Enroll

The 2009 New Jersey Bocce Invitational is raising donations for Operation Shoebox NJ and Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey.

Operation Shoebox NJ:
To organize the acquisition and shipment of personal items
to our brave men and women serving overseas.

This Includes:
- Raising Money
- Arranging for drop off points for donated items
- Picking up the donations from these drop off points
- The organization of events where volunteers pack these items for shipment
- Shipping the packed boxes.

Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey:
Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey are committed to enhancing the quality of life of children. Boys & Girls Clubs have created a line-up of tested and proven nationally recognized programs that address today's most pressing issues, teaching young people the skills they need to succeed in life. They offer programs in the areas of education, the environment, health, the arts, careers, alcohol/drug and pregnancy prevention, gang prevention, leadership development and athletics.

A LETTER FROM OPERATION SHOEBOX

Hello and welcome!

Operation Shoebox New Jersey, an all-volunteer grass roots organization, was founded in February, 2005, and since that time has shipped over 10,000 care packages to U.S. troops serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and other Middle East locations.

Based in Somerville, N.J., we continue to rely on New Jersey's long-standing tradition of caring, compassion and patriotism to maintain our supply line, and count on the support and generosity of individuals, community organizations and corporations who are in a position to donate time, money, materials or equipment needed to sustain our operation.

Planning for today’s Bocce Invitational began more than one year ago; support from the Italian-American community was immediate, and as our volunteers continued to spread the word, support continued to grow.

Organizations posted the details on their web sites; the media published stories and aired TV and radio interviews. Best of all, word-of-mouth helped bring many of you here today to see first-hand the good work of OPSHBX NJ.

Today, with your help, we hope to pack 1,000 boxes to be sent to US troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and other locations in the Middle East.

Working in conjunction with a network of veterans' organizations, Girl Scouts and Boys Scouts, senior citizen organizations, student groups, religious congregations, youth groups and community organizations, Operation Shoebox New Jersey is a non-profit New Jersey corporation and a qualifying 501(c) (3) tax-exempt organization.

We have received hundreds of letters from the troops overseas thanking the organization and those who wrote cards and letters and contributed personal care items. We invite you to visit our website to read those letters and view the photos of our troops overseas.

We also ask that you please be generous in your support of our efforts. Each package costs $8.95 to ship via the U.S. Postal Service, using the standard Flat Rate Box; Operation Shoebox New Jersey is committed to sending packages overseas as long as there is a need.

I want to personally thank my good friends Frank Valanzola, Pat DeChirico and Frank Provenzano for their untiring efforts to reach out to the Italian-American community to ensure the success of this event.

Their commitment and service typifies the selfless dedication of the growing network of volunteers with whom I have been privileged to work alongside.

I would also like to thank the Somerset County Freeholders; the Somerset County Park Commission and Ray Brown and his staff; the Somerset County Sheriff’s Department; Joe Borin and his fellow aviators; Vincent and Anthony D’Aniello at Manville Pizza & Restaurant; Jeff Neary and The Wine Room; The Italian Tribune and publisher Buddy Fortunato; celebrity impersonators Vince Caravello and Joe Manuella; Bobby Valli; “On the Loose” producer Steve Kaiser, Roma Bank, all sponsors and advertisers and countless others for their support of this tournament and our organization.

We are most grateful for your participation in today’s event, and appreciate any gesture of kindness that will help us continue our efforts. Please contact us if you are interested in becoming a volunteer or want to contribute in some other way.

On behalf of the soldiers, Marines and other members of the U.S. Armed Forces on the front lines, the volunteer staff of Operation Shoebox New Jersey thanks you for your patriotism and looks forward to your continued support.

Respectfully,

Rod Hirsch
Founder/Executive Director
Operation Shoebox New Jersey

A LETTER ON BEHALF OF EMBRACE KIDS FOUNDATION