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Township, Local Business Team Up To Support The Troops
By Eric San Juan
 | | --Photo by Eric San Juan Stephen Roma, Stephen Roma Jr., Brian Dickerson and Kim Ormsby had their work cut out for them when it came time to load up the donations for the troops made by Brick residents |
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When Brick Public Information Officer Brian J. Dickerson started a drive to collect care package donations for troops serving overseas, he expected that Brick's generosity would show through.
When he teamed up with Kim Ormsby at the Brick Boulevard Work Out World last year, his expectations were exceeded.
This year, the second of their collaborative effort, has seen big results, with box after box after box of donated supplies ready to be shipped to the men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
This year's drive began October 19, and surged forward as Thanksgiving approached. Dozens of boxes of supplies have already been prepped, packed and shipped. The boxes will be turned into care packages filled with hygienic supplies, toiletries, comfort items, greetings cards, and just plain things to make the soldiers feel a bit closer to home.
"Right now, the men and women of our Armed Forces are defending our freedom in Iraq and numerous places around the globe," Dickerson said. "By sending these hygiene items and greeting cards, we are also sending them our thanks and appreciation for their service. We are reminding them that they are not forgotten."
The efforts began in support of just a single battalion, offering comforts enough to make their time overseas just a bit more comfortable. The success was so overwhelming, Dickerson said they are now sending supplies to about a dozen different battalions in Afghanistan and Iraq.
"It started with helping guys I know that were serving over there," Dickerson said. As a member of the Reserves himself, he
knew how much they would appreciate
receiving some of the comforts of home - he served a short stint in Iraq, so he knows firsthand - and so started a drive to collect items for them.
It almost immediately expanded. The drive grew. And grew. And grew.
And when Work Out World got involved, his post office bills went through the roof with all the packages he was sending out.
Work Out World's Kim Ormsby said when her location got involved last year, the response was immediate. Members brought in items enough to fill the back of an SUV.
But even that did not prepare them for the surge of giving that came this year. A huge swath of floor in the World Out Work lobby was stacked with boxes filled with items for care packages. The members, she said, really outdid themselves.
"We also had people in town just stop by," Ormsby said.
Now, a symbol of that giving flies in front of the Brick Boulevard location: A flag that once flew over the very same battalion their donations are supporting. Dickerson and representatives of Work Out World raised the flag last week. Stephen Roma, Chief Executive "WOWzer," and Stephen Roma, Jr., said they were impressed with the results of the location's collection efforts.
So was Dickerson, who was given a lot of work to do thanks to the fundraising. He organized and oversaw the township-wide collection efforts. He then gathered up all the donations, packaged them and shipped them off.
The goods are shipped to Camp Pendleton, California, where it is then readied to be shipped overseas.
Dickerson was quick to credit not just Work Out World, but all who took part, in helping make solders' lives just a bit more comfortable.
"Work Out World was a big powerhouse in this. We also had help from some of the churches, the Girl Scouts, and some of the local business," Dickerson said.
"A lot of the schools, too," Ormsby added.
In fact, they noted, the list of those who helped his efforts to help others was long indeed.
Included on the laundry list of participants was: The Capri Hair Institute; Midstreams Elementary School; Girl Scout Troop 901; Brick Primary Learning Center; The Pavilion retirement community; The Epiphany Church Youth Group; Girl Scout Troop 1748; The Brick Kiwanis; The Goddard School; Knights of Columbus Council 7926; Visitation Church CCD program; Brick Presbyterian Church Youth Group; The Brick Branch of the U.S. Post Office; The Brick Seniors Program; and the employees of the Township of Brick.
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