Staten Island "Project Homefront"

The Pleasant Plains, Prince’s Bay, Richmond Valley Civic Association, led by President, Janine Materna, participated in preparing holiday care packages for our troops serving abroad at Staten Island Project Homefront on Tuesday, November 23rd in the basement of Moravian Church, 2205 Richmond Rd.

Janine Materna (President, Pleasant Plains, Prince's Bay, Richmond Valley Civic Association) with the Executive Director of Project Homefront Jack Semich
 

Staten Island Project Homefront is a not-for-profit, 501 C-3, organization dedicated to supporting all of our deployed military personnel.  The organization also acts as a support organization for the families of deployed soldiers, sailors, airmen, coast guardsmen and marines.  Regardless of branch of service, enlisted or officer, Staten Island Project Homefront will support any deployed service member requesting assistance, within our capabilities.

Janine Materna (President, Pleasant Plains, Prince's Bay, Richmond Valley Civic Association) with Arista students from I.S.72 and teacher, Kristen Sweeney
 

Janine Materna coordinated over 35 people throughout the community to help lend Project Homefront a hand in preparing the last set of care packages that are scheduled to be shipped to our troops in time for Christmas. These care packages are sent to our military that are deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait for Staten Islanders, New Yorkers or those from New York in close support.

The impressive assembly line at Project Homefront
 

“During the holiday season, let’s not forget the sacrifices being made by our men and women in the military. These folks are risking their lives and working hard to protect our freedom, and I’m hoping that we can come together as a community to show our deep appreciation and gratitude,” said Janine Materna, Civic Association President.

Packages for our troops
 

Ms. Materna also organized a letter writing drive asking those people that weren't able to physically participate on Tuesday to do so by writing a personal note of appreciation to a solider currently deployed; thanking them for all they are doing. She said mentioned in the Staten Island Advance that writing a letter to a solider "will only take 5 minutes out of your day to write a letter, but it will bring joy to our troops that will last a lifetime."

Ronnie Lauria and Neil Calise at Project Homefront
 

She was overwhelmed by the amount of letters and cards received in the Civic Association PO Box from Staten Islanders across the borough. The Civic received over 200 letters from Staten Islanders, including letters written by P.S.11 and Wagner High School students. In addition, over 20 Arista students participated in the effort to pack care packages from I.S.72 led by teacher, Kristen Sweeney.

Cards received from Staten Islanders thanking our troops for their service
 

Ms.Materna then stated that she is working towards putting together a fundraiser in the spring that will raise money to pay for the postage required to  send packages to our deployed soldiers and welcomes everyone to attend. She continued to state. "Project Homefront is such a wonderful organization and I will do all I can to make sure that this organization gets the funding they need to remain successful. I encourage every Staten Islander to donate some of their time to such a worthy cause - supporting our troops who are protecting our freedom."

If you would like to get more involved with the Pleasant Plains, Prince's Bay, Richmond Valley Civic Association, please reach out to Janine Materna, via e-mail: Janine.Materna@gmail.com or for Project Homefront, please contact Debbie Parsons at: 347-552-1638.

Cards received from Staten Islanders thanking our troops for their service