Support the Troops -- Adopt A Unit
Red Cross Asks for Community Support with Campaign That Brings
"Comforts of Home" Packages to New Jersey Military Members Serving Overseas
 

Date:	October 20, 2008
Contact:	Diane Concannon, 609.951.2116; (cell) 609.206.4043 concannond@njredcross.org

PRINCETON, NJ, October 20, 2008 – The American Red Cross’ Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) program supports activities of the military that affect the health, welfare and morale of service members and their families. Through one of these services, the Central New Jersey Red Cross Chapter sends “Comforts of Home” packages to military units serving overseas. These packages include basic comfort items such as pocket-sized hand sanitizers, puzzle books, wet wipes and telephone calling cards. Red Cross volunteers also include letters and cards of encouragement written by local groups, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, and schoolchildren.

In June, more than 3,000 military members from New Jersey were deployed overseas, joining hundreds from New Jersey already serving. The American Red Cross of Central New Jersey hopes to continue and expand sending these packages and is asking the community to help support the effort by joining the Adopt A Unit campaign.

“The recent deployment was the largest from New Jersey since World War II,” said American Red Cross of Central New Jersey CEO Kevin Sullivan. “Our service men and women have told us how much they appreciate these packages and we’d like to invite our Central New Jersey community to help with this effort and show their support to those men and women serving our country.”

With the Adopt A Unit campaign, groups (any size – co-workers, organizations, schools, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops) collect needed comfort items to help fill packages; write letters of appreciation to service members; and/or assist with financial donations to help defray program costs like shipping. The extent of the involvement is at each group’s discretion.

To get involved, contact the American Red Cross of Central New Jersey at 609-951-8550 to register your group and find out what specific items are needed for collection and additional details about how your group can help. Visit www.njredcross.org for more detail on the Adopt A Unit campaign.

The American Red Cross of Central New Jersey serves the people of Mercer, Middlesex, Hunterdon and parts of Somerset counties, helping our community prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Last year, 1,229 volunteers and 25 full or part-time employees helped the 765 victims of 132 fires, floods and other disasters in Central New Jersey; trained 55,562 residents with First Aid, CPR or other lifesaving skills; delivered 45,576 nutritious meals to homebound and elderly; and provided care and support to 196 military families. Central New Jersey residents donated 14,647 pints of blood through the Red Cross Blood Donor Center in Princeton or American Red Cross blood drives throughout our service area. The American Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work. For more information on the programs and services of the Red Cross and to learn how you can get involved, visit www.njredcross.org or call 609-951-8550.

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707 Alexander Road, Suite 101, Princeton, NJ 08540-6311. 609-951-8550 . Fax: 609-951-9787
Hunterdon Branch: 349 Route 31 South, Suite 501, Flemington, NJ 08822 . 908-782-4121 . Fax: 908-782-2864
www.njredcross.org