Community steps up to support troops

By KIMBERLY M. WEYANDT

MONTICELLO, NY — On November 14 boxes lined the floor and covered the tables at the Monticello Elks Lodge as parents, friends and community members volunteered to help Operation Support Our Troops, a group that sends goods to soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Each box contained approximately $50 worth of merchandise, ranging from personal care products to newspapers and DVDs. Letters from family and community members as well as elementary-aged children help boost the moral of soldiers, said Stephanie Johnson, organizer for the local branch of the operation.

The list of local soldiers’ names continued to grow throughout the day.

“Our family started by collecting items each week, getting a box ready and asking for an address when we had the box filled,” Johnson said.

“As more and more people learned about what we were doing we ‘branched out’ into community drives. The response from the members of our community is truly amazing. I am always overwhelmed at the generous nature of people.

“We will continue to send packages until each and every soldier returns home,” she said.

To help Operation Support Our Troops, please drop off items at The River Reporter office in Narrowsburg, NY, The Monticello Elks Lodge in Monticello or Frankie and Johnnies Restaurant in Hurleyville. Items may include, but are not limited to, personal care products, socks, foot care products, pens and pencils, greeting cards, snack treats, breakfast bars, energy bars, dried fruit, cookies, tuna and chicken in pop top cans and drink mixes.

For more information call 845/796-2339 or email osot2004@aol.com.