Operation Thank You just keeps getting bigger

WEST MILFORD — Rich Dygos, a Macopin Middle School business teacher, conducted “Operation Thank You” for the 12th consecutive year to help put smiles on the faces of soldiers serving in Afghanistan.

Dygos sent out memos to the Macopin School faculty and students asking for donations for local area soldiers serving overseas. Ten large care packages were put together for the troops. Items for the care packages were generously donated by the West Milford community as well as Macopin students and staff. The packages contained candy, K-Cups, books, food, games, sporting equipment, as well as letters from Frank Yvechek’s 4-Legged Soldier charity, Macopin Middle School students and staff.

For the second consecutive year, Hillview Elementary School and Pequannock Valley Middle School in Pequannock joined Operation Thank You by donating products and letters of thanks written by both the elementary and middle school students. More than 560 letters were written by the Pequannock students.

Pequannock Valley Middle School Principal Rich Hayzler, Hillview Elementary School Principal Michael Portas and Hillview Elementary School Media Specialist Valerie Munro spearheaded these efforts in their district. Munro promoted Operation Thank You with a presentation of “George Washington’s Crossing” at her elementary school. More than 100 children and parents attended this presentation which also consisted of various stations, such as a letter writing to the soldiers station and a red white and blue star station. Due to the amount of donations provided by the Pequannock/Pompton Plains community, Operation Thank You will be able to box up an additional six care packages to be shipped to Afghanistan.

Dygos specifically thanked the West Milford and Pequannock/Pompton Plains community, WMEF (West Milford Education Foundation) Macopin Middle School staff and students, Hudson City Savings Bank, Hillview Elementary School, Hillview Bookwormie Committee, Mary Reinhold, Marc Citro, Matt Strianse, Richard Hayzler and Michael Portas.