Support troops through twp. collection drive

Brick Township will host a "Support the Troops" drive to show members of the U.S. Armed Forces that their service and sacrifice are still appreciated and that they have not been forgotten. The township is collecting items now through Nov. 13 for troops serving in Iraq. Items may be brought to the Brick Township Municipal Building, 401 Chambers Bridge Road.

The township is collecting the following personal hygiene items for the troops: Liquid soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shaving cream, disposable razors, hand lotion, foot powder, hand wipes/baby wipes, hard candy, powdered drink mixes, and international phone cards.

Holiday greeting cards are also being collected. They must be unaddressed and unsealed. The receiving units will distribute the cards to their troops. Persons donating the cards may include their return addresses if they would like replies.

Since 2004, the township has held several "Support the Troops" drives and has shipped dozens of boxes of greeting cards, comfort and hygiene items, and other morale-boosting items to U.S. service members serving in Iraq, Kuwait and other places around the world. Units receiving boxes from Brick Township have included active duty and mobilized reserve units of the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, the Utah National Guard, the Washington National Guard and the New Jersey National Guard.

This year's "Support the Troops" drive will support the Marines and sailors of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force in western Iraq.