Day and evening members of the NJSFWC Women’s Club of Caldwell gathered for its annual October Pot Luck Dinner at St. Aloysius Parish Center to assemble stockings for soldiers overseas.

Each member brought a dish for the pot luck dinner and six or more of the same item to fill the stockings. An on-line sign up ensured that a variety of items would be included in each soldier’s stocking. Each Christmas stocking was filled with personal care products including soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, a pair of socks, writing paper and pen, candy, deck of cards, snacks, plus a ten dollar prepaid phone card purchased by the club. Members also wrote personal notes of thanks to include in each stocking. In addition, members folded and tied face cloths to look like teddy bears, which were placed at the top of the stockings. After the stocking were stuffed, members sewed the tops together to ensure the contents would be secure during delivery.

The club assembled 25 stockings for Boatsie’s Boxes “Operation Christmas Stockings” this year. Boatsie’s Boxes collects stockings from volunteer organizations from all over the United States to deliver to soldiers serving overseas. The New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Club organized a collection this year. The Women’s Club of Caldwell’s stockings were delivered to the NJSFWC headquarters, where they were boxed and will be delivered to Boatsie’s Boxes in West Virginia.

The extra personal care products were given to the Caldwell Food Pantry.

The Women’s Club of Caldwell has planned a service project for each month of the club year. At the Nov. 11 meeting, the Women’s Club planned to make angel ornaments for residents at local nursing homes. Any local women interested in helping should call Carol Crump at 973-403-1162.