Food Drive a Huge Success, Organizers Say

Dear Editor,

We thank everyone who made our 2012 Stuff the Bus for the Long Valley Food Pantry another huge success. We appreciate all who donated items, the churches, organizations and businesses that spread the word, and all who came to help. More than 80 Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Brownies and Cubs, and students from all schools in Washington Township helped collect, sort, load, unload, and store at day’s end. Old Farmers Road teacher Debbie Dickinson organized the volunteers and kept the process running smoothly. 

Special thanks goes to Superintendent Jeff Mohre of Washington Township Schools for making this a joint effort this year between WTS and the Pantry. 

Thanks, too, to Chris Kling from West Morris Central and all of his Highlanders for Humanity who helped and to the West Morris students who contributed several car loads of items which had been collected during the weeks prior to the event.  Promoting the event in other schools were Donna Lagomarsino and Jolene Battatori at Cucinella, Mike Craver and Kathy Baker at Flocktown/Kossman, and Debbie Dickinson and Joe Ciulla at Old Farmers Road.  Local business owner George Moran of Valley Music Center also collected at an event two weeks earlier.

While we don’t know the names of the individuals, special kudos to the Long Valley resident who, when asked what people could bring to her adult Halloween party, told them to bring food for the drive, so she arrived with a car full of needed items.  And...great work by the grade-school children who donated all of the money they had made from a garage sale and lemonade stand!

Stuff the Bus continues to make a difference in many lives because so many came together to make it happen.  We look forward to making a difference again next year on October 26, the national Make-A-Difference Day for 2013. 

Donations to the Long Valley Food Pantry can be made throughout the year at the Long Valley Presbyterian Church, 39 Bartley Road, Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Sincere thanks to all,

Program Organizers

Janet Dickinson
Long Valley Middle School
Service and Community
Dana La Gueux
Long Valley Food Pantry