ABOVE LEFT: S/W School elves (left to right) Caroline Floyd, School Psychologist, heavy donation lifter Patrick Worrell, and Diane Thomas, School psychologist) showing off some of their recent donations. ABOVE RIGHT: A member of the Marine Corps League, Sgt. Dale Taylor of the U.S. Marine Corps (Vietnam 1966-67, Purple Heart Recipient) collecting funds for Santa’s heroes.
December has officially arrived, and the spirit of warm welcomes and good cheer is just beginning. As the season of closeness with friends and family rolls in, so too do community organizers. Together with community members, they reach out to those who might need to be uplifted this holiday season.
From school districts to municipal buildings, to toy and food drives, as well as designated food pantries in between, select organizations are currently hard at work providing assistance for all ages and backgrounds alike, right in time for the holidays.
Project Elf – Adopt a Family
Across Swedesboro and Woolwich Township, the Swedesboro-Woolwich School District will be hosting its annual December giving project, Project Elf – Adopt a Family. For two decades, Project Elf has set itself out to spread holiday cheer towards families and children in need within the reading area.
Project Elf begins in October, collecting assortments of donations leading into December. During this time, the program keeps track of names for potential families to provide assistance to right in time for Christmas. Currently running Project Elf is Heather Worrel, the district’s Director of Special Services.
“We are working nonstop until the schools close for Holiday Break to get it all done,” says Worrell.
Donations are still being accepted, but only until Dec. 10. Donations can either be toys, clothing, or food. Gift cards are also sought after, being extremely popular with older kids.
To inquire more information about Project Elf, please reach out to Worrell by email at hworrell@swsdk6.com. She is willing to help negotiate any possible donations.
South Harrison School Food/Toy Drive and Pancake Breakfast
December will be quite busy at South Harrison PreK-Grade 6 School District. Not only will the school be hosting a Holiday Food/Toy Drive, but also serving a Pancake Breakfast.
Starting Dec. 1, the school’s staff and students will be conducting a collection drive of numerous assorted items. Community members can contribute items such as canned and dry goods, as well as toiletry items. Gift cards towards local supermarkets are also accepted.
Donations are accepted until Dec. 19, and are to be brought to the school’s cafeteria. Gift card donations must be hand delivered to the school’s nurse, Beth Bakley.
Grade 6 students will be volunteering their services during The Ruritan Club Pancake Breakfast on Dec. 6. The breakfast will be open to the public from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the school’s cafeteria, with students bussing tables ensuring a hospitable experience.
A bake sale, photo opportunity with Santa, and a basket raffle will also be held too.
Proceeds are collected by The Harrisonville Ruritan Club, sponsoring Grade 6 graduation awards and PEEC trip, college scholarships for high schoolers, and to support families in need.
For more information on these events, visit the schools website at shsd.us, or contact the Administrative Assistant Kelly Elm at 856-769-0855, ext. 1103.
Operation: Township Together
The Logan Township School District will be starting its first holiday program this year, Operation: Township Together. Its goal is to establish a community connection with families to ensure that the holidays for children are as bright as possible.
Emma Procida, counselor for Francis E. Donnelly Early Childhood Learning Center, is the coordinator for the holiday giving project. Her goal is to make the holidays accessible by assisting parents with gifts for children during the holidays.
Procida plans to reach out to 90 or more children this year.
Additional counselors and social workers at the Logan Township School District help in making Operation: Township Together Possible.
By visiting signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/35384612061, instructions towards contributing and donating will be provided. Donations will no longer be accepted after Dec. 5.
Volunteers are actively sought for distributing gifts. To inquire about volunteering positions or other information about Operation: Township Together, please reach out to Procida by phone at 856-467-5133, ext. 623, or by email at eprocida@logantownshipschools.org.
Gingerbread House Food Drive Contest
Swedesboro-Woolwich Parks and Recreation will be hosting a Gingerbread House Decorating Contest and Food Drive at the Woolwich Township Construction office on Village Green Drive. To participate, please email Shannon Kilpatrick at skilpatrick@woolwichtwp.org with your name, address and phone number by Dec. 10. All residents of any community can participate in the contest’s voting phase.
Starting on Dec. 11, gingerbread house voting will be open to the general public. To participate, individuals must bring at least one canned good or non-perishable food item to receive a voting ballot. Voters will then be asked to nominate their top three gingerbread house choices on their ballot.
For every item of food donated, a voting ballot will be provided. This is to promote great donation turnouts, while also allowing people to vote for their favorite gingerbread house as many times as they want.
Gingerbread house voting will continue until Dec. 19, with a large in-person voting event happening on Dec. 17 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The top three winning gingerbread houses will be announced on Dec. 22.
All food proceeds donated as participation to the event from community contributors will be given to the food pantry of Kings Things in Swedesboro.
Hip Hop Shop
In Swedesboro, The Hip Hop Shop is a program whose goal is bringing people together through dance fitness. Its owner, Jenn Romano-Baus, actively holds outreach events year round, for all ages and backgrounds. This December, she will be hosting such an event for kids, just in time for Christmas.
With the collaborative efforts of the Swedesboro Woolwich School District, a Holiday Dance Party will be held for kids K – 6 on Dec. 20. A nightly event held at the Bridgeport Fire Hall will house fun and games, dancing, food, and a special visit from Santa Claus. Children will also be given a small gift to end the night with.
Although the applications for children to sign up are no longer being accepted at this time, community members can still help through contributions. Gift donations are still being accepted for children, such as gift cards, but Romano-Baus is willing to accept any kind of gift to give the children.
For more information about donations, you can contact Romano-Baus by email at jennshiphopshop@gmail.com, and phone at 856–899–7989.
Fruitful Pastures Food Pantry
A food pantry will be held this month at Repaupo United Methodist Church on Paulsboro Road. Their mission for the past two years has been assisting individuals with food assistance and other possible needs to as many people as possible.
Fruitful Pastures Food Pantry opens its doors once a month on the first Saturday. This month, it will be open on Dec. 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The pantry is supported through state and some federal funding, with major support from the Southern Regional Distribution Center and community contributions.
Provisions the pantry provides is a robust variety of produce, frozen meats, as well as canned and dry goods.
When visiting the pantry, rules and regulations will be expected to be met. Questions about donations and other information about Fruitful Pastures can be answered by reaching out to Diane McCormick by phone at 856-716-0837.
To be notified of further food pantry dates, you can follow Repaupo United Methodist on Facebook (facebook.com/repaupomethodistchurch).
St. Peters Community Pantry
Off Kings Highway in Clarksboro is St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, another church which will provide food assistance this December. Since May 2023, the pantry has been distributing food and other goods to a wider community on select Saturdays monthly.
On Dec.6, the pantry will be open for the public to visit, but also accept donations towards its cause. From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. the church will be accepting non-perishable goods, and infant and personal care products. On Dec. 20, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the pantry will host its distribution day.
Goods distributed at St. Peters consist of diverse selections of staples, canned goods, fruits and vegetables, and sundry items.
Volunteers are gladly accepted and welcome to help pitch in with the pantry, but you must reach out to the church first. Further questions regarding St. Peter’s Community Pantry can be answered by visiting their website at stpetersclarksboro.org/pantry. All contact information can be found at the bottom of the page.
Kings Things
Kings Things Thrift Store and Food Pantry in Swedesboro will have their doors open this holiday season. Volunteers will be busy operating the store, food pantry, and also its Christmas outreach program, assisting residents facing food insecurities.
Each month, three times a week, Kings Things provides supplies towards families within the Kingsway Regional School District through its food pantry. This December, the pantry’s hours will be Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Kings Things gladly accepts food donations towards the pantry. Items which are mostly sought after are dry and canned goods.
Additionally, Kings Things hosts a Christmas distribution event, providing families with food, clothing, and small gifts. Between Dec. 15 and 20, volunteers will be sorting, packaging, and distributing previously mentioned items to families with assistance from Bethesda United Methodist Church in Swedesboro.
Christmas distribution assistance applications are no longer being accepted at this time.
Any questions about the food pantry or wanting to volunteer services towards Kings Things, you can reach out to Dan Stephens at dan@kingsthings08085.org for more information.
Marine Corps League and Santa’s Heroes
The Marine Corps League of Gloucester County will be busy gathering and distributing support this December. Dale Taylor, one of over 70 active members, will be hosting assistance programs and collections towards veterans and beyond, ensuring to meet needs which otherwise are not met.
Santa’s Heroes is one program the MCL runs, providing food assistance towards families who need it most. The organization takes collections throughout the year, and through Zallie’s ShopRite’s, accumulate $100 gift cards to give to families to purchase food and eat comfortably. This year, Santa’s Heroes wishes to give assistance to 150 families or more.
On Dec. 23 and 24, the MCL will be collecting additional donations towards veterans at the Amish Market in Mullica Hill from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The MCL is a 501.C.4, and donations are still being accepted according to Taylor, who manages all communications and mail. Mail can be addressed to either Marine Corps League, 334, Harvey Avenue, Wenonah New Jersey, 08090, or to Santa’s Heroes, P.O. Box 125, Mickleton, N.J. 08056.
By Gerald Phililp
