This Spring, please join Saint Michael’s School & Parish community as we support our troops through a number of activities sponsored by Operation Shoebox.

There are many ways you can take part in this effort:

First, we are asking our students to collect pennies or spare change (see the Penny Drive flyer » - print, post, and distribute). The money collected will go to Operation Shoebox NJ to assist them in shipping care packages to men and women serving our country in Iraq and Afghanistan. The penny drive will start on Wednesday, February 16th when the children can begin to bring in the coins and spare change -- nickels, dimes, and quarters are welcomeand encouraged. Each classroom will have marked containers for donations and after the end of the collection on Monday, March 28th, the class with the most money collected wins a cupcake party.

Another way you can help is to join Saint Michael’s School & Parish families on Saturday, April 2, 2011 between 12 Noon and 5 PM in the Saint Michael’s School Cafeteria (see the Operation Shoebox flyer » - print, post, and distribute). We'll meet there to hold a "packing event” to support the Operation Shoebox organization, which is an all-volunteer grass roots organization dedicated to collecting and shipping donated care packages to U.S. troops based in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places.

You can also decide to donate items and/or help pack shoeboxes that day. Your welcome gifts can be dropped off during school hours beginning Monday February 14th at the school or parish center.

Among the suggested items are lip balm, sun block, moist wipes, bug spray, bars of soap, small bottles of shampoo, deodorant, powdered drink mixes, cereal/snack/granola bars, boxes of hot chocolate (w/individual packets), small cans of tuna - with pop-tops, small cans of fruit - with pop-tops, microwave popcorn, athletic socks, batteries – all sizes, gum, candy, small bags of trail mix, peanuts, or pretzels.

Please note that aerosol products cannot be shipped overseas.

If you can volunteer or need more information please contact Kerri Cartnick at 908-709-1768 or cartnick@comcast.net.