Soldiers get sweet treat before deployment
St. Augustine's women's group and Entenmann's distribute cakes to troops
BY CHRIS MURINO Staff Writer

SOUTH BRUNSWICK - The Columbiettes, a group based out of St. Augustine's of Canterbury Church in Kendall Park, made a trip to Fort Dix recently to help out troops who were being deployed to the Persian Gulf.

According to Mary Ann Sweets, president of the organization, 22 women made the trip to Burlington County on June 14 to hand out cakes donated by Entenmann's to the 3,200 to 3,500 troops that were deployed.

"[We requested] 20 cakes, but when we got there, Entenmann's had donated tons and tons of cake. They donated hundreds," Sweets said.

They also were provided with free bus service by the First Student Bus Co. Sweets said it was great to have such a fabulous driver and to not have to pay for a car service.

"It was a murderously hot day," Sweets said. "But, it was absolutely worth it. They know of us now."

The Columbiettes have been working with ARMS, the American Recreational Military Service, for four or five years now. The families of soldiers had started ARMS, and helped the women find out what the soldiers need. Sweets said the Columbiettes were asked back in March by ARMS to do this particular project.

The Columbiettes do other projects to help the troops, as well. They often go to Fort Dix to wrap "zillions" of presents, according to Sweets.

"It's really wonderful what they do for the soldiers' families and for the children at Christmastime," Sweets said.

The group has also done things at the church to collect items for the soldiers. In September or October, they will have a soldier stand nearby a collection box to gather some items to bring back to Fort Dix. Sweets said some of the things soldiers want are surprising.

"Toiletries, sucking candy," she said. "A lot of the things you might not know that they'd want."

Sweets said that the Knights of Columbus, as well as the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts, helped out.