Warriors wrap up holiday
with distribution of gifts
MILLSTONE — Members and supporters of the Warriors Youth Organization have once again made the holiday season brighter for the less fortunate.
The generosity shown within the community has helped to brighten the season for youngsters in Millstone as well as in the Middletown and Asbury Park areas.
The Warriors, founded by Millstone residents Lauren and Peter Sarni, continued their good works this week with gifts collected through a joint effort with the Millstone school district.
Sarni said the Warriors collected more than 600 gifts which were then delivered to families in Millstone that need assistance and to the Mercy Center in Asbury Park for distribution to other needy families.
Sarni said the Warriors were also able to provide gifts to a special family in Middletown whom the organization "adopted" to help. The family, she said, is comprised of 12 adopted foster children who "came to stay for foster care with a very loving family and ended up living in a loving family."
Sarni said it was her mission to see that the material needs of the season would be available to the children to go along with their emotional needs that were already being met.
The success of the effort started with a holiday dance. Sarni said the organization paid for the dance at the Millstone Township Middle School and asked only that children showing up bring a gift valued between $5 and $10. She said some 265 youngsters showed up and more donations of gifts were to follow, thus ensuring the drive would be a success.
Sarni said she is not surprised by the generosity of the community, which she said was evident during a Halloween candy drive that resulted in more than 400 goody bags being delivered to Elijah’s soup kitchen in New Brunswick.
Youngsters there were happy to receive the treats, she added.
Sarni is quick to make sure credit goes where it’s due and noted that without the help of middle school assistant principal Steve Baglivio and staff members Kim Keune, student council adviser, and Jamie Stavola, peer leadership director, the successes so far would not have been achieved.
Also last year, through donations, the Warriors organization was able to give out two $500 scholarship awards to eighth-grade graduates who were deemed to have displayed honor, integrity and character.
Sarni said the Warriors organization was founded not only to help those who need help, but to "instill in youth the feeling of fulfillment that one gets from the simple act of helping someone else."
She said all of the adults involved in the organization are motivated by the same goal.
"Our desire is that the kids will learn that from day to day, it is better to give a thought to the well-being of others," she explained.
Sarni said she wants members of the community to know the organization is grateful for the past support and looks forward to their continued generosity of spirit. Those looking to help the group or for help may contact the Warriors by calling (732) 446-6438.