14th District Representatives Team with FMBA to Provide Calling Cards to Deployed Troops to Connect with Family During the Holiday Season
(HAMILTON TWP.) — To help New Jersey families keep in touch with loved ones in the military deployed during the holiday season, Senator-elect Linda Greenstein and Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo are partnering with the State Fireman’s Mutual Benevolent Association (FMBA) to raise funds to pay for telephone calling cards for the troops to call home. Greenstein and DeAngelo today announced that their district offices will serve as donation locations for the annual “Calling Cards for the Troops” program coordinated by the state FMBA under the direction of Paul Palombi.
Through financial donations from New Jerseyans, the program provides 15-minute international calling cards to service men and women deployed overseas during the December to January holiday season. Program organizers coordinate with officials at the National Guard Armory in Lawrenceville, New Jersey to ensure that the calling cards reach the troops in time to call home.
“The men and women of our nation’s military are giving the ultimate sacrifice for our safety and security. We are proud to be doing a small part to help connect the families of our Troops who are bearing the responsibility of being deployed in dangerous corners of the world,” said Greenstein (D-Plainsboro). “We hope that area residents join us in donating even a few dollars to help support the Calling Cards for the Troops program.”
“It is incredibly difficult to be separated from your loved ones for extended periods of time. As a father, I can only imagine how tough it must be for these families to be apart and how much it will mean for them to be able to speak to one another even for a short period of time during this holiday season. We encourage our neighbors and friends to help bring together loved ones and a deployed serviceman or woman for just a short time,” said DeAngelo (D-Hamilton).
Last year, the “Calling Cards for Troops” program raised $2,800 to pay for the distribution of 865 calling cards (valued at $3.50 each.) Greenstein and DeAngelo hope to help the group reach their goal of sending 1,000 calling cards to deployed Troops this year.
Area residents can drop off a financial donation or a pre-purchased 15-minute international calling card at either of the Greenstein-DeAngelo district offices: 7 Centre Drive, Suite 2 in Monroe Township or 2239 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road, Suite E in Hamilton Township. Cash donations as well as check (made payable to NJFMBA Central District) will be accepted until December 10, 2011 in order to allow sufficient time to ship the calling cards overseas to the Troops.
Those wishing to support the “Calling Cards for Troops” collection drive can call (609) 631-7501 or (609) 395-9911 for more information.