NJ.com

Military families pick up donated cribs, changing tables thanks to Operation Homefront
March 18, 2010
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MANTUA TWP. — The khaki fatigues didn’t do much to hide Staff Sgt. Apil Halloway’s pregnant belly Thursday morning as she and her husband came to pick up a new crib, changing table and bedding for their third child.

The baby’s due in just about one month and Halloway, who’s stationed at McGuire Airforce Base, admits she isn’t totally prepared.

Luckily, Operation Homefront was standing by, giving out more than 200 cribs, 200 changing tables and bedding for both to dozens of military families on Thursday. The furniture was donated by LaJobi Inc, of Cranbury, and CoCaLo, of California. The pick-up was at the Gloucester County College building on Blackwood-Barnsboro Road, which used to be a county parks and recreation building.

“The economy has hit military families just like the rest of our country,” said Tracy Handschuh, chapter president of Operation Homefront New York/New Jersey. “Nationwide, Operation Homefront saw a 179 percent increase from 2008 to 2009 in requests for food assistance, so we know our military families are struggling to meet the most basic of needs.”

Providing furniture for the families gives them one less thing to worry about, Handschuh said.