Operation Yellow Ribbon of South Jersey collects winter weather gear for U.S. service members
During the cold winter months, warm weather gear is needed for U.S. service members serving overseas where temperatures plummet. The Head2Toe donation drive has been created to help U.S. service members deployed overseas. The goal is to have the soldiers covered head-to-toe and comfortable. Sports Paradise has teamed up with Operation Yellow Ribbon of South Jersey (OYR) to collect new, unused wool hats, socks and blankets for the troops during the Head2Toe Drive this holiday season. OYR will then ship them to local servicemen station in the Middle East as part of the soldiers’ care packages.
High altitudes and the absence of a sea is part of the reason temperatures can be so drastic during the winter.
“Afghanistan and other areas where US Service men and women are currently deployed are mountainous and very cold, especially in the evenings this time of year where we have received requests for wool hats, socks and blankets,” said Dave Silver, founder of OYR. “We want to provide these items in care packages to help improve morale and keep our US Service Members comfortable. Through generous donations and the help of our volunteers, we have been able to send over 1,300 very substantial care packages year-to-date and are looking forward to getting more out for the holidays including our annual cookie drive on December 3rd.”
The Head2Toe donation drive is running from Nov. 25 to Dec. 25 with the goal of collecting as many of these essential items for the soldiers to make sure they stay warm.
“It was a no brainer for Sports Paradise to get involved, we think this is an important cause and this is a great way for us to help our troops. Something as basic as socks should not be something a soldier should be without, they sacrifice so much and they shouldn’t have to further sacrifice their ability to stay warm while they protect us,” said Jarred Treiber of Sports Paradise.
Both Sports Paradise locations, 560 Stokes Road (Ironstone Village), Medford and 4230 Route 130 N, Willingboro are accepting donations. They will also have socks available for purchase as donations as well.
