Youngsters donate time and energy to helping out
By: Lacey Korevec
A number of little hands were working to fill brown paper lunch bags with microwave chicken and rice soup, juice packs, Dole orange slice packs and individually wrapped brownie dessert snacks Wednesday afternoon at the Methodist Church.
Members of the Cranbury Mother’s Club and their children packed one hundred meals that were delivered Thursday to the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, where they will be handed out to children who can then bring them home.
TASK is a charitable organization in Trenton that provides over 3,000 free meals per week to people in need.
Lisa O’Donnell, who serves as the co-chairwoman for the philanthropy committee of the Mother’s Club, said this is the second year the group has taken the project on and she hopes it will become an annual event.
"I think it’s something that we’ll continue as long as we can," she said. "I know there’s a need and it’s a great thing that the kids can help out with."
The children formed an assembly line down the length of the table, placing items in the bags and then handing the bags on to whoever stood next to them. At the same time, other children worked at a separate table decorating the brown bags for the children who will receive them.
Cranbury School second-grader Collin Nichols was at the decorating table in the church. He said he drew smiley faces and used stickers to liven the bags up for the children at TASK, who he said are just like him, only they can’t afford food.
"I feel pretty happy because I feel good about giving people food that need it," he said. "I also wrote them messages. I wrote, ‘Food for you’ and ‘Happy eating.’ "
The Mother’s Club spent $200 buying the nonperishable food products, Ms. O’Donnell said. Last year, the group made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but the event was much messier.
"We decided to do nonperishable meals this time so the kids can take them home on Friday," she said.
Patricia Thomsson, one of the mothers helping out at the event, said the best part about it is that the children are such a big part of putting the meals together.
"We came up with a whole bunch of things that the kids could do," she said.
All of the bags also included typed notes that read, "Have a nice day, from the children of the Cranbury Mother’s Club.’ "
"I feel great about it," Ms. O’Donnell said. "It’s definitely something where we can help others out in the community," she said. "And it’s a way for the kids to learn. It makes me feel good at the end of the day."
For more information on volunteering or donating to TASK, which is located at 72 ½ Escher St. in Trenton, visit www.trentonsoupkitchen.org or call (609) 695-5456.

