Freehold Kindergarten Student Supports the Troops for Memorial Day

Michael Manley is a kindergarten student at the who is passionate about supporting the troops.

“One of his favorite teachers, Mrs. Lambert, has a son who is over in Afghanistan,” said Janine Manley, Michael’s mom. “My son wants to be a soldier when he grows up, so she always tells him stories about her son Matthew.”

One day after school, Michael came home and asked his mom if they could do something to “say thank you for all the soldiers do for us”.

That is when Michael decided to create care packages for Matthew Lambert’s troop, the 42nd Clearance Co. currently serving in Afghanistan.

They typed up a flyer (see above this story) asking for donations and dropped them in neighbors’ mailboxes. They also reached out to family and shared their project on Facebook. Also, Michael went to the Freehold Township Police & Fire departments who offered to hang the flyers in their stations.

According to Janine, donations have been pouring in. “The support from the Freehold community has been overwhelming!” she said.

Shop Rite has donated 100's of bags, other local business have made additional donations and the teachers at the Laura Donovan School have been recruiting donations as well.

Michael is also receiving praise for his hard work. “Veterans have come out to shake Michael's hand and thank him for what he's doing for the soldiers,” said Janine. “Michael has even received beautiful letters & messages.”

If you would like to help support the cause, Michael will be collecting donations until May 25th. He wants the packages to arrive to the troop for Memorial Day weekend.

They are collecting magazines, books, granola, protein bars, drinks, Red Bull, gum, cookies, crackers, snacks, individual packets of hand wipes, sunscreen, lip balm, eye drops, nuts, pepperoni, Slim Jims, extension cords, power strips, shaving cream, and anything else non-perishable.

You can drop-off or send donations to:

Michael Manley

270 Plymouth Drive

Freehold, NJ 07728

Can’t drop-off a donation? Just shoot an e-mail to janineblyn@aol.com and Michael will come pick it up.