Orangetown Employees Supporting Troops Overseas

Karen Serafin said she was starting to run out of space in her living room.

That is because the Town of Orangetown employee ran a collection for the 101st Exhibitionary Battalion in Afghanistan, gathering enough supplies to fill 25 boxes that she shipped out this week.

Another Orangetown employee, Darrell Butler, was deployed as part of the 101st six months ago and Serafin wanted to support him and his unit.

"I decided people in his company needed help besides just him. I organized Operation Butler," Serafin said. "I asked for donations. We know wh at they need. Mouthwash. Tootpaste. Whatever you can think of to mail them. They don't have stores around the corner."

Serafin said town department heads, other town employees including Orangetown Police Lt. Anthony Mercurio and the Pearl River Elks Club all helped with the collection and local stores donated boxes and money for shipping.

"It was a real collaborative effort," Serafin said. "(Butler) is also a volunteer in the Sparkill fire house and an all-around great guy. I wanted to make sure he was taken care of. He's doing the right thing for us. everybody should be doing the right thing for our military and never forget them."