Volunteers from Operation Shoebox New Jersey will collect donations of personal care items at the 3rd Annual Somerville Jazz Festival on September 11 that will be packaged and shipped to members of the US military deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Those who make a donation at the festival will also be asked to sign a banner that will be packaged and shipped overseas as a gesture of friendship and support, an OPSHBX NJ tradition that has seen dozens of banners sent as gifts to US troops overseas.
The non-profit organization, founded in Somerville in 2005, has shipped more than 47,000 personal care packages overseas, a grass-roots effort that has involved tens of thousands of New Jersey residents.
Those who wish to donate items for the OPSHBX NJ care packages are asked to bring:
- Lip Balm
- Sun Block
- Moist Wipes
- Toothpaste & Toothbrushes
- Bug Spray - Non-aerosol
- Bars of Soap
- Small Bottles of Shampoo
- Body Wash
- Body Lotion
- Hand Sanitizer
- Deodorant - Non-aerosol
- Powder
- Eye Drops
- Razors
- Powdered Drink Mixes
- Cereal/Snack/Granola Bars
- Instant Oatmeal - Individual Packets
- Boxes of Hot Chocolate - Individual packets
- Small Cans of Tuna with Pop-tops
- Small cans of Fruit with Pop-tops
- Microwave Popcorn - Individual Bags
- Athletic Socks
- Batteries - All Sizes
- Gum
- Candy
- Small Boxes of Cereal
- Small Bags of Trail Mix, Peanuts, Pretzels
Financial support is also needed; each box is shipped Parcel Post via the US Postal Service. The average cost per box is $25. Operation Shoebox New Jersey is a registered 501C3 non-profit corporation and all donations are tax deductible.
Letterhead and coloring cards will be provided for visitors to write messages of support and thanks to US troops in Afghanistan and Iraq which will be included in the care packages shipped overseas.
For more information on Operation Shoebox, visit – www.opshoeboxnj.org – or call OPSHBX NJ headquarters, (908) 698-0333.