Holiday cookie drive gives treats to troops
The 8th Legislative District Office is teaming up with Operation Yellow Ribbon of South Jersey to host the cookie drive.
The 8th Legislative District Office is teaming up with Operation Yellow Ribbon of South Jersey to host a holiday cookie drive to send treats to troops deployed in the Middle East.
Senator Dawn Marie Addiego, Assemblymen Ryan Peters and Joe Howarth and volunteers will be on hand during the drive on Saturday, Dec. 1, to pack and box the donated baked goods and store bought items.
While Operation Yellow Ribbon and the 8th District Legislators are packing up, Santa will be making the trip from the North Pole to welcome people who make donations.
The drive will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the 8th District Legislative Office at 176 Route 70, Suite 13 in Medford.
Every treat collected will be shipped out to military members on an Operation Yellow Ribbon care package mailing list on Monday, Dec. 3. Last year, the cookie drive resulted in 6,000 pounds of cookies for appreciative soldiers overseas.
Baked goods, store bought cookies and treats will all be accepted. Please bring your cookies in layers in large Ziploc bags or Glad disposable containers. Cookie tins will be accepted, but are not preferred because of their weight and cost to ship. Containers will not be returned.
People are also encouraged to write unsealed notes and put them in the bags with the cookies and treats to add an extra personal touch. Families and children can create their own holiday card to put with the cookies or write a letter of support and encouragement. Adults should feel free to include a personal e-mail if they would like a response, but it is not guaranteed that recipients will respond as some do not have e-mail access. Please do not include last names, addresses or phone numbers of children.
If you cannot make it during the drop off day, you can drop cookie and other treats off to Family & Co. Jewelers on 65 NJ-70 in Marlton or the Runnemede VFW Post 3324 on 600 N Black Horse Pike in Runnemede.
