Letter: Donations in Red Boxes Will Assist Vets

Editor's Note: Emie Williams, 15, is a Basking Ridge resident earning her Gold Award by collecting donations for veterans at the . As part of that effort, she said she will place red boxes in Basking Ridge before the , and asks that donations be placed inside.

She said that a box also will be placed for a few weeks outside her home at 86 Woods End Drive. She is a sophomore at Gill St. Bernard's School in Peapack-Gladstone.

To the Editor,

Memorial Day is traditionally a day to honor the veterans who have given their lives for our country. I would also like to make it a day that honors those who have sacrificed so much for our country and who are alive and now really in need of our community’s help.

A big part of our community is the VA. A wonderful organization within the VA is Community Hope which helps the homeless vets in many ways. Their services include securing jobs, offering counseling and providing these men and women with temporary shelter while they rebuild their lives. 

My name is Emie Williams, and I am a Senior Girl Scout working on my Gold Award. My goal is to increase awareness and support for Community Hope’s homeless vets. My plan is to focus my efforts through students in our schools and youth groups in our churches and to get as much of our community involved as possible in collections at Memorial and Veteran’s Day.

If people are coming out to the Basking Ridge celebrations on Monday, please look for the bright red donation boxes in front of(across the street from Bank of America) on South Finley Ave.

The vets could use: food (canned goods, pasta, cereals and those reusable cloth bags), clothing (hats, socks, undergarments, ponchos), or toiletries (toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors, shaving cream, deodorant, shampoo and conditioner, soap).

Your generosity can help give these men and women the support they need to rebuild their lives.  Every little bit makes a difference and lets them know how much we care about the sacrifices they’ve made!  

Please donate and help make a huge difference in the lives of these veterans.  Thank You!

Emie Williams

86 Woods End Drive

Basking Ridge

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