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Operation Shoebox New Jersey hosts “A Salute to the Flag” at TD Bank Ballpark on Flag Day, June 14thFans are invited to join the Somerset Patriots as the team signs a commemorative banner of well wishes to US troops that will be sent overseas 
Gates open at 6 p.m. Game time is 7:05 p.m. Huge American flags will be on display on the concourse and on the field. All fans will be handed a miniature American flag as they enter the ballpark, and there will be a parade of flags around the warning track prior to the game. The first 1,500 fans will also receive a red, white & blue cinch sack emblazoned with the Patriots and Operation Shoebox New Jersey logo. The game will be capped off with a magnificent red, white and blue fireworks display sponsored by Operation Shoebox New Jersey. Noted historian and author Richard Pierce will be on hand to sign copies of his book, "The Stars & Stripes, Fabric of the American Spirit." All proceeds will be donated to Operation Shoebox New Jersey. The Somerset Patriots will sign a banner that will be displayed on the concourse for all fans to sign during the game; the banner will be sent to a soldier in Afghanistan inside an Operation Shoebox New Jersey care package; when the soldier returns home with the banner, there will be a special presentation at the stadium later this season or during the 2014 season. Fans will also have the opportunity to sign up for the “Victory Campaign” sponsored by Operation Shoebox New Jersey and the Somerset Patriots. The program helps to ensure the supply line of care packages to US troops overseas continues uninterrupted. Operation Shoebox New Jersey volunteers will also host a table on the concourse and offer children the chance to sign hero cards that will be sent overseas; Operation Shoebox New Jersey will also sponsor a 50-50 raffle during the game.
Throughout the game and during pre-game ceremonies, the scoreboard display screen in right field will display photos of US troops overseas received by Operation Shoebox New Jersey along with excerpts from their letters. Several members of the US military will also be on hand to be honored during the pre-game ceremony. Remember to bring your cameras to record this magnificent red, white and blue tribute. Fans and volunteers of all ages are also invited to return to the ballpark on Aug. 3 to help pack care packages that will be shipped to U.S troops serving in Afghanistan and other overseas locations. The event will begin at 11 am with a brief orientation. Volunteers will then fill care packages with different toiletries, necessities, and food items from bins spread along the main concourse. All volunteers will be asked to write cards and letters to the troops to include in each package. The Patriots have hosted several packings at the ballpark since 2005, when Operation Shoebox New Jersey first began to send personal care packages overseas. The volunteer organization has sent more than 63,000 packages to U.S. troops. "We are proud of our partnership with the Somerset Patriots, an organization that exemplifies the compassion and patriotism that serve as the foundation of Operation Shoebox New Jersey," said Rod Hirsch, founder and executive director. "Spending a day at the ballpark is a true American tradition, symbolized by the huge American flag in centerfield, a stirring reminder of the pride and dedication of US military personnel serving overseas."
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 By Rod Hirsch | Nov,15 2012Banner shipped to Afghanistan is back in the USA - Army SSgt. Jeff Mullins, a Central New Jersey resident, is back home safely from a deployment in Afghanistan, and will return a banner signed by fans and the Somerset Patriots ballplayers at TD Bank Ballpark during June 14 Flag Day ceremonies hosted by Operation Shoebox New Jersey. The banner was rolled up and shipped to Mullins in Afghanistan, where he took photographs of the banner at the base in Kandahar where he was stationed. Mullins will present the banner during the Patriots annual Christmas dinner Dec. 6 at The Palace in Somerset.
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Help Emily and Molly “Save Our Shore”
Emily McEntee and Molly McEntee designed these colorful t-shirts to raise money and help those affected by Super Storm Sandy to rebuild their lives, homes and businesses along the New Jersey Shore. T-shirts are available in both youth and adult sizes. All money raised through the sale of the “Save Our Shore” t-shirts will be donated by Operation Shoebox New Jersey to the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund established by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and First Lady Mary Pat Christie. Each shirt costs $20. Order online by connecting to: http://customstoreonline.com/SOS. All major credit cards are accepted. Emily, 12 and Molly, 9 are the granddaughters of Rod Hirsch, founder and executive director of Operation Shoebox New Jersey who was recognized as a “New Jersey Hero” by the first lady’s New Jersey Heroes Foundation in December, 2011. Operation Shoebox New Jersey is a 501C3 non-profit organization that sends personal care packages overseas to US military personnel in Afghanistan and around the world. Since 2005, volunteers have shipped over 59,000 packages overseas. Operation Shoebox New Jersey has also been sending much-needed supplies to New Jersey National Guard units assisting the clean-up effort in towns up and down the shore, as well as thousands of our New Jersey neighbors in need. Operation Shoebox New Jersey will keep a running tally of shirts sold and the amount of money raised on its website; remember, 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to the relief fund. Further information is available online at www.SandyNJReliefFund.org or www.opshoeboxnj.org  BECOME A PHILANTHROPIST WITHOUT SPENDING A DIMEIf you are already a TD Bank customer, visit any TD Bank location and ask to have your balances included as part of the Operation Shoebox New Jersey Affinity Membership Program; or, open a new account at any office and TD Bank will make a contribution to Operation Shoebox New Jersey. TD Bank will make an annual contribution to Operation Shoebox New Jersey based on the average balance in all members' accounts. Checkings, savings, money market, CD and retirement accounts are all included in the program. If 100 people enroll, and their combined bank balance is $2 million, Operation Shoebox would receive a check from TD Bank for $8,000, based on the ¼ percent rate. (See below). Contributions are calculated at 1/2 percent on checking balances and 1/4 percent on savings, money market, CD and IRA balances. Members' accounts are not affected in any way by this contribution. Your account balances are used to determine the level of contribution and are kept confidential. It costs you nothing! There are several ways to enroll in the program. You must use the following code number: A3342. Call Anthony Franchini, manager of the Hillsborough TD Bank, Route 206, (908) 359-7004 or send him an e-mail - Anthony.franchini@td.com. You can also visit or call your branch of TD Bank; just tell the manager you want to enroll in the program. Remember to use the code number. The Affinity Membership Program is part of TD Bank's philanthropy and community outreach initiative, as required by the Community Reinvestment Act enacted by Congress in 1977 to ensure banks give back to the communities they serve. | ||||
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
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Anthony Franchini, at right, presents a $3,464 check to Rod Hirsch, founder and executive director of Operation Shoebox New Jersey while Somerset County Sheriff Frank Provenzano, a member of the OPSHBX NJ Advisory Board looks on. The check represents the proceeds of TD Bank's confidential Affinity program, which links together the bank account balances of OPSHBX NJ supporters and pays a percentage of that total to OPSHBX NJ annually. |
News, Events and Fundraisers
May 11, Saturday, Route 206, Raritan, Stop & Shop
May 18, Saturday, Armed Forces Day Packing, Alpha Volunteer First Aid Building
May 25, SaturdayPrinceton Spirit Committee, Senior Citizen Center, Municipal Complex
June 8, Saturday, XIII Anniversary Packing, Manville VFW
June 22, Saturday, Frank Valanzola Memorial Bocce Ball Tournament & Packing, Somerset
May 15, 2012 - NJ Hereos Honors LCpl Zachary R. Sandars and Operation Shoebox NJ
May 18 - In celebration of Armed Forces Day, Girl Scouts from the Star Valley Unit, leaders, & community members packed 556 care packages at the Alpha Volunteer Fire Co. building in Warren County.
May 10 - Montgomery Township seniors & volunteers from the Johnson &Johnson Skillman campus packed 60 care packages at the Montgomery community center.
April 27 - Hosted by the West Milford Presbyterian Church Women's Club, OPSHBXNJ volunteers packed 345 care packages for US troops overseas.
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NOSING AROUND!Register
Register for an event or volunteer op
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.