Club helps needy and spurs friendship among neighbors

   When a friend suggested I attend a Monroe Township Mothers Club meeting in the fall of 2001, I decided to go even though I had no idea what the group was all about. Being a new mom, I hadn’t yet attended any club-sponsored events in the community, so the organization was a mystery to me. Rumor has it the club is a mystery to many in the area despite the group’s constant dedication to those in need and to the community as a whole.
   The Mothers Club is not a religious organization. Its members come from a variety of backgrounds and ages. Nor is it a closed network of a select few individuals with long-standing ties to the township. Members must be 19 or older and can live in Monroe or the surrounding area.
   After celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2002, the Mothers Club is working hard to continue its strong tradition of community service. I discovered that the club is always seeking new members, and for a mere $12 annual dues payment, I signed up as a new member in early 2002.
   I quickly found out what the Mothers Club is about at the first meeting I attended— a civic organization dedicated to promoting the welfare of those in the township and the surrounding area. Through fund-raising events, mainly the Country Fair in September, the club raises money to help those in need.
   If the club gets word a family is in need, it will vote to decide if and how much money can be given to help ease that family’s burden. Sometimes the crisis is the death or critical illness of a parent, a devastating house fire or the serious illness of a child. Often the donation takes the form of a check or supermarket gift certificates. At other times, a donation of material goods can be more helpful, such as a recent donation of clothing to disabled veterans. The Mothers Club looks at each situation individually and decides how it can help.
   Scholarships are another way the Mothers Club helps improve the community. Two or three scholarships are awarded to high school students each year, depending on the availability of funds. The students are asked to write an essay on which the scholarship decision is based. There were two winners of the Mothers Club scholarship in 2002— Monroe Township High School seniors Preena Patel and Anthony Barbato. Each winner received $500.
   I learned over the past year that the club works not only to help those in need, but also to bring some fun and enjoyment to the community, especially children. In lieu of Easter eggs, the club threw out candy last spring and let the kids go to town in a candy-grabbing free-for-all.
   At the Halloween parade, proud kids marched around the township hockey rink in their inventive costumes and enjoyed doughnuts and cider when the judging was over. There are many other events the Mothers Club helps bring to the community including the Oktoberfest and the Holiday Tree lighting. The club relies heavily on other groups in the township to make its work possible. The Recreation Department helps fund, supply and staff several of the club’s events and is often a co-sponsor of these events. The township’s police department and firehouses have also given time to help at these events in the community.
   The First Aid Squad has greatly helped the Mothers Club by giving the group the use of its building, free of charge, for monthly meetings.
   Members are asked to attend the monthly meetings, or at least two-thirds of them, and help out at events when possible. Helping can mean a lot of things, from doing preparation work such as shopping for supplies in advance of the event to basic set-up and organization on the day of the event.
   As a member, I participated in several events and attended most meetings but never felt that the Mothers Club was taking too much of my time. The meetings are usually held at 7:30 p.m. and are relatively short. The events are usually held on weekends and are more fun than work. Believe me, there are worse things you can do on a Saturday morning than watch the gleeful faces of children waiting to get their hands on some of the candy you just scattered.
   In addition to helping the community, the Mothers Club helps its members make new connections that often result in close friendships. Lori Seltzer has been a member for three years. She told me she has gained a great deal through her membership.
   "I’ve met a lot of good friends through the club," she said.
   Lori told me she would encourage those who are looking to get to know their community better to explore the Mothers Club.
   "It’s a nice way to meet people in the community," she said.
   The club helps make membership more enjoyable by incorporating a few nice extras into its routines. A "secret pal" gift-exchange allows members to give and receive gifts for birthdays, anniversaries and the December holiday season. Snacks and beverages are provided at each meeting.
   Maureen Herban has been a member for a year. She told me getting to know other mothers in the area has been a gratifying part of her participation. She added that striving to improve the lives of others makes a difference in your own life.
   "It gives you a nice feeling helping others who aren’t as privileged," she said.
   Club President Holly DeSalvo echoed Maureen’s sentiments when she told me what kept her coming back as a member for four years.
   "The feeling of community I get from seeing the children’s faces at these events. That’s what it’s all about for me," she said.
   The Mothers Club meets the second Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the First Aid Hall on Monmouth Road. If you would like to find out more about the Mothers Club, come to a meeting. It’s a great way to volunteer and make satisfying connections in the community at the same time.
   And while you’re at it, bring a neighbor. They may be looking for exactly the same thing.
Bernadette Yannacci is a member of the Monroe Township Mothers Club and a former staff writer for The Cranbury Press.