Kiwanis helps “Stamp out Hunger” on May 11, 2013

 Members of Chatham-Madison Kiwanis Club worked with US Postal workers in support of the “Stamp out Hunger” program on May 11, 2013. When postal workers delivered mail on that day, they picked up bags of groceries left beside the mailbox by local residents. When the delivery workers returned to the Chatham post office, they helped Kiwanians transfer bags of food from the mail trucks to awaiting SUV’s for delivery to the Interfaith Food Pantry in Morris Plains. Total weight of all that food was 1,455 pounds. This was less than last year because of the bad weather.

The above sign showed the way for the caravan of Kiwanis vehicles to deliver urgently needed food to the Interfaith Food Pantry.

Volunteers were on hand to empty the food into carts for sorting and placing on shelves for needy Morris County clients. Check out the Interfaith Food Pantry website.

Kiwanis helps "Stamp out Hunger' on May 12

Members of Kiwanis transported food from the Chatham Post Office to the Interfaith Food Pantry. Twelve members (plus two spouses) removed 2,882 pounds of donated food from the mail trucks as they returned to the loading dock of the Post Office Annex.  The loaded the food into 3 SUVs with the back seats folded down and 2 minivans with the back seats removed. It was a very satisfying work activity. The Food Pantry gave members a tour when they delivered the food. The total for all of Morris County was about 32,000 pounds of donated food. Great job, everyone!

Kiwanis Annual Recognition Reception on April 24, 2012

Karen Swartz, Benevolence Chair, opened the Annual Chatham-Madison Kiwanis Awards Reception on April 24, 2012 at Charlie Brown’s Steakhouse, 522 Southern Boulevard, Chatham Township. Recipients of Kiwanis benevolences grants were acknowledged and light refreshments were served. The club also gives a number of scholarships to Chatham and Madison high school graduates in June.

Organizations included are Chatham Emergency Squad, Chatham Education Foundation, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, SAGE Meals on Wheels, Chatham Community Band, Robert Wood Johnson Children’s Specialized Hospital, Awards to ECLC of New Jersey Graduates, Senior Services Center of the Chathams, Chatham and Madison High School Music Awards, Madison YMCA, Project Community Pride, Madison Little League, Good Grief and the ELIMINATE Project: Kiwanis eliminating maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT).

This year, a new Community Aid Award was given to an organization selected by membership of the club. The Food Pantry of Morris County received the award this year.

Scroll down to see the awards recipients and presenters. Each recipient gave a brief overview of their current charitable activities. These organizations all provide wonderful services to our community. Recipients invited everyone to visit their facilities.

Mary Anne Maloney, President of the club, gave an Overview of Project ELIMINATE. Kiwanis eliminating maternal and neonatal tetanus is a global campaign that will save and protect the lives of millions of mothers and their future babies. The club is selling bracelets to raise funds – many in attendance bought them.

Beth Anne Myarick, Director of Community Relations & Volunteer Services, Children’s Specialized Hospital in Mountainside, accepted a grant. Total New Jersey District Kiwanis Focus Project pledge is $500,000.

Past President Doug Bryant gave grants to local community organizations.

Myra Cole, President of the Chatham Community Band, thanked Kiwanis for their continuing support. The excellent band has about 60 members and will be giving a free concert 3:00 PM May 6 at the Chatham High School.

Bruce Johnson, Board President of Sage Eldercare accepted the grant. He mentioned that the organization is 58 years old. Today, it offers 12 services. It delivered 50,000 meals last year. The many volunteers served over 5,000 clients last year.

Mickey Chaput, Executive Director of the Senior Services Center of the Chathams, accept the grant for her organization. She said they are developing activities which appeal to all ages covering the range of seniors from 50 to 100 years of age. She mentioned the website: http://chathamseniorcenter.org/ which has a newsletter and calendar of events.

Rich Crater of the Chatham Emergency Squad accepted the contribution on behalf of the organization.  He said the organization was started 76 years ago and Kiwanis has provided ongoing support for many years. The Squad is a volunteer organization which is on the job all the time, serving the Chathams. They are in the midst of a fund drive and he invited everyone to make a donation.

Jerry Cunningham, past Benevolence Committee Chair, presented awards to Community Youth Organizations.

Bridgitte Kelly, Director of Project Community Pride accepted the grant. She explained how the organization helps families in our community get back on their feet. The needs keep increasing so the donation is appreciated.

Al Thomas, Senior District Executive of Patriots Path Council, Boy Scouts of America, accepted the grant. He said that they started a new Law Explorer post this year. They meet at the Morris County Courthouse.  Also, Venture Crew 77 which meets at the Madison Elks is an excellent organization. Boy Scouts gives young people the opportunity to grow in leadership.

Colleen Egl, Service Unit Manager, Girl Scouts accepted the grant. The grant was presented by Nancy Holt, past president of the Benevolence Committee. Colleen thanked Kiwanis for the donation, which will help fund girls who are earning the Girl Scout Gold Award. There are over 800 Girl Scouts in Chatham, part of the Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey.

Tom Mullin spoke about the Kiwanis support for the Library of the Chathams. Every year, Tom leads the Kiwanis in putting on a picnic for the Children’s Summer Reading Program.

Kiwanis President Elect Joan May (right) introduced Chelsea Creo (left) and Linsey Cozeworth of the Madison Area YMCA. Joan presented the YMCA with a grant and Linsey responded by presenting overview of recent programs at the YMCA. She thanked Kiwanis for their continuing support.

Heather Robinson, Board Member of the Chatham Education Foundation, was given a grant by Kiwanis. Heather said that since 1987, the Foundation has been privately raising money for public education. They have given over $500,000 to important education projects since 1987. She thanked Kiwanis for their support.

Ernest Cicconi, President of the Little League of Madison was given a grant by Kiwanis. The Chatham-Madison Kiwanis Club sponsors the Kiwanis Team. Ernest mentioned that a member of the Kiwanis Team read the Little League Pledge as part of the opening day ceremony. See article in Madison Patch. The Madison Little League has had an official charter since 1952. There are about 700 children in the program.

Marsha Ann Zimmerman, Treasurer of Madison Downtown Development accepted a donation from Kiwanis as part of the May Day in Madison program. Marsha said that this is the 15th year of the event. Volunteers beautify the parks and public spaces around town. Kiwanis and St. Vincent RC Church spruce up Cole Park. Between 700 and 1000 people volunteer for the program. There are 150 hanging baskets on the lamp poles around town, paid for by the Downtown Development organization.

Heather Alonge, Director of Development at ECLC, accepted a grant from Nancy Holt (right in the photo). These funds are used to present an award to each of the students who graduate from ECLC in June. ECLC supports developmentally challenged children and adults in Northern New Jersey. The ECLC school on Lum Ave. opened in 1989. There are also other ECLC programs in buildings on Passaic and Fairmount Ave.

Monty Montague, Treasurer of the club, spoke about the scholarships and awards which Kiwanis presents to local students every year. The largest scholarship is funded by the Chatham Kiwanis Scholarship Foundation. Two 4-year scholarships are given to Chatham High School Students every year. The total over a four-year period is $8,000, $2,000 per year. Since there are two scholarships awarded each year, the total paid out by the club is $16,000 per year.

Ron Whalin explained the process for selecting the Chatham High School Scholarship winners. The CHS counseling department provides the applications to a committee of six Kiwanis Members. The committee carefully analyses the applications, which are identified by code numbers. Selection is based on academic record, extracurricular activities and outside activities.

Betty Anne Keat is Chair of the Sponsored Youth Committee of the Kiwanis Club. This committee provides advisors and oversight for the Builders Clubs of Chatham and St. Patrick’s, the Key Clubs of Chatham, Madison and ECLC, and the Circle-K Club  of Drew University. She explained current activities in these Youth Service Clubs.

Rosemary Gilmartin, the Interfaith Food Pantry Executive Director, was presented with the Community Aid Award. Rosemary graciously thanked Kiwanis for this grant and noted that her organization works with many if not all of the organizations present at the Recognition Reception.  She noted that the number of clients for the Food Pantry is growing. Over 12,600 people have been given food in the past year. They come from 5,500 families who live in Morris County.

Cindy Caporaso presented November 23 program on Interfaith Hospitality Network

Cindy Caporaso, an Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) volunteer, was introduced by Diane O’Brien.  IHN provides a response to hunger and homelessness in Morris County. Cindy coordinates IHN in the Presbyterian Church of Chatham Township, where she is active in Missions. She also works on “before and after school” enrichment programs at Chatham elementary schools. The above photo shows (L to R) Doug Bryant, Cindy Caporaso and Diane O’Brien.

The parent organizations of IHN are The Interfaith Council for the Homeless in Morris County and Family Promise.

There are pockets of homeless and hunger needs in Morris County. For example there is a “tent city” whose residents go to the Community Soup Kitchen in the Church of the Redeemer in Morristown. The Kitchen serves over 300 people in the winter. Another program that deals with hunger is the Interfaith Food Pantry. A lot of food is contributed around the holidays. After the holidays, contributions decline so people should schedule support efforts in February. Her church goes to the Food Pantry once per month to do volunteer work.

A much larger (the size of seven football fields) food distribution center is located in Hillside, NJ near Newark. The Hillside Community Food Bank has food, a culinary school, a teachers’ store, a thrift store, and a children’s café. And, they make deliveries. When you go your local supermarket (e.g. Kings), the little $1 contributions cards at check-out provide money to the Community Food Bank, a very worthy cause.

Besides hunger, there is also the issue of homelessness. About 800 people in Morris County have no place to stay. There are 17,000 people living in sub-standard housing in Morris County. In 1986 the organization “Family Promise” was started to address needs of the homeless. Cindy referred to the chart shown above this paragraph to explain that Family Promise branched out to the Interfaith Council for Homeless Families of Morris County, which is now housed at the old Greystone Hospital. One arm of this organization is the IHN, 65 to 70 congregations that house the homeless 365 days per year. Churches host IHN residents for one week, four or five times per year. As the chart above shows, the IHN provides many more services than housing.

A typical week of hosting IHN begins with rearranging the church, converting classrooms to individual apartments for clients. There is also a larger common community room, game room and dining room. On Sunday, clients arrive with all their belongings in black plastic garbage bags. Church volunteers stay, sleep, and eat with the clients all the time they are in the building. Typically there are up to 15 clients who are served a hot meal when they arrive after which they go their “apartments” or common rooms. Clients are mostly single mothers with very young children. Weekday mornings, the IHN van comes and clients have to get on it. Children go to either their regular public school or day school. Adults are taken to work (if they have jobs), training, or the IHN day care center at Greystone. Clients have rules which are obeyed because the program is so good.

Cindy showed a video from Family Promise, which is trying to open more Hospitality Networks. Click here to view the video. She also handed out literature giving more details on the program.  Click here to go the Family Promise website to learn more about this organization.

The program includes clients who are poor as well as people who are educated and capable but just down on their luck. IHN provides shelter, food and tools to help clients becomes self-sufficient. There are some success stories. One woman recently completed her medical assistant training and is now looking for an internship position. She hopes to get a job and move into an apartment.

Ann Marie Manahan Speaks about Morristown Interfaith Food Pantry at August 3 Kiwanis Meeting

Ann Marie Manahan of the Morristown Interfaith Food Pantry was introduced by Clyde Zukswert. Photo shows Kiwanis VP Mary Anne Maloney on the left and Ms. Manahan on the right. Clyde has been a contributor and volunteer, picking up over a half ton of food and delivering it to the Food Pantry. Ann Marie is a Trustee of the Food Pantry and heads up their Capital Campaign. Some people are having a tough time making ends meet and go to the Food Pantry to supplement their food supply. The Pantry distributes almost 400 tons of food to 13,787 people in 5000 households in Morris County. They have clients from every town in the county, including Chatham.

Most of the work is done by volunteers who give 15,000 hours per year. Paid staff is only 20 but there are 260 regular full time volunteers. Even more volunteers come part time. For example, Kiwanis could send teams on an occasional basis to be part of the 930 temporary volunteers who participate every year. The Pantry works to get maximum volunteer and client involvement.

Their motto is “Neighbors Helping Neighbors”. Biggest need for contributions is FOOD. Contributors can also provide money which is used to buy food. They desperately request food now because need rises and contributions fall during the summer. Clients need to make choices of food they will eat that meets their requirements. Kiwanis gives hot dogs left over from the August Chatham Library Picnic and the Food Pantry breaks bulk packages into smaller ones and offers them at the closest distribution night. When food comes in, the first stop is “Triage” where volunteers analyze food to see if it is usable and load it into boxes to take to shelves in the West Hanover Ave. or the 190 Speedwell Ave. distribution sites.

The Pantry is in the midst of a capital campaign. They outgrew West Hanover Ave. space provided by Morris County and they plan to build a storage and distribution facility on Morris County land which is part of the Greystone property.  The goal of the Capital Campaign is $2.7 million and they have already raised $1.5 million. The “little Pantry that could” has done great things in this tough economy. No large gifts, but many ranging from one small $14 donation from a 7-year old to many larger. Click here to learn about “Harvesting Miracles, The Capital Campaign for the Interfaith Food Pantry”.

Click here to see the Interfaith Food Pantry 2009 Annual Report.

Click here to see the Interfaith Food Pantry Spring 2010 Newsletter.

Click here to visit the Interfaith Food Pantry Website. Scroll down to view YouTube video shown at the Kiwanis meeting.

After her presentation about the Food Pantry, Clyde asked Ms. Manahan to share her “cookie story”. …

The story began when she read, with her young daughter, the “American Girl” Mollie McIntire story about making cookies for WWII soldiers. Her daughter said, “lets bake cookies for soldiers.” Ann Marie asked the Daily Record to request cookies from readers. After an article was published, almost 25,000 cookies were contributed along with 800 cards. All were sent to New Jersey National Guard troops in Iraq and to soldiers serving in Afghanistan.