For Immediate Release:
November 28, 2018

Monmouth County donates more than 100 boxes of care packages to the Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski II Memorial Fund

FREEHOLD, NJ – Monmouth County donated more than 100 boxes of care packages to the Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski II Memorial Fund, a local organization that provides support to improve the morale and welfare of members of all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces as well as their families. This effort was spearheaded by Freeholder Deputy Director Lillian G. Burry.

“The support of the residents in Monmouth County is astounding,” said Freeholder Deputy Director Burry. “This drive would not have been as successful without their support. I am proud to partner with the Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski II Memorial Fund to help brighten the holidays and express our deepest appreciation to the men and women in our armed forces.”

The County-wide drive collected food, drinks, snacks, personal care items and more using collection boxes that were set up at several Monmouth County buildings and schools. The supplies were then assembled into care packages with handwritten notes of gratitude by students in ROTC programs at MAST and Colts Neck High School, as well as Freeholder Deputy Director Burry and representatives from the State Police and the Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski II Memorial Fund.

“The students Monmouth County schools were the backbone of this donation effort and are a true testament to our educational system,” said Freeholder Deputy Director Burry. “They helped support our efforts at every stage of the project from collecting items to assembling care packages to loading the packages into boxes.”

The boxes were shipped off to troops serving overseas and will be delivered in time to spread holiday joy and gratitude.

“We are so grateful to everyone in Monmouth County who helped keep the memory of my son alive by participating in this drive and making it so successful,” said Marion Zilinski, co-founder of the Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski II Memorial Fund. “We would like to thank Freeholder Deputy Director Burry for her leadership and support – we hope this effort inspires other counties all over New Jersey to follow Monmouth County’s lead and run their own donation project. I know my son would be so proud of all that this donation drive accomplished.”

The Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski II Memorial Fund was founded in 2006 to honor the life and memory of Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski, who was one of four American soldiers killed by a roadside bomb during combat operations in Bayji, Iraq on Nov. 12, 2005. The officer grew up in Middletown.

MAST (Marine Academy of Science & Technology) assembling care packages:

 

 

 

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