Boy Scouts want help ringing up donations

Scouts are looking for volunteers to spend one hour outside local businesses ringing bells and soliciting shoppers.

By: Joseph Harvie
   Boy Scout Troop 888 is once again hitting the streets to raise money for the Salvation Army through the annual bell-ringing kettle drive, and they need your help.
   The Scouts are looking for volunteers to spend one hour outside local businesses ringing bells and soliciting shoppers for pocket change, Troop 888 Scoutmaster Frank Gramieri said.
   The Scouts need help ringing the bell and manning the kettles on Saturday and Sunday, and on Dec. 16 and 17. This year the Scouts and other volunteers will be outside of Wawa on Georges Road; Dunkin’ Donuts on Route 522; Stop&Shop on Routes 522, 1, and 27; and Walgreens and the Kendall Park Post Office on Route 27, Mr. Gramieri said.
   This is the second year the Scouts have run the kettle drive after taking over for Walter and Marian Moyer of Kendall Park, who ran the program for 16 years. Mr. Gramieri said the Scouts are hoping to outdo last year’s total of $8,700 raised for local needy families through the Salvation Army.
   "With a small band of volunteers we are trying to stay at par with last year’s fundraising," Mr. Gramieri said in a press release. "In these times of multiple fundraising for other needs throughout the country it has been very tough."
   Mr. Gramieri said anyone interested in volunteering should bring holiday music and their holiday spirit with them. All money raised through the kettle drive in South Brunswick will help local families in need through the South Brunswick.
   Mr. Gramieri said all money raised is placed in a special account in South Brunswick for the Salvation Army. He said South Brunswick Social Services Director LouAnne Wolf lets him know of needy township residents. The residents are given gift cards for items such as telephone minutes and gasoline.
   Anyone interested in volunteering can do so by calling Mr. Gramieri at (732) 735-3540 or Jen Vogel, co-event coordinator, at (732) 881-3158 or (732) 355-1772.