By:Brian Shappell
 It could be said that many people take
what they have for granted. But not these
Cranbury teen-agers.
û û One of the standout groups in the Lead
ers in the Community Program at Princeton
High School, which requires students to
complete community-service or career-cen
tered projects prior to graduation, is Helping
the Homeless. And, the group is headed up
by a trio of juniors including Cranbury’s
own Leigh Patterson and Jackie Troccoli, as
well as Princeton’s Casey Caudill.
û û As part of the program, junior group
leaders coordinate the efforts of sophomores
trying to fill the graduation requirement.
û û “It is really productive and good for the
school and its students,” Jackie said. “Serv
ing and interacting with the people is fun
and it really makes people reflect and realize
they’ve done something good.”
û û Throughout the school year, Helping the
Homeless — which has three other Cran
bury residents, Thomas Johnson, Maddie
Carter and Kelley Marshall — has been
among the most organized and involved
groups in the high school under the junior
leaders.
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û û This year, the students took part in sev
eral activities which included volunteering
at the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, coordi
nating food and clothing drives and deliver
ing meals to people at the Sleep E Hollow
Motel on Route 1.
û û “I’ve seen stuff outside of Princeton and
Cranbury and I realize that there are people
in different situations in life,” said Tom. “It
was definitely a positive experience to be a
part of this. It is the more community serv
ice-oriented than some of the other groups.”
û û The most rewarding experience this year
was gained through work on location at the
Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, according to
group members.
û û TASK, whose director is Cranbury resi
dent Peter Wise, provides many options for
the needs in the area including hot meals
Monday through Friday, adult education
programs and service providers in areas such
as mental health and substance abuse.
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û û “The trip was good, I really
liked it,” said Leigh. “Everyone
there was very nice and appre
ciative.”
û û The students performed sev
eral services for TASK includ
ing cooking, serving to patrons
and even making Valentines for
the holiday with kids during
their visit in February.
û û “We’re very grateful that
students come help us,” Mr.
Wise said. “We serve 2,000
people and have only a small,
paid staff. The operation is very
dependent on volunteers.”
û û While organizations like the
soup kitchen are benefiting
highly from the teens’ efforts,
they are not the only ones get
ting something out of this.
û û That is the point of the
Leaders in the Community
according to Andrea Dinan,
program coordinator. Students
like Tom, Leigh and Jackie
have commented how their
work on this project has helped
increase leadership skill, re
sponsibility and given them a
glimpse of reality.
û û “It is very important for stu
dents to be involved in work
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like this,” said Mr. Wise. “It
helps increase the awareness of
the greater community of the
needs that exist in society.”
û û The pair of leaders backed
up their comments by coming
back to the project for a second
year. Following sophomore
stints with Helping the Home
less, both quickly applied to be
leaders for the program this
year.
û û “I did it because it was the
group I was in last year,” said
Jackie. “It was the first time I’d
been to a soup kitchen. I en
joyed helping there.”
û û According to the duo, they
have no regrets of their deci
sion.
û û “I think that the experience
has been positive,” Jackie said.
“It made me see all the things a
person takes for granted. It
helps you see things a little
clearer.”
û û For more information on
TASK, call Peter Wise at (609)
695-5456 or go to the Web site
at www.trentonsoupkitchen.org.
Donations can be made care of
TASK, Box 872, Trenton, NJ
08605.
