Pizza Place Profits to Aid Sick School Nurse

One gesture of good will has led to another, and one that could potentially aid a West Morris Central faculty member’s family greatly.

Susan Moor, a nurse at the school who is currently undergoing treatments in her battle with breast cancer, was the subject of a contentious issue between the West Morris Regional Board of Education and Teacher’s Association for the first half of the school year.

The Association asked the Board to consider establishing a sick bank, where faculty members could donate unused sick days for Moor to use for herself as she fought the disease. .

But it was the Association’s effort that made a local business spring into action with the hopes of helping Moor.

“I was so touched by the gesture made by so many of her colleagues to donate their sick days to her, I just wanted to try to help in any way I could,” said Heidi Prudente, co-owner of .

The restaurant, located on East Mill Road in the Valley Professional Plaza, will hold a fundraiser all day Monday, Feb. 11. Owners Bob and Heidi Prudente, both West Morris Central alums and Washington Township residents, will give 20-percent of the day’s gross sales to the Moor family.

Once the decision was reached that a sick bank would not happen, Prudente began working alongside West Morris Central faculty member Cara Fabin to create a flyer and begin spreading the word.

The Prudente’s have never met Moor, but have interacted with her over the phone when their daughter was in the nurse’s office.

Moor, who lost her youngest daughter in the spring of 2012, used the bulk of her sick time then, clearly not expecting the need for them would come so soon after the tragedy.

“I didn’t realize she lost her daughter and just felt that one family shouldn’t have to endure such pain,” Prudente said.

Bob’s Long Valley Pizza, which has embarked on a yearlong effort to financially support non-profit organizations throughout 2013, has already received cash donations for Moor prior to the fund raising program.

“A lot of people really seem to want to lend a hand on this one,” Prudente said.

Moor had three lymph nodes removed during a successful surgery Wednesday, according to her husband’s blog, which can be seen here.

Bob’s Long Valley Pizza is located at 59 East Mill Road and will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, Feb. 11.