, the MTA club, and the community to really make it a great fund drive," Nicholas told Patch.

Michele her high school friend Andrea Antonelli, who is Parade Chairwoman for the MTA,, drove some of the food donations up a week before in a Humvee.

The non-profit Military Transport Association preserves military vehicles and their history, holds its own events for veterans, and participates in parades throughout the state. They also host an annual military vehicle show and swap meet in Augusta — which is coming up on April 27 and 28. The MTA was founded in 1972.

MTA president Gary Schultz was one of the members who went with Nicholas, Michele, and other volunteers to drive the boxes and bags full of items up to the Medical Center.

"When (Nick) came up with the 'Fill a Willy's Jeep' idea, I thought that it was a really ambitious effort to help our veterans," said Schultz, who has been a member of the organization for 42 years.

Schultz said Nicholas "has been very instrumental and active" in many events since he joined with his parents three years ago. And, Schultz mentioned that making an Amazon wish list to help veterans is something that older members had not yet thought of.

"For a younger member like Nicholas to think of these new, innovative ways to raise donation supplies, it really worked out," he said.