County Man Sends Smiles to Soldiers

COURT HOUSE – With over 6,700 miles from Cape May County to Afghanistan, a can of Silly String goes a long way. So does a bag of candy, a pack of chewing gum and a small pack of drink mix. Just ask Court House resident Rob Seitzinger who, single-handedly, has put together care packages for soldiers currently stationed overseas.
Spurred by an ice-cream-naming contest he won five years ago, Seitzinger took the concept of the vanilla, strawberry and blueberry Freedom Fighter flavor and turned it into a non-profit organization that sends packages, along with a smile and a taste of home, to soldiers stationed in the Middle East.
According to Seitzinger, a former newspaper executive, the genesis of Freedom Fighters, Inc. occurred during the first Gulf War when he and his family would send an occasional package of goodies to a fraternity brother who was serving in Iraq.
“That evolved into me looking for something to do and finding a new career,” he said. “I wanted to be excited about doing something and doing that was rewarding.”
The non-profit organization was established this past May when Seitzinger started accepting donations for his new charity. On Nov. 9, Seitzinger drove his SUV up to the front of the Court House post office with 25 Afghanistan-bound boxes stacked in the back.
As part of its fundraising, the organization sells its freedom fighter flavored ice cream along with t-shirts and caramel corn.
“We would sell these things, and we still do, but 75 to 85 percent of the time people just donate money,” said Seitzinger. “They want every penny to go to the soldiers and not to the cost of the caramel corn, ice cream or t-shirts.”
His fundraising efforts this summer were Herculean. In addition to standing outside local grocery store with a bucket in hand, he also attended numerous street fares – all to raise money for the boxes.
“We sold products such as Freedom Fighter t-shirts and ice cream, as well as my homemade caramel corn at festivals along the Cape May County shore resorts and outside a local Acme grocery store,” Seitzinger wrote in the letter that accompanies each care package sent to a soldier. “But more often than not, people just wanted to make monetary donations to make sure we were all able to let you all know how much we appreciate your service and devotion to our freedom.”
Boxes are designed for either a male or female service member. Items that may be included are travel sized toiletries, beef jerky, hard candy or chewing gum, single-serving drink mix packs, fleece blankets, magazines, flavored non-dairy creamer, tissue packs, pens, lip balm, razors and Silly String, among others.
Included in the boxes are photographs of the state-side civilians donors. Seitzinger said tucked inside the unit commander’s box is a notebook signed by well-wishers.
The first shipment of boxes, was sent to members of the 508th Military Police Combat Support Company. The National Guard Unit, based in Teaneck, is 145 strong.
“Our soldiers come from all over the state,” said Joe Fiorito, the unit’s family readiness coordinator. “There are at least 25 that come from South Jersey.”
Fiorito’s 20-year-old son, Joseph, is serving with the unit. When asked about the reception on the receiving end of the box shipment, Fiorito said “It’s a morale booster. They all appreciate it.”
Fiorito said while he has never met Seitzinger face-to-face, he appreciates what he is doing.
“Every person helps. Anytime someone helps our soldiers who are overseas and makes them think of home, it’s a good thing. It doesn’t matter if it’s one person or a hundred people.”
The 508th has been stationed in Afghanistan since September. Their anticipated return date to the United States is May or June, 2013.
Fiorito said most members of the unit are very young. “The average age is 23,” he said, adding many soldiers are single.
The list of names Fiorito presented to Seitzinger included those of soldiers who receive nothing from home.
“Either they don’t have families or don’t have families who support them,” he said. “These are the soldiers who could most use a pick-me-up or a pat on the back,” Seitzinger added.
Whether or not a person agrees or disagrees with the government’s policy on the war, Fiorito said support for the soldiers should not be affected. “They have nothing to do with politics. They’re just doing their job.”
With 25 boxes winging their way to Afghanistan, Seitzinger said he hopes to make another shipment Nov. 30 that will reach the troops in time for Christmas.
According to him, the cost and shipment of 30 boxes comes to approximately $700 to $900. With a deadline date looming, Seitzinger is busily collecting and readying his next shipment. For Seitzinger, who does not draw a salary for his work, the fruits of his labor are intrinsic.
“I can’t describe how rewarding it is. I had parents of soldiers, who stood there and told me their stories. They just wanted somebody to talk to about their children,” he said.
He shared how, in the course of collecting for the boxes, veterans would approach him and give him a thumbs up for his work.
For Seitzinger, who never served in the military, the thanks were unnecessary. “All I am doing is thanking them for what they are doing.”
The organization is in need of items to be packed in boxes as well as monetary donations. To learn more about the program or to make a donation, Freedom Fighters can be reached by calling 609-827-9843.