YMCA teen leaders learn about Army life

Group is collecting items for New Jersey soldiers overseas Hardyston — The Sussex County YMCA Teen Leaders Club hosted a Life of a Troop Night with real Army sergeants on Friday, Nov. 6 at the YMCA in Hardyston. Now teen leaders, with the help of YMCA members throughout the county, are collecting items for New Jersey troops and their companies overseas this holiday season. The project is in conjunction with Operation Jersey Cares, a non-profit volunteer organization. Sgts. David Bowden and Peter Dittoe of the Newton and Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Army recruiting centers greeted children and their parents and answered questions about military life. They demonstrated perfect saluting and marching techniques and treated children to camouflage face-painting. The evening also included a boot-camp inspired exercise class led by YMCA’s personal trainer Erin Wood, where the sergeants were happy to teach the children and teens military push-ups. What to give A full list of suggested items to donate, such as nonperishable snacks and toiletries for men and women, is available at the YMCA’s Welcome Center or on Operation Jersey Cares Web site: www.operationjerseycares.org. Speaking from experience, Sgt. Bowden told the group, “The most popular items that go fast when they come in, especially for our troops stationed in the Middle East, are new socks, baby wipes, batteries, stationery and envelopes. Of course we appreciate everything that comes from home!” With patriotic style, the Teen Leaders Club has now decorated large cardboard boxes that were recycled from a furniture shipment last month. “For this project, we’ve gone red, white and blue and green,” said Lana Cahill, coordinator of the YMCA’s Youth and Teen Room and a counselor for the Teen Leaders Club. “We’re glad we found a perfect use for these huge boxes and we had a lot of fun decorating them. They are now on display in our lobby and it’s great to see them filling up already with the much-needed supplies for our troops.” How to get involved The goal of the YMCA Teen Leaders Club is to promote and enhance the personal growth and social skills of young people (sixth- through 12th grades) to develop leaders who will be a positive force in their communities. Teens meet every Wednesday night from 7 to 8:30 p.m. working closely with peers and counselors on skill and character building activities as well as planning and organizing club projects like the Life of a Troop Night and the collection boxes. For more information on the Teen Leaders Club, call the Sussex County YMCA at 973-209-9622 or visit www.sussexcountyymca.org.