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Cablevision Neighborhood Journal features SoldierStrong

SoldierStrong is featured in Cablevision’s Neighborhood Journal. Chris Meek founder of Soldier Socks receives the Power to Learn Award. From North East Elementary School in Stamford, Connecticut. Produced December 2010.

Tomorrow’s Vets: Socks for Soldiers

Thursday is Veterans’ Day. Donate $1.50 at New Balance of New Canaan, and they will send a clean pair of socks to U.S. troops overseas.

Pulling on a clean pair of socks is one of the great comforts for a soldier in the field.

For a donation of $1.50, the New Balance of New Canaan will send a new pair of socks to our troops overseas. The community is encouraged to write a personal note to a soldier that will be sent along with the socks.

The drive will extend to the first week of Dec., so the socks and greetings can be shipped to reach the troops in time for the holidays.

Mike Shinsky, store manager for the past four years told About Town, “We’ve been working with Chris Meek from Stamford who started Soldier Socks for a while now and they have sent over 2,000 pairs of socks to the troops in Afghanistan. As people make their purchase, we ask if they would like to donate $1.50 for a pair of socks. Everybody has contributed so far, some even more.”

Using a special barcode at checkout, the store tallies the donations separately and the amount collected at the end goes to purchase the socks. Obviously the more they collect, the more socks can be sent.

About Town met Socks for Soldier Socks founder, Chris Meek who was at the New Balance Store helping owners Ron and Tina Rosenfeld hang their banner to advertise the drive. Chris told About Town, “We started doing this in 2009, when the Marine Corps. League reported that the soldiers living in foxholes and jeeps in the field, barely had enough fresh drinking water, let alone water to wash their clothes. I thought there had to be a better way, so I reached out for community support and local businesses embraced it. Ron and Tina have been our partners for the socks since Day One!”

Over the past year, approximately 25,000 pounds of supplies have been shipped with the socks to 21 units in Afghanistan.

Ron Rosenfeld, is a regular supporter of worthy causes and sponsors the annual All Out for Austism walk in August and last month a Pink Lemonade Stand to raise money for a cure for breast cancer that was set up outside his store by a seven- year-old resident and her family.

He said, “This soldier thing has been great! I met Chris and when he told me the troops needed basic items, we talked about tube socks — ours wick the sweat off and are better than what the government issues to them.”

Julianne Beck, a NCHS junior who works at the New Balance store said, “It’s a really good opportunity for all the kids in New Canaan. They like to make some sort of personal contribution, so come in and write letters to the troops!”

Ron Rosenfeld wants everyone to know, “This won’t end after the holidays. We will keep it going and won’t stop until all the troops are home. We want all these kids home but while they are out there doing their jobs we want to make it better for them. Mike Shinsky added, “There’s always a very positive response because New Canaan is a great town!”

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Oxford scouts donate to Soldier Socks

04/14/2010

OXFORD – Oxford Girl Scout Troop 60219 recently attended a press conference at the legislative office building in Hartford for their efforts to collect socks for soldiers stationed overseas.

The scouts were invited by Christopher Meek, founder of Soldier Socks, a non-profit organization based in Connecticut that collects tube socks, baby wipes and sunscreen for troops.

The scouts conducted a two-week donation drive with the help of Great Oak Middle School’s Student Council, led by Kara Ryan; Oxford High School’s Advisory Class, led by Wendy Valleau; and Quaker Farms School Principal Rachel Cacace.

Peak Fitness of Seymour provided support and donations.

The collection amounted to more than 1,000 pairs of socks, 46 sunscreen bottles, 13,300 sheets of baby wipes and a monetary donation of $83. The Girl Scouts, Oxford Service Unit, also donated $250.

While attending the conference, Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele invited the scouts to his private office where he discussed the impact of their contributions.

Following the conference, the scouts toured the Capitol.

Those seeking additional information about Soldier Socks may visit www.soldiersocks.com.

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