Season of giving on minds
of South River residents
20 families, 79 kids
to benefit this year
from Adopt-a-Family
By jennifer dome
Staff Writer
SOUTH RIVER — The community is once again lending a hand to spread the holiday spirit among underprivileged borough children through the school PTA’s Adopt-a-Family program.
One beneficiary of the program, speaking anonymously to the Sentinel last week, said the program has provided her with gifts for her three children for three years.
"If it comes to paying a bill or buying a Christmas present, I have to pay the bill," she said.
The mother of three noted gratefully that the school community helps families throughout the year and not just during the holidays.
For the last 13 years, local organizations and individuals have sponsored families who have children in the borough schools and agree to participate in the program. This year, the PTA will help 20 families, with some 79 children receiving presents and food for the holidays, according to Adopt-a-Family Chairwoman Donna Geesey.
The PTA is currently collecting goods for the program at the South River Elementary School, located on Johnson Place. Among the items being collected are new, unwrapped toys, nonperishable food items, new clothing ranging in size from 24 months to men’s and women’s large, and toiletry items such as shampoo, soap, powder and deodorant.
The PTA is also accepting monetary donations, Geesey said.
The program provides the gift-buyers with the name, age and size of the child. The PTA tries to give at least one new outfit, two toys and a set of pajamas to each child, Geesey said. The children are always given a new coat, gloves, a hat and socks as well, she said.
The program also provides the family with a holiday meal, complete with a frozen turkey, according to Geesey.
The food items are boxed, and the gifts are wrapped, tagged and then delivered to the families closer to Christmas.
Volunteers, who are usually members of the PTA or other parents of students in the South River schools, help deliver the goods with the help of Santa Claus, Geesey said.
One couple in the borough, who did not want their name used in this story, adopts a family through the program every year, but noted the rewards in just seeing the children’s reactions to Santa coming by the house bearing gifts.
"They get excited and run around the house," he said about the young recipients.
This year, he said, will be his fourth time helping with the program. His wife said their own children have learned a lot by participating in the Adopt-a-Family program. Each Christmas, her kids ask for only the things they really need because they know some money has to be used to help other children in their community.
"It’s taught them a lot about the season of giving," she said.
Borough resident and Girl Scout troop leader Debbie Zemann said that the senior Girl Scouts of Troop No. 1169 have learned that the Adopt-a-Family program helps children who are less fortunate.
"It gave them a good feeling," Zemann said about the troop, which bought and sorted gifts last year.
Troop member Christy Fic, 14, said she has already bought a small watch and play makeup for a 9-year-old girl in the family the troop is sponsoring.
"I think it’s a good idea because there are kids that don’t get a lot for Christmas," Fic said.
The largest family that was adopted this year will be cared for by the borough Municipal Alliance and Cub Scout Pack No. 83. With nine children to provide for, the two groups will divide the gift buying between them.
"These children otherwise might not have any holiday at all," said PTA member Deirdre Klimcsak, who also volunteers with the municipal alliance and is a Cub Scout mother.
The alliance and the Cub Scouts will also collect food for a holiday dinner, as the other organizations and individuals are doing.
"I really believe in this program because it goes right to children in our community," Klimcsak said.
Many local organizations, including but not limited to the Policemen’s Benevolent Association, the Board of Education and numerous individuals, provide donations for the Adopt-a-Family Program, Geesey said.
In order to make a donation, or for more information, call Donna Geesey at (732) 390-8202.

