The youth in this area are doing some amazing things. They are winning championships in sports. They are boy scouts and girl scouts. They are hardworking students. And some have learned to help turn grief into wonderful things. And some use their talent and imagination to write their first book.
The teenagers I am talking about are Paige Oatman, Audrey Klieger, members of Mini Mojo, and Vivian Suit.
CONNOR’S CREW
As part of their National Honor Society assignment, the two 11th graders at Kingsway Regional High School created “Connor’s Crew”. It was named after Paige’s late cousin who passed away from a rare disease, congenital diaphragmatic hernia. He lived less than seven hours.
This grief fueled a purpose. Connor’s Crew sought to bring comfort to families with infants in neonatal and those who suffered the death of child, by giving them weighted bears. This gives families something tangible to bring home with them to help with loneliness and loss.
Connor’s Crew has made cough pillows for mothers who had cesarean deliveries. The have crocheted and knitted hats and blankets, and even make and give cards of support to families.
The pair has partnered with Childrens Hospital of Pennsylvania and DuPont Nemours to accept their lovingly made donations. Connor’s Crew made their first delivery of items on April 18. This was an important date to them because it was the anniversary of Connor’s actual due date.
Paige and Audrey have started to become an official nonprofit organization and plan to raise money to help families with money towards the funeral services, burial, and headstones for the neonate or infants. They are hoping to help ease the stress of families in their greatest time of grief.
Community members who wish to support Connor’s Crew can visit Connor’s Crew NJ on Facebook.
MINI MOJO
Music can also help heal the grieving soul. Kingsway Middle School best friends Ethan Shafer, Ryan Leap and Lennon Forczek found this out.
All of their fathers were musicians. Ethan and Ryan’s fathers both played in the same band, Modern Mojo. And then, Ryan’s father, Bob, passed away from brain cancer in 2022.
In 2024, Ethan, Ryan, and Lennon decided to take up where their parents left off and started their own band. In honor of carrying on the music legacy of their parents, Ryan decided to name the band Mini Mojo.
The remaining members of Modern Mojo actually gifted Ryan his first bass guitar.
“These boys bought music back in to the lives of our families at a time when as adults [we] didn’t really realize how much it was needed,” said Ethan’s mother, Lindsay Shafer. “They put a lot of time and effort into their craft…many practice hours logged in the basement studio, mainly powered by Door Dashed Wendy’s or Ciconte’s,” she added.
Mini Mojo is a cover group that plays The Beatles, Nirvana, Sublime, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Foo Fighters among others. The group has played at Maugeri’s Farm Marke, fundraisers at Swedesboro Brewery, Swedesboro Woolwich Parks and Rec’s Fun Day, Berlin Brewing Company and at Hero’s Night Fundraiser in Chester County, PA. Upcoming events include playing at Riverwinds.
STOLEN JEWELS
Vivian Suit, a freshman at Kingsway Regional High School, has turned her talents into her first published book, Stolen Jewels.
Vivian said it took her a little over a year to write the book and helping in designing its cover. She is currently drafting her second novel, making it a series.
“I love playing with flower language and incorporating details into my stories that add depth to the scenes,” she explained about her writing style.
“My family and friends have been incredibly supportive, assisting with sales and publicity,” she added.
Her book is about a person that was trained to kill and steal “since the moment she opened her eyes”. And then a secret is revealed about the person who raised her.
If you would like to ready a book from a local teen writer, you can buy the book from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million (BAM), or from the publisher at Peppertreepress.com. You can also order directly by contacting Vivial at Vivianjsuit@gmail.com.
