Somerset Patriots ballplayers pitch in to pack care packages for US troops overseas

       

         BRIDGEWATER - Somerset Patriots ballplayers will drop their bats and gloves on the field and climb the steps to the concourse where they will help volunteers put together personal care packages for US troops deployed overseas at TD Bank Ballpark on Saturday, Aug. 3.

                The VIII annual Somerset Patriots packing begins at 11 a.m. on the concourse with an orientation and opening ceremony. Volunteers can enter the ballpark through the main gate.

                All volunteers will be given a voucher good for a free ticket to a future Patriots game.

                The ballpark will be busy that day. In addition to the packing, several hundred season ticket holders have been invited to the ballpark to partake in batting practice on the field, with check-in scheduled between 10:45 am-12:30 p.m.  The Patriots will play the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs at 7:05 p.m.

                Those who attend the packing are encouraged to bring donations of food and toiletry items. Personal or travel size items are preferred. Suggested personal care items include toothbrushes and toothpaste; shampoo; moist wipes; foot powder; razors and ear swabs. Needed food items include beef jerky, cans of tuna; cans of fruit; small bags of snacks; one-ounce boxes of cereal; microwave popcorn; trail mix and dry soup.

                Operation Shoebox will also feature a selection of shirts, hats and other items to raise funds used to ship the care packages overseas.

 Please email NLL@berkeleycollege.edu to sign up!

Honoring our Heroes!

Nicole Turnbull here, Director of Student Development and Campus Life at Woodland Park and Paramus at Berkeley College. I have a confession to make - I am a proud military sister! I am so thankful for all of our Berkeley students who have served our country in the United States military and so happy they chose Berkeley College to further their education. 


Check out this great video of my brother, Air Force Staff Sergeant Kyle Luthman and cousin Nels Luthman, Vietnam Army Veteran, being interviewed for Cablevision. They discuss their work as Military Working Dog Handlers and how much it means to receive a care package when you are deployed overseas. They were recently honored at the Somerset Patriot's Stars and Stripes Game on Sunday, July 7, 2013. Rod Hirsch, also gives some info about Operation Shoebox, of which he is the founder and Executive Director. 

Left to Right: Sparky Lyle, SSgt Kyle Luthman, MWD (Ret.) Fara, Nels Luthman, Rod Hirsch

You will soon be hearing more about our Berkeley College Operation Shoebox packing event, planned for October of this year. Woodland Park Student Denise Castillo and I had a great time helping to pack over 230 care packages on Saturday, July 13 at Verona Park during the Anthony Fasano Foundation Bocce Bash fundraiser event! To read more about the Bocce Bash, click here.

Left to Right: Denise Castillo, Nicole Turnbull

A big thank you to all of our troops deployed overseas and all of the veterans who have protected our freedom. We salute you!

Join our team in the fight to help create a world without type 1 diabetes!

Image from www.jdrf.org

Join us for the 5K JDRF Walk on Sunday, October 13. 

Location:

Express Scripts
100 Parsons Pond Drive
Franklin Lakes, NJ

Time:

Registration starts at 9:00 AM

Walk starts at 10:00 AM

We're taking steps to help JDRF progressively remove the impact of type 1 diabetes (T1D) from people's lives until no one has to fear developing this disease. By joining our Walk to Cure Diabetes team and making a donation to JDRF, you'll raise money to help fund critical T1D research and create a world without T1D.

Type 1 diabetes is a life-threatening autoimmune disease in which a person's pancreas stops producing insulin. It strikes both children and adults suddenly and changes life as they know it forever. It cannot be prevented and there is no cure.

JDRF is the only global organization with a strategic research plan to fight T1D. Every dollar JDRF is able to direct toward research comes from donors like you.

The challenge we've set ourselves - to raise money for JDRF and to walk - is modest compared to the daily challenges of life with T1D, which involves a 24/7, unrelenting cycle of blood sugar testing and insulin injections to manage the disease.

Will you accept the challenge to make a difference by walking with us? Visit our fundraising page here or copy/paste  http://www2.jdrf.org/goto/BerkeleyCares into your browser and click the "Join this Team" button, make a donation, and start fundraising!

Thank you for your support, and we'll see you on Walk day!