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Every town has volunteers. Sometimes they help at the library, the senior center, the school, at food pantries, and they’re almost always working in local fire departments and first aid squads.
The same can be said about Jamesburg, but with one difference. Because of its small size and limited financial resources, volunteering in Jamesburg can have a very real and immediate impact on students, the sick, hungry and even taxpayers.
That’s why everyone who gives their time to help keep the borough and district schools running should be commended.
One need look no further than the school district to see how volunteers are providing a service that helps students and the bottom line. Recently, about 30 retired professionals agreed to perform a variety of duties in the libraries of the Grace M. Breckwedel and the John F. Kennedy schools. They’ll help children find suitable books, check out their selections and help the library run smoothly.
In addition, the district’s Parent Teacher Association has been raising money to pay for district boys and girls basketball and soccer teams. Their efforts have covered the costs of coaches and bus transportation to away games and prevented the cancellation of a valuable activity for students.
Both efforts are necessary. A full-time librarian was eliminated from the district’s 2003-2004 school budget as a way to cut costs. The librarian will become a full-time teacher in September. The district also was forced to take away funding for the basketball teams. Plans to fund the sports weren’t included in the most recent budget.
A big reason for the cuts is that the school is being hit hard by out-of-district tuition costs. Tuition for special education students and students attending Monroe Township High School is expected to increase from $3.47 million to $4.09 million in 2003-2004. The school district received $3.55 million in state aid for 2003-2004.
In addition the two most recent school budgets were rejected by voters, limiting what the district can do to reverse its cuts.
These efforts to help district schools are commendable, but unfortunate. The borough should not be in a position to rely so heavily on volunteers and, in a perfect world, the state would increase the amount of aid it gives the school district.
But, it isn’t just at the schools where the affects of volunteers are helping make life better for borough residents.
The borough’s fire department is made up of 43 volunteers who range in age from 16 to 77. The department answers about 200 calls a year and this year will operate with a budget of just over $300,000. The Jamesburg First Aid Squad has about 35 members ranging in age from 18 to 64. It answers between 700 and 800 calls in Jamesburg, Helmetta and the N.J. Turnpike and has an annual budget of about $30,000. In addition, the Jamesburg Recreation camp is run largely by volunteers.
Borough officials say these acts alone save the borough money. But, there are intangible benefits as well. Volunteers run the spectrum in age, and include state and borough officials, blue and white collar workers, teen-agers and retirees.
Volunteers say their efforts are part of what gives Jamesburg that small town, family feel.
They also say it’s about the camaraderie, the friendships formed and the feeling that anyone, regardless of age or occupation, can have a positive affect on the lives of their neighbors.
And that is part of what makes Jamesburg special.
