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| Happy Valentine's Day from AlbaniaNew Jersey National Guard Maj. Keith Mackey and other members of the "Striking Eagles" sent a thank you note and Valentine's Day greetings from their chilly, snow-covered base in Albania. "Thank you for your support of my soldiers and myself," the major writes. "The care packages are awesome and greatly appreciated. Please pass on our thanks to all those who assist you in this saintly undertaking." | |
Garden State's first lady honors Operation Shoebox founder as 'New Jersey Hero'Mary Pat Christie visits Hillsborough to help assemble care packages for soldiers serving overseas
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 12/15/11-New Jersey First Lady Mary Pat Christie packs items for Shoebox New Jersey. View Photo Gallery |
HILLSBOROUGH — Rod Hirsch couldn’t quite figure out what to say after being honored by Mary Pat Christie as one of the Garden State first lady’s “New Jersey Heroes,” a group of people regularly recognized by the governor’s office for inspiring others to give back to their communities. The Dunellen resident in 2005 founded Operation Shoebox New Jersey, a nonprofit organization created to spread a little cheer to U.S. military personnel serving overseas by sending them thoughtfully assembled care packages. Not long ago the number of such packages sent by the group surpassed 50,000, all organized out of a small office space near an industrial park off of Route 206. “I’m next to speechless, and that’s a very difficult thing for me,” Hirsch said. “To be singled out in this huge state, where so many good things happen, is special.” |
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Seal Team VI honors Operation Shoebox New Jersey
Hooah! Certificate of Appreciation signed by General David Petraeus, overall US Commander in Afghanistan. View Larger
The Regional Command East Combined Joint Task Force 1 Chaplain's office has received a number of care packages from Operation Shoebox NJ. Chaplain Eric Anderson of the 1st Calvary Division has been kind enough to share
his photo journal of life in a forward area in Bagram, Afghanistan with us. View Journal
Dear Soldier...
Upperclassmen at St. Michael's School in Cranford paired up with the younger students during Catholic Schools Week to write letters to US troops deployed overseas. The letters will be included in care packages that will be packed at the school on Feb. 18. Members of the parish and students have been collecting supplies to ship overseas for the past several months.
To and From the Front
Packages arrive and are distributed to troops in Afghanistan,
August 11, 2011.
Read More
We got those boxes yesterday and today with the help of our operations department we got all the shoe boxes to the flight line and they are heading out to the most needy soldiers. Read More
News, Events and Fundraisers
Feb. 11 – Packing at Gov. Livingston High School, Berkeley Heights
Feb. 18 – St. Michael’s School, Cranford , packing
Feb. 25 – 5th annual Wine Room Reception & Fund-Raising Auction, Bound Brook
March 3 – Star Spangled Banner Fundraiser with Somerset Patriots, Menlo Park Mall, Edison
March 31 – Holland Township Women’s Club packing
April 14 – FanFest TD Bank Ballpark
"Because of the overwhelming support we all receive from OPSHBXNJ, we can enjoy some candy, share a short story, and continue to take the fight to the enemy."
Sept. 10, packing at Mount Freedom Presbyterian Church, Randolph (Morris County); target is 250 boxes.
Sept. 11, Somerville Jazz Fest, downtown Somerville.
Sept. 11, Manville Street Fair, Manville
Sept. 11, TD Bank Ballpark, Double header and sports memorabilia auction.
:: Mary Pat Christie Honors Operation Shoebox NJ
:: Somerset Patriots congratulate Rod Hirsch
:: Milestone within reach at Nov. 12 Christmas packing: 50,000 boxes shipped overseas!
:: Operation Shoebox New Jersey
on TV & radio in NJ, NY & Philly
:: OPSHBXNJ limited-edition 2012 calendars are now available
:: Hillsborough Rotary joins Operation Shoebox New Jersey at 1st annual Christmas packing
:: OPSHBXNJ prominent role in historic exhibit
Bristol-Myers Squibb employees - more than three dozen - volunteered to work the First Base concession stand at TD Bank Ball park on 7/19/11 to help OPSHBX NJ raise money.
Jan. 21 - Despite several inches of snow, 150 members of St. Mary's R.C. Church in Colts Neck joined OPSHBXNJ volunteers to pack 678 boxes for shipment overseas.
Jan. 28 - More than 200 Girl Scouts and leaders from the Heart of New Jersey Council helped pack 349 boxes for shipment overseas at Mother Seton Regional High School in Clark.
Feb. 1 - The freshmen class at Mount St. Mary's Academy in Watchung packed 150 boxes for shipment overseas as part of their celebration of Catholic Schools Week.
IN MEMORIAM: Frank Valanzola
By ROD HIRSCHOperation Shoebox New Jersey has lost one of its best friends and most ardent supporters. Frank Valanzola, a financial advisor and vice president with Morgan Stanley was with us at the very start in 2005 and helped to organize our first public packing event in downtown Somerville just a few months later.
Sadly, Frank passed away Sept. 24, succumbing to cancer at the age of 51.
Frank was a “go to” guy, the one person you would turn to because you knew he would get things done; he was full of ideas, his enthusiasm was contagious and he had boundless energy for the cause. I know, because he and I worked side-by-side as we nurtured a fledgling Operation Shoebox New Jersey from an idea through its early years until it became a strong, vibrant non-profit organization that continues to grow statewide. Read More>
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Operation Shoebox is always in need of volunteers. Want to help out? Register by clicking the button below or click here to see a full listing of packings and events.
Submit the name of a deployed soldier
Have a friend, relative, or loved one overseas? Submit their name here to receive a care package.