Middletown Ships One Ton of Supplies to Adopted Soldiers in Iraq

​For Immediate Release August 27, 2007

​MIDDLETOWN One ton of supplies are on their away to Middletown’s adopted soldiers in Iraq, thanks to an outpouring of support from the community.

Middletown families, civic organizations, Boy and Girl Scout troops, schools, and local businesses generously donated everything from snacks to personal hygiene items such as lip balm and eye drops to Nerf footballs and video games. New Jersey state flags donated by state Senator Joseph Kyrillos, drawings from the Middletown Arts Center’s Summer Camp programs and cards from the Middletown Senior Center were also included in this first shipment to Iraq.

Middletown adopted 59 paratroopers from Charlie Company, 1st Brigade, Special Troops Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division through American Supporting Americans, a non-profit organization that links communities around with the nation with military units.

Key supporters of Middletown’s Adopt-A-Unit program are Middletown’s Office of Emergency Management, and Middletown VFW Post No. 2179. Donations were boxed by volunteers from Middletown’s Office of Emergency Management. Shipping costs were donated by Middletown Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2179. The local VFW also helped welcomed Charlie Company’s commander, Captain Michael Donahue, his first Sgt. Stephen Smith when they visited Middletown this earlier summer.

“We hope this will be first of many shipments Middletown can make to Charlie Company and their fellow soldiers through the continued support of the community,” said Mayor Gerard P. Scharfenberger. Charlie Company will be stationed overseas for more than a year.

Donations can be brought to township facilities including Town Hall, Parks and Recreation facilities, and the Main Library. Items to donate include dental care, batteries still in their original packaging, foot powder, cotton or wool socks, non-perishable snacks, reseablable storage bags, eye drops and lip balm. No aerosol cans! Cards and letters are also appreciated. A full list of items to donate can be found at www.middletownnj.org.

Call Mayor’s Office Scharfenberger’s office at 732-615-2024 or send an e-mail to [email protected] for more information.

* Slideshow of troops receiving packages

* Press Release & Photo Gallery