EDITORIAL
By Ruth Luse
This is one of the few times in the year when most of us tend to open up our wallets and checkbooks willingly for the purpose of giving gifts to loved ones and causes dear to our hearts.
While most of us are thinking of holiday gifts for family and friends, a few of us also consider those less fortunate and groups that need our help.
For those who’d like to know who needs help, here are a few ideas:
The D&R Greenway Land Trust, which will host another free community walk on the St. Michael’s property near Hopewell from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday. The trust hopes residents will join its land conservationists on this tour, intended to acquaint those interested with the site. The trust needs to raise $2 million in private donations toward the cost of preserving this property by March 15 at the very latest. Those who want to help should make checks out to D&R Greenway Land Trust (note on check that the contribution is to support the preservation of the St. Michael’s property) and send to D&R Greenway Land Trust, 1 Preservation Place, Princeton, 08540.
Hopewell Business Association 2007 calendars, which are being sold now to help provide money for scholarships for Hopewell Valley Central High School seniors. These handsome calendars ($10 each) are available right now at the HVN office, 52 E. Broad St., Hopewell, and at quite a few other business locations in the Valley. See HVN’s Winter Events List for more details.
Toys for Tots, a project of the U.S. Marine Corps. New unwrapped toys for needy children are being collected at the Hopewell Township Municipal Building, Route 546 and Scotch Road, until Dec. 12. They also are being gathered by a group of Central High sophomore girls in the choir room at the school. The deadline is Dec. 14.
Warm clothes for the needy. Valley residents are being asked to donate new white cotton "tube" socks (all adult sizes) for men at the Rescue Mission of Trenton. Donations may be dropped off on the porches of Ann Johnson, 18 W. Broad St., Hopewell, or Julie Aberger, 9 W. Franklin Ave., Pennington, anytime. Clothing and personal items will be delivered to the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) weekly as well as St. Paul’s United Methodist Church on West State Street, Trenton. Questions? Call 466-1065 or 737-2384.
Gloria Nilson GMAC Real Estate, 800 Denow Road, Hopewell Township is collecting scarves, hats, gloves and socks for distribution to people at the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK). New or gently used items will be welcome now and through the winter months.
These are just a few ideas. Others include the Recreation Foundation of Hopewell Valley, Inc. (P.O. Box 491, Pennington, 08534), and the Hopewell Valley Education Foundation (P.O. Box 553, Pennington, 08534). Both are nonprofits that work to raise money to meet the varied needs of local children.
We know this list is not complete. It would be difficult to list all the worthy causes that could use help at this time of year, or anytime. So we’ve mentioned those of which we are most aware. We’re counting on our readers to remember the rest during this holiday season.

