Packing Events

Dec. 15 - New Jersey's First Lady Mary Pat Christie visited OPSHBX NJ headquarters in New Jersey to honor Rod Hirsch, OPSHBX NJ founder and executive director as a New Jersey Hero. Mrs. Christie, joined by members of her staff and board members of New Jersey Heroes, packed 52 boxes for shipment overseas.  

Dec. 3 - The Hillsborough Rotary Club hosted the First annual Christmas packing at the Hillsborough Elementary School and hosted over 500 volunteers. A total of 1,059 boxes were packed for shipment overseas.

Nov. 19 - Students, parents, friends and family gathered at The Presbyterian Church Pre-School in Middlesex to pack 126 boxes.

Nov. 12 - A milestone was reached today at the Manville VFW during the 7th annual Christmas packing, with gift box #50,000 packed by SSgt. Michael Withrow and his wife Dana. A total of 1,166 boxes were packed. 

Oct. 22- Citi employees joined OPSHBX NJ volunteers during Citi's Global Community Day to pack 152 care packages at the company's campus in Warren; Army Sgt. Sais Singh, who had returned from his third tour in Iraq the previous day, stopped in to visit the volunteers and thank them for their efforts.
Oct.15 -Operation Shoebox New Jersey volunteers, area residents and members of West Milford Presbyterian Church helpped Girl Scout Michele Macheska pack 504 care packages for shipment overseas. Michele collected donations and organized the event to fulfill the community service requirement for the Girl Scout Gold Award.
Sept. 24 - With the help of Operation Shoxbox NJ, the Girl Scouts of Star Valley Council, parents, siblings and friends packed 376 boxes at the North Branch service center(each containing a box of Girl Scout cookies) for shipment to our troops.
Sept.10 -Volunteers from Mt. Freedom Presbyterian Church in Randolph, along with volunteers from Operation Shoebox New Jersey, packed 250 care packages at the church in commemoration of the tenth anniversary of 9/11. The opening ceremony featured renditions of military songs performed by the Police Pipes and Drums of Morris County.
June 25 -Operation Shoebox New Jersey hosted a packing event with the Somerset Patriots at TD Ballpark in Bridgewater; 583 boxes were packed for shipment overseas.
May 28 -Operation Shoebox New Jersey volunteers assisted by The Princeton Spirit Committee and friends packed 200 boxes for shipment overseas at the conclusion of the Princeton Memorial Day Parade.
May 21 - With the help of Operation Shoxbox NJ, the Girl Scouts of Star Valley Council, parents, siblings and friends packed 839 boxes (each containing a box of Girl Scout cookies) for shipment to our troops at the first memorial packing for Spc. Reed in Alpha, NJ.
May 14 - Operation Shoebox NJ volunteers and the employees and families of Chubb Insurance, Warren, NJ packed over 800 boxes for shipment overseas to our troops and raised money for shipping.
April 30 - Operation Shoebox New Jersey volunteers and members of St. Rose of Lima Church in Short Hills friends packed 250 boxes for shipment overseas.
April 30 - Operation Shoebox New Jersey volunteers, along with students and families of Elementary School, Manchester packed 125 boxes for shipment overseas.
April 8 - Danielle Valente of Kinnelon finished off her Girl Scout Gold Award project with friends helping to pack 100 care packages with supplies she collected at her church and a local supermarket. She also collected $803 to help pay for shipment of the packages overseas.
April 2 - Students and parents at St. Michael's School, Cranford and Operation Shoebox New Jersey volunteers packed 360 care packages for shipment to US troops overseas. The students also wrote cards and letters and signed a banner with well wishes for shipment overseas. The students raised over $1,100 in pennies to ship the care packages and the parish held a special collection to raise another $700. Special thanks to Kerri Cartnick for coordinating the packing and collection of supplies.
March 23, 2011 - The students, staff, faculty and PTO at Mt. Horeb Elementary School, Warren, packed 328 care packages for shipment to US troops overseas. The students also wrote cards and letters and signed a banner with well wishes for shipment overseas. The PTO collected donations of food and toiletries at the ShopRite supermarket in Bound Brook Flemington to supplement supplies collected by the students Operation Shoebox New Jersey volunteers.

March 21, 2011 - The students, staff and faculty at Mount Saint Mary's Academy in Watchung packed 100 care packages for shipment to US troops overseas. The students also wrote cards and letters for shipment overseas.

Feb. 12, 2011 - The students, staff, faculty and PTO at Berkeley Heights High School along with the district's middle and elementary schools collected donations and packed 347 care packages for shipment to US troops overseas. The students also wrote cards and letters and signed a banner with well wishes for shipment overseas.

Jan. 13, 2011 - The Webelos of Pack 505 in Sergeantsville packed 100 care packages for shipment to US troops overseas to help satisfy their service project requirement before moving on to become Boy Scouts. The Webelos collected donations of food and toiletries at the ShopRite supermarket in Flemington to supplement supplies collected by Operation Shoebox New Jersey volunteers.

Jan. 29, 2011 - More than 100 Girl Scouts from the Heart of New Jersey Council helped pack 266 care packages at the Bay Leaf VFW Post in Garwood. Each package contained cards and letters and a box of Girl Scout cookies. The girls also signed a banner with well wishes that went overseas with the boxes.

Feb. 5, 2011- Despite icy roads and adverse weather conditions, more than 300 volunteers came out to help commemorate the sixth anniversary of Operation Shoebox New Jersey, packing 1,297 care packages at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2290 in Manville.

Nov. 13 2010 - More than 800 volunteers including Girls Scouts from the Heart of New Jersey Council, the Old Bridge High School Air Force ROTC corps, the Canal Walk Veterans Club of Franklin Township, employees of the Cheesecake Factory in Bridgewater and students from the Robert Treat Academy in Newark helped pack 1,568 holiday care packages at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2290 in Manville at the 6h annual Christmas packing hosted by Operation Shoebox New Jersey. Each Christmas package contained cards and letters, a box of Girl Scout cookies and a candy stocking filled with candy donations collected by several dentists' offices throughout New Jersey in addition to other foods and snacks and toiletry items.

October 23, 2010 - More than 100 employees of CitiGroup and their children helped OPSHBX NJ pack 124 care packages at the CitiGroup Warren Technology Center during CitiGroup's Worldwide Day of Community Caring. Organized by Karen Ferone, volunteers also wrote hundreds of cards and letters that were placed in each box.

October 16, 2010 - More than 300 parishioners from St. Mary's R.C. Church in Colts Neck, joined by other members of the community, helped OPSHBX NJ pack 633 care packages at the parish center. Organized by Phil Limeri, the parish collected donations for several months and raised over $4,000 by having parishoners sign a banner that will be sent overseas to a member of the parish now deployed in Afghanistan. Volunteers also wrote hundreds of cards and letters that were placed in each box.

Sept.11, 2010 - Girl Scouts and their troop leaders from the Heart of New Jersey Council joined OPSHBX NJ volunteers and packed 348 personal care packages at the North Branch Service Center on the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks against the United States. Each package contained a box of Girl Scout cookies donated by the Girl Scouts. The girls also signed a white king size bedsheet and wrote hundreds of cards and letters that were placed in each box.

June 22, 2010 - Students, faculty and staff from the North Plainfield, N.J. school district assisted by OPSHBX NJ volunteers packed 500 care packages at North Plainfield High School. The students also signed a banner that was sent to a teachers' husband now deployed in Afghanistan. Hundreds of cards and letters written by the students were placed in each box. The students also collected more than $3,100 to help pay postage for the boxes.

May 29, 2010 - Volunteers from Princeton and surrounding communities helped OPSHBX NJ and the Spirit of Princeton Committee pack 116 care packages following the Princeton Memorial Day Parade at the Princeton Senior Citzen Resource Center

May 15, 2010 - Girl Scouts, parents and friends from the Heart of New Jersey Council, Star Valley servce unit helped OPSHBX NJ pack 501 care packages at the Alpha Volunteer Fire Company in Warren County to commemorate Armed Forces Day. The girls also signed a white king size bedsheet, crafted American flag pins and wrote hundreds of cards and letters that were placed in each box. The community also collected more than $1,500 to help pay postage for the boxes.

April 24, 2010 - Parishioners at St. Rose of Lima R.C. Church in Short Hills helped OPSHBX NJ pack 219 care packages at the second annual Stewardship Day, which involved several projects devoted to helping others. Parishioners also signed a bedsheet and wrote hundreds of cards and letters that were placed in each box.

March 26. 2010 - Girl Scouts from Troop 60326 and Troop 60812 in Basking Ridge visited OPSHBX NJ headquarters in Hillsborough to pack 36 personal care packages; they were joined by Michael Puetz, a Montgomery soldier home on leave from Iraq who thanked the girls and their leaders for their efforts in support of U.S troops overseas.

Feb. 20. 2010 - More than 700 volunteers including Girls Scouts from the Heart of New Jersey Council, Boy Scouts from the Patriots Path Council, the Old Bridge High School Air Force ROTC corps and the Canal Walk Veterans Club of Franklin Township helped pack 1,075 personal care packages at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2290 in Manville in commemoration of the 5th anniversary of Operation Shoebox New Jersey. Jackie Baldwin of the U.S. Army FreedomTeam Salute presented certificates of appreciation to the volunteers of OPSHBX NJ for their continuing efforts in support of U.S. troops overseas.

Oct. 24, 2009 - More than 100 members of youth groups from 12 AME churches in Monmouth County gathered at the Bethel AME Church in Freehold and assisted by Operation Shoebox New Jersey volunteers wrote cards and letters and packed 151personal care packages for shipment overseas.

Oct. 10, 2009 - The five-time champion Somerset Patriots baseball club of the Atlantic League hosted a volunteer packing at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, with 612 boxes packed for shipment overseas.

Sept. 26, 2009 - More than 100 Girl Scouts and their adult leaders from the Heart of New Jersey Council, assisted by Operation Shoebox New Jersey volunteers wrote cards and letters and packed 290 personal care packages for shipment overseas at the North Branch Service Center.

June 24, 2009 - Two dozen members of the Morris County 4-H Change Club and their adult leaders, with the assistance of Operation Shoebox New Jersey, raised money and purchased enough supplies to pack 78 personal care packages for shipment overseas.

June 20, 2009 - Hundreds of volunteers braved heavy rain and gathered beneath a circus tent to pack 924 boxes that will be shipped overseas to U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. Held in conjunction with the III annual Bocce Invitational at Colonial Park, Franklin, volunteers included members of the Essex County Sheriff Department Police Recruit class and the Boys and Girls Club of America, Union County chapter.

May 29, 2009 - Students and teachers at Bernards High School in Bernards collected and sorted supplies to pack 143 personal care packages for shipment overseas. The students also collected $800 for postage..

May 16, 2009 - Girl Scouts, parents and friends from the Heart of New Jersey Council, Star Valley servce unit helped OPSHBX NJ pack 456 care packages at the Alpha Volunteer Fire Company in Warren County to commemorate Armed Forces Day. The girls also signed a white king size bedsheet, crafted American flag pins and wrote hundreds of cards and letters that were placed in each box. The community also collected more than$1,500 to help pay postage for the boxes.

May 9, 2009 - Students from the Scoth Plains/Fanwood school district in Union County along with their parents helped OPSHBX NJ pack 327 care packages at the Park Avenue school. The students also signed white king size bedsheets and wrote hundreds of cards and letters that were placed in each box. The students also collected more than $500 to help pay postage for the boxes.

April 25, 2009 - Parishioners at St. Rose of Lima R.C. Church in Short Hills helped OPSHBX NJ pack 185 care packages at the first annual Stewardship Day, which involved several projects devoted to helping others. Parishioners also signed a bedsheet and wrote hundreds of cards and letters that were placed in each box.

March 27, 2009 – Operation Shoebox New Jersey volunteers helped Caitlin Reid, 17-year-old junior at Ridge High School working on her Girl Scout Gold Award community service project pack 148 boxes at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Basking Ridge, N.J. A member of Troop 753 for 12 years, she organized the collection of donated supplies at area supermarkets and supervised the entire packing event. Friends and classmates helped pack and wrote cards and letters that were enclosed in the boxes.

March 26, 2009 - Students, teachers and PTO moms at the Mt. Horeb Elementary School in Warren helped OPSHBX NJ pack200 care packages at their school. The students also signed white king size bedsheets and wrote hundreds of cards and letters that were placed in each box. The students also collected more than $2,300 to help pay postage for the boxes.

March 3, 2009 - More than 1,000 kindergarten, first- and second-graders at the Orchard Hill Elementary School in Montgomery helped OPSHBX NJ pack 378 care packages at their school along with teachers, staff and members of the PTO. The students also signed white king size bedsheets and wrote hundreds of cards and letters that were placed in each box. The students also collected more than $1,000 to help pay postage for the boxes.

Feb. 21, 2009 - Hundreds of volunteers packed and shipped 968 personal care packages at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2290 in Manville during the Operation Shoebox New Jersey 4th anniversary packing. Special thanks to Bridgewater musician Alan Grant who debuted his patriotic song, "United We Stand," with his band, "Primitive Soul." Copies of the CD including the song were included in some of the boxes sent overseas.

Nov. 15, 2008 - More than 1,000 volunteers packed and shipped 1,032 holiday gift boxes at the Veterans of ForeignWars Post 2290 in Manville at the 4th annual Christmas Holiday Gift Packing. Girl Scout troops from the Rolling Hills Council donated more than 3,000 boxes of cookies in support of the event. Special thanks to the Old Bridge High School Air Force ROTC color guard and to the students of Robert Treat Academy in Newark for their efforts.

Nov. 8, 2008 - OPSHBX NJ staff, joined by the Family Readiness Group from the Hackettstown Army National Guard Armory, Girls Scouts, Boy Scouts and other volunteers, packed 383 care packages for shipment overseas at Gearhart Chevrolet, Route 46, Denville. Special thanks to Gearhart owner Judith Tilton and employees for their hospitality and donating $1,340 and Debra Bond, a member of the FRG and Gearhart employee for her hard work coordinating the event.

Oct. 28, 2008 - Hundreds of K-8 students at the Hillside Elementary School and the Tenakill Middle School in Closter, N.J. helped OPSHBX NJ pack 277 care packages at each of their schools along with teachers, staff and members of the PTO. The students also signed white king size bedsheets imprinted with red and blue hands which were sent overseas along with hundreds of letters placed in each box. The students collected all of the supplies during a two-week period leading up the packing day. This was the first-ever packing for OPSHBX NJ in Bergen County.

Oct. 5, 2008 - The Young Women's Group of the National Council of Jewish Women, Essex County section, joined with OPSHBX NJ to pack 157 care packages at their first-ever Family Volunteer Day at the Schecter Day School in West Orange. Several area synagogues were involved in the collection effort, as well as students who wrote letters included in each box.

Sept. 27, 2008 - OPSHBX NJ staff, joined by hundreds of Girl Scouts and adult leaders from the Rolling Hills Council, packed524 care packages for shipment overseas at the Rolling Hills headquarters in North Branch. The girls also colored over 1,000 Hero cards and made hundreds of multi-colored beaded bracelets for the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan

Aug. 23, 2008 - OPSHBX NJ staff and volunteers packed 530 boxes at Commerce Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater for
shipment overseas. The packing event was sponsored by the Somerset Patriots and Somerset County Freeholders.

July 2, 2008 - Girl Scouts Melissa Huereca and Melissa Warn, assisted by Operation Shoebox New Jersey volunteers held a packing at OPSHBX NJ headquarters in Hillsborough and shipped 50 boxes to U.S. troops abroad. In the picture Girl Scouts Melissa Huereca, left and Melissa Warn display a banner signed by residents of Hillsborough that was sent in one of the packages sent to U.S. troops overseas. The girls undertook the project to satisfy the community service requirement necessary for the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award and collected supplies and donations the past several months. Special thanks for all their hard work go to Abigail Podejko, 7, Zoe Podejko, 10 and Jaclyn Mishak, 12.

June 28, 2008 - OPSHBX NJ staff and volunteers packed 577 boxes at Veterans Memorial Plaza in Somerville for shipment overseas. The packing event was sponsored by the Somerville Business Association. Special thanks to Stephanie Verb, SBA executive director; the Somerset County Freeholders; the Somerset County Sheriff Department Color Guard; the cadets of the Essex County Police Academy for their help packing; Leigh McLachlan of Annie's Balloon Affair for decorating the plaza; John Harrity of the Somerville School of Music for entertaining the volunteers and Jeff Neary of The Wine Room in Bound Brook for the use of his tent which helped to keep everyone shaded during a hot summer day.

May 17, 2008 - OPSHBX NJ staff, joined by hundreds of volunteers attending the Second Annual Bocce Invitiational Tournament at Colonial Park, Franklin, packed 856 care packages for shipment overseas

April 12, 2008 - OPSHBX NJ staff, joined by volunteers from St. Magdalen's R.C. Church in Flemington packed 250 boxes for shipment overseas. The supply drive and packing event was coordinated by Chris McPherson of the Knights of Columbus. Special thanks to Marty Resnick of Flemington Department Store for transporting supplies from OPSHBX NJ headquarters in Hillsborough to the parish hall and back again.

Feb. 23, 2008 - OPSHBX NJ volunteers assisted students at Scotch Plains/Fanwood High School pack 520 boxes for shipment overseas. The supply drive and packing event was coordinated and supervised by Debora Brody, president of the Scotch Plains Fanwood PTA Council and included all eight schools in the district. Students donated supplies and also wrote cards and letters that were inserted into each package.

Feb. 18. 2008 - OPSHBX NJ volunteers assisted a group of students at Frelinghuysen Middle School in Morristown pack 225 boxes for shipment overseas. The supply drive and packing event was coordinated and supervised by science teacher Carol Guarino; members of the Army National Guard unit in Morristown participated in the packing event, and transported the boxes to OPSHBX NJ headquarters for mailing. Students donated supplies and also wrote cards and letter that were inserted into each package.

Feb. 2 ,2008 - More than 800 volunteers packed and shipped 1,017 boxes at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2290 in Manville to help commemorate the third anniversary of Operation Shoebox New Jersey. Volunteers were assisted by the Manville Post Office.

Jan. 18. 2008 - OPSHBX NJ volunteers assisted a group of 9th-12th-grade students at Bernards High School in Bernardsville pack 100 boxes for shipment overseas as part of the school's observation of Martin Luther King Day. Students donated supplies and also wrote cards and letter that were inserted into each package

Nov. 17 , 2007 - OPSHBX NJ volunteers and more than 100 Citi employees at the company's Warren campus participated in the company's Global Community Day by packing 500 boxes for shipment overseas. The packing was one of 1,000 volunteer events chosen by 55,000 employees worldwide. Citi employees donated supplies and also wrote cards, letters and holiday greetings that were inserted into each gift package.

Nov. 15, 2007 - OPSHBX NJ volunteers helped the 7th grade CCD (Catholic religious education) class from St. Joseph's Parish in East Millstone, N.J. pack 51 boxes at Operation Shoeobox NJ headquarters in Hillsborugh as part of each student's community service requirement. Each holiday gift box contained a letter from the class, which read in part: "We want you to know that you are not forgotten and that what you are doing is appreciated. We will continue to pray for you and all our military personnel, asking the Lord for your well-being and to bring you home soon."

Nov. 15, 2007 ( In memoriam ) - Family and friends of Rudy Riemer, an Iwo Jima Seabee who passed away earlier this year, joined together at Operation Shoebox New Jersey headquarters in Hillsborough to honor his patriotism and celebrate his life, sending 20 care packages overseas in his memory. The family enclosed a letter in each box which read: "Rudy always loved and supported our armed forces and would be delighted that we would honor his memory by sending this token of our support for all you do."

Nov. 10, 2007 - More than 800 volunteers packed and shipped 921 holiday gift boxes at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2290 in Manville. Girl Scout troops from the Rolling Hills Council donated more than 3,000 boxes of cookies in support of the event. Volunteers were assisted by the Manville Post Office.

Nov. 4, 2007 ( In memoriam ) - Family and friends of Joseph Guarino, who passed away earlier this year, joined together at Operation Shoebox New Jersey headquarters in Hillsborough to honor his patriotism and celebrate his life, sending 36 care packages overseas in his memory. "Mr. G" served in the U.S. Navy from 1950-1955.

Oct. 13, 2007 - Girl Scout Brittany Cozza organized and hosted a packing today at the Old Turnpike School in Tewksbury in conjunction with OPSHBX NJ volunteers and packed 104 boxes that will be sent to U.S. troops abroad. Brittany undertook the project to satisfy the community service requirement necessary for the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award; she was assisted by other Girl Scouts and their parents.

Sept. 19, 2007 - OPSHBX NJ volunteers help Merck employees pack and ship 173 boxes aboard the USS New Jersey Battleship in Camden as part of a team building exercise conducted for employees of the pharmaceutial company. Volunteers were assisted by the Camden Post Office.

Aug. 18, 2007 - Volunteers packed and shipped 756 boxes at Commerce Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater. Hosted by the Somerset Patriots, volunteers were assisted by the Somerville Post Office.

June 3, 2007 - Volunteers packed and shipped 632 boxes during the Bocce Invitational Tournament at Colonial Park in Franklin with the assistance of the Somerset Post Office.

May 27, 2007 - Members of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Somerset Hills in Somerville sorted and packed 45 boxes to be shipped overseas.

May 20, 2007 - Members of Temple Har Shalom in Warren sorted groceries that had been donated in the weeks leading up to their May 20 event at the temple, and collected over $1,000 to spend on postage needed to ship 106 boxes.

May 18, 2007 - Students, parents and teachers at the McAfee School in Franklin (K-4th grade) packed 41 boxes for shipment overseas. Each box included cards, letters and pictures drawn by the students, as well as bars of soap that they made from scratch that night.

March 31,2007: Students at North Hunterdon High School packed and shipped 200 boxes assisted by Annandale Post Office.

Feb. 24, 2007: Operation Shoebox New Jersey celebrates its second anniversary, hosted by VFW Post 2290, Manville and assisted by the Manville Post Office. More than 700 volunteers helped pack and ship 1,143 boxes

Dec. 2, 2006: Third Reformed Church, Raritan. Volunteers assisted by the Raritan Post Office packed and shipped 475 boxes.

Oct. 21, 2006: Commerce Bank Ballpark, Bridgewater, hosted by Somerset Patriots. Volunteers assisted by the Somerville Post Office packed and shipped 673 boxes.

May 27, 2006: Commerce Bank Ballpark, hosted by Somerset Patriots. The United States Postal Service set up an "Operation Shoebox Station" auxiliary facility, and helped more than 750 volunteers pack and ship 1,192 boxes.

Feb. 4, 2006: Operation Shoebox New Jersey celebrates its first anniversary, hosted by VFW Post 2290, Manville. More than 1,000 volunteers helped pack and ship 1,465 boxes.

Nov. 5, 2005: Hosted by American Legion Post #327 in Bradley Gardens, volunteers packed 1,000 boxes.

Aug. 12, 2005: Hosted by the Somerville Business and Professional Association and the downtown Somerville District Management Corp., volunteers packed 536 boxes at this event.

May 14, 2005: Hosted by the Somerville Business and Professional Association and downtown Somerville District Management Corp., volunteers packed 600 boxes.