It doesn't take much to make a soldier's day when he or she is far from home; and New Jersey credit unions now have the chance to put a smile on a soldier's face as the latest sponsors of a platoon as part of the Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon (AaSP) program.
AaSP, a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity, supports our brave men and women serving in the Armed Forces by sending donated care cartons to platoons overseas. Care cartons are made up of donated items to help improve our troops' morale, such as food, snacks, personal care products, mobile exercise gear, DVD players, entertainment amenities, etc.
N.J. credit unions are the sponsors of the SECFOR Platoon of the 2-113th Infantry, N.J. Army National Guard; a group of 42 New Jersey soldiers currently deployed to Afghanistan. As sponsors, N.J. credit unions can supply these soldiers with the everyday items they need while stationed in Afghanistan. Credit unions can donate the items by sending them to the New Jersey Credit Union League, which will then send the packages along to AaSP.
Please mail or drop off items to the League offices by December 2, 2011.
The soldiers of the SECFOR Platoon need food, snacks, personal care products, entertainment, and more. A simple contribution of daily items can truly go a long way to give these brave soldiers a little piece of home.
Below, find a full list of the specific items requested. We ask that you please stick to this list.
| Food: |
|
Personal Care: |
| Protein bars |
|
AXE Body Wash, Deodorant, and Shampoo |
| Granola bars |
|
Dove Men's Care Body Wash, Deodorant, and Shampoo |
| Tuna in foil packs |
|
Soap |
| Sardines |
|
Q-Tips |
| Slim Jims |
|
Foot Powder |
| Beef jerky |
|
Golf Bond Powder |
| Skippy Natural Peanut Butter |
|
Toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss |
| Almonds |
|
Purel Hand Sanitizer |
| Trail Mix |
|
|
| Cashews and other nuts |
|
Environment: |
| Coffeemate |
|
Fly strips |
| Splenda |
|
Mouse traps |
| Sugar (in packets) |
|
Hand warmers for winter |
| Hot chocolate powder |
|
|
| Drink powders (with electrolytes, such as Gatorade powder packs) |
|
|
| Energy drinks (non-carbonated, such as 5 Hour Energy) |
|
|
| |
|
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| Entertainment: |
|
Other: |
| Xbox 360 games |
|
Chewing Tobacco (Skoal long cut, wintergreen and mint) |
| Soduko books |
|
Cigars |
| Darts (they have a dart board) |
|
Sports, hunting, fishing, and car magazines |
| PSP hand held systems and games |
|
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| MP3 players that play movies |
|
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Over 90% of the funds raised by AaSP go to care cartons as well and monetary donations are also welcome.
Click
here get to know the soldiers of SECFOR platoon.
For more information on AaSP, visit
www.adoptasoldierplatoon.org.
For more information on how your credit union can get involved, please contact Candice Nigro at 800-792-8861 ext. 110 or at
cnigro@njcul.org.