14th District Team Fundraising Effort with FMBA Will Provide Almost 2,200 Calling Cards To Troops Deploying to Afghanistan During the Holiday Season
(LAWRENCEVILLE) — Central Jersey lawmakers Senator Linda R. Greenstein (D-Plainsboro) and Assemblyman Wayne P. DeAngelo (D-Hamilton) will take part in a very special town hall with members of the 119th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion to present soldiers with international calling cards through the “Calling Cards for the Troops” so they can call home during the holiday season.
The meeting will be led by New Jersey National Guard Adjutant General Glenn Reith as the servicemen and women finish preparations to deploy to their posts in Afghanistan.
Since December 1, 2010, Senator Linda Greenstein and Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo have partnered with the State Fireman’s Mutual Benevolent Association (FMBA) to raise funds to pay for telephone calling cards for the troops to call home. In just two weeks, Greenstein and DeAngelo and the FMBA raised almost $7,000 in donations for the calling cards that will be provided to Troops deploying to be stationed in Afghanistan.
Thanks to the generous support of area residents, the number of cards that have been purchased will more than double from 865 last year to almost 2,200 this year.
WHAT: The “Calling Cards for the Troops” presentation during a pre-deployment town hall meeting
WHO: New Jersey National Guard 119th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion on
Senator Linda R. Greenstein
Assemblyman Wayne P. DeAngelo
New Jersey Adjutant General Glenn Reith
Mr. Bill Lavin, president, NJ FMBA
WHEN: 11:30 am on Thursday, December 16, 2010
WHERE: National Guard Armory
101 Eggert’s Crossing Rd, Lawrenceville, N.J.
MISC: Members of the press attending the Town Hall will need to bring their official press credentials.
“The out-pouring of generosity from the local community to support the ‘Calling Cards for the Troops’ program has been incredibly heartwarming. 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 these calling cards connect families with deployed loved ones who are separated from them this time of year.”
“We are truly thankful and humbled by the outstanding level of support from local residents who gave from their hearts to support the troops who give so much for our safety and freedom. As we gather together in the coming weeks with friends and family members, we hope that the small connection of a phone call will bring joy to the troops separated from their loved ones. We wish our servicemen and women well and a safe return to their families,” said DeAngelo.