Operation Yellow Ribbon of South Jersey is preparing to send candy overseas for troops following the Easter and Passover holidays.
“We were so successful from the support of Halloween. I was thinking Easter Sunday, watching my kids and how they wouldn’t eat it all,” said Dave Silver, president of Operation Yellow Ribbon. “I thought it would be best to send whatever we had left to the troops.”
OYR is a non-profit organization that prepares and sends care packages in addition to organizing welcome-home ceremonies for those serving in Operation Enduring Freedom in the Middle East.
Currently, the operation is collecting supplies for the next round of packages. All candy still sealed and recent, in addition to items listed on the website, will be accepted. Visit operationyellowribbonsouthjersey.org.
“Whatever people can give, whether it’s chocolate bunnies or jelly beans would be great because they’re not expecting to get it,” Silver said.
Since the beginning of the year, OYR has collected and shipped more than 4,800 pounds of items to the troops, averaging 1,500 pounds a month.
“We’re out of candy, gum, beef jerky, you name it, we’re pretty much out of it,” Silver said. “We don’t like to have inventory. We want to get it to the troops as soon as we can.”
OYR sends packages to 75 service members in Operation Enduring Freedom combat. The parcels are filled so the items can be shared with their troop members.
“The most difficult thing is keeping up with the requests,” Silver said. “There’s a great feeling leaving the post office knowing you made someone happy.”
According to Silver, the toughest aspect is sending the wish list items.
“We have a finite amount of money, but we like to use it to ship stuff. If we don’t have stuff, we need the money to spend on the stuff. It’s a balancing act,” Silver said.
Anthony Scardilli, owner of American Heroes Deli and Grill in Southampton, donated a portion of the supplies left over from the last round of packages, including Tastykakes.
Scardilli works closely with OYR and other non-profits that benefit the troops.
“I am not only a father to two active warriors, but also a brother to a Vietnam veteran, a son to a Korean War vet, a grandson to a WWII vet, a nephew to a Korean vet, an uncle to an Iraqi Freedom vet, a cousin to an Iraq/Afghanistan vet and a friend to many who have forged the way in each of those campaigns. So we are essentially about all those heroes, past, present and future,” Scardilli said.
The name American Heroes Deli and Grill comes from a play on words. A hoagie is known as a “hero” in Scardilli’s native North Jersey.
The deli is used as a vehicle to support multiple non-profit organizations for the troops, with opportunities to purchase merchandise or make contributions.
Scardilli works with the New Jersey Mission of Honor, collecting monetary donations.
The mission locates, identifies and provides a proper burial at a state veterans memorial cemetery to orphaned and abandoned remains of American military veterans in New Jersey.
They accept monetary donations for Operation Troop Aid, selling the company’s wristbands and bags. Additionally, the energy drink Reveille is sold in the store with all proceeds benefitting OTA.
“We met this group a couple of years ago at the Valenzano WineFest and decided this was a great cause we wanted to be involved with,” Scardilli said.
The deli also has merchandise and accepts donations for The Warrior Foundation, Freedom Station and Operation Yellow Ribbon.
“We accept monetary collections. We have donation boxes for snacks, clothing or anything the deployed troops may need,” Scardilli said. “We are also a drop off location for all donations.”
Additionally, Tastykake and Herr’s agreed to donate cases of its products to Operation Yellow Ribbon, for care packages sent abroad.
Scardilli is also an avid motorcyclist and member of the Warrior Watch Riders, comprised of 6,000 members in six states.
“Anthony is a ball of positive energy.
“He just can’t wait to do something more for the troops. You can see the love they have for the troops when you walk in the deli,” Silver said.
OYR and Silver welcomed home Scardilli’s son Daniel after a tour of duty.
“All homecomings are special, but to do one for someone you know is really powerful. It’s personal. You want to make it special so they know they’re not alone,” Silver said.
OYR has multiple events coming up, including a fundraiser on May 4 at Pancheros Mexican Grill in Marlton with 20 percent of the proceeds going to OYR.
The event will run from 4 to 8 p.m.
Additionally, a car wash is scheduled for June, and The Meaning of Memorial Day will be taught at Marlton Schools in an effort to educate students about the holiday.
Laurel Oak Garden Center on 199 Tomlinson Mill Road extended an invitation for Support Our Troops Day slated for this summer.
“The letters and emails we get from the troops take your breath away. Here we’re doing something so little and the emails you get from Afghanistan are so powerful,” Silver said. “We have to continue to support our troops and let them know they’re not alone.”
