The Washington Business Improvement District was hoping for a good turnout for its Annual Operation Jersey Cares holiday season collection for troops this year. Good would end up being an understatement. The number of boxes filled with items to make life a little bit easier for service men and women more than doubled from last year’s total of 67. This year, a whopping 138 boxes were filled to the brim, led by the Sons of the American Legion of Belvidere.

“Just unbelievable,” said Melanie Thiel, Executive Director of the WBID. “We were hoping for a good turnout but this was totally amazing. The outpouring of support was incredible.” 

Nearly all WBID businesses participated, as well as many other local businesses and area organizations, as dozens of boxes were filled with a variety of personal care and food items for our troops.

The collection began in mid-November and concluded on Dec. 24. In all, the 138 boxes of items were delivered by Jeff Smith of Smith Motors (pictured above) and Thiel in a packed Smith Motors van to Operation Jersey Cares for distribution to the troops. 

This year’s top collector was the Sons of the American Legion in Belvidere, with 36 total boxes. This was more than twice as many as the next collector, which was 17 from Gibson’s Gym. Round out the Top 5 collectors were Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 12 boxes, Today’s Family Dental, 11, and the Warren Hills Middle School National Junior Honor Society, which brought in nine boxes. 

“It’s so wonderful that what started as just a Washington Borough initiative has become something that goes beyond our borders,” said Thiel. “Washington Borough’s businesses – and the whole town – is proud to lead the way with this holiday project. Our troops deserve our support. We owe them a lot and this is one way we can thank them.”