The Alternative Press

STANHOPE, NJ – Since September 11 2001, the Stanhope Public School District has remembered the troops overseas, through their effort, “Operation Forget Me Not”. And the program has especially returned over the last two years, stronger than ever.

“We wanted to bring it back in force with the Stanhope Family Community,” said Kindergarten Teacher and one of the coordinators, Carole Grube. Grube heads up the program along with Fourth Grade Teacher Lisa Benedetto, and Special Education Teacher Patti Lusto.

Grube said the care packages are assembled for anyone members of the community ask for help with.

“It’s anyone in our community who has an address,” said Grube. “And they don’t have to be from Stanhope.”

Over the years, more than 200 packages have been sent from the school. This year, nine packages have been sent, and Grube said many that have received packages have served seven month tours, and are already home.

Of the nine packages, eight have gone to Afghanistan to Army and Marine personnel. One was sent to Virginia and the Department of State to a Lenape Valley Graduate, on behalf of someone they know who is serving.

Grube said the school has received feedback from one of the recipients.

“He loved it!” she exclaimed. The person who received it shared his package among friends.

“The cards made them laugh for how cute they are,” said Grube. “A lot of people don’t get packages so it’s very sad. I think they try to share.”

She said the students are very excited to create the packages.

“I explain they are away from their families protecting us, and want us to be safe,” Grube said.

There is a standard list of items being requested. Grube also suggested, “They need things they can put in their pockets, like individual bags of peanuts, Swedish Fish, and hard candies.”

Items requested are: donation toward shipping (it costs about $14.00 per box for postage), personal notes/cards/drawings (first names only from students), Bubbles (the soldiers say the children love these), Hacky Sacks/Yo Yo’s/Slinky/Soccer Balls, Boxed Cookies/Girl Scout Cookies, Pez with dispensers, Life Savers/Swedish Fish/Twizzlers/Tootsie Rolls/Gum/bubble gum/lollipops, Slim Jims/Beef Jerky, Travel Size: toothbrushes, lotion, powder, unscented, deodorant, hand sanitizer, Brushups/Listerine Strips/Lip Balm, Handi Wipes/Baby Wipes/Body Wipes, New/Like New Magazines, child sized flip flops/crayons/pens/inexpensive sunglasses, Music CD's/DVD/s, white tube socks, Odor Eaters, and batteries.

Donors are welcome to drop off items for the care packages to the Stanhope Valley Road Elementary School’s main office, or contact Grube at: cgrube@stanhopeschools.org.