Jamesburg committees and organizations set goals for the coming year.
By: Stephanie Brown
JAMESBURG The end of the year is typically a time for reflecting back and looking ahead.
As the holiday season and 2006 comes to an end, the Jamesburg Civic Association, Jamesburg Historical Association, Recreation Department, and Presbyterian Church of Jamesburg Deacons Food Cupboard discussed with The Cranbury Press their goals for the upcoming year.
Deacons Food
Cupboard
The Deacons’ Food Cupboard’s keyword for 2007 is more more space, more corporate donations and more mouths to feed.
The Presbyterian Church of Jamesburg has maintained its Deacons’ Food Cupboard since the church was first established more than 150 years ago.
The cupboard provides food items and personal hygiene, cleaning and paper products on a monthly basis to about 85 families.
While an addition to the Presbyterian Church has been under construction, the cupboard has been working out of the First Baptist Church of Jamesburg on Half Acre Road.
Construction is slated to be completed early 2007 and members of the Board of Deacons who oversee the cupboard say they are looking forward to moving back.
"I would have to say that getting back into our building is definitely a priority," said April Fordham, a member of the Board of Deacons. "The Baptist Church has been so gracious in what they’ve allowed us to use, but they need their space back. They’ve given it up for us, it wasn’t extra."
Susan Schneider-Baker, who is also a member of the Board of Deacons, said operating out of a temporary base has been somewhat of an inconvenience. She said food items are overflowing between the two rooms in the Baptist Church, and perishable food items are stored in refrigerators scattered across town.
"We’d like to be able to be back at the Presbyterian Church where it’s all contained in one area, because it’s a lot of extra work for us to pick everything up," Ms. Schneider-Baker said.
Ms. Schneider-Baker said the cupboard is anticipating an increase in the number of people it serves.
"We always wish there were less people who need our assistance, but we know with the way the economy is going that the numbers are going to be going higher, which means we’ll need more funding," she said.
To continue to meet the increasing needs of community, the cupboard is seeking more corporate donors in 2007.
For example, Ms. Fordham said, a company could donate goods with damaged packaging that it couldn’t otherwise sell.
Even smaller offices could help the pantry by organizing food drives.
Whatever the case, Ms. Fordham said the more items the pantry receives in bulk, the better.
She said receiving items in bulk means the pantry can give those items out quicker instead of waiting until it has enough of the same item to donate to each of its families.
Overall, the cupboard is looking to create a more efficient operation, by doing things like re-evaluating applications, and issuing name cards "just making it a streamlined process for not just the people receiving the service, but those on our end, too," Ms. Fordham said.
Stephanie Brown
Historical Association
The Jamesburg Historical Association plans to establish a fundraising committee, increase its membership and programs and publicize itself more in the upcoming year.
Established in 1979, the Jamesburg Historical Association works to preserve the borough’s history and raise the public’s awareness about the value of preservation.
The association holds numerous events throughout the year, including tours of Lakeview: Buckelew Mansion, Buckelew Day and Christmas at Lakeview.
JHA President Ron Becker said the association has several goals for the new year.
First, he said, it plans to create a fundraising committee. The JHA relies on donations to operate and pay for improvements made to the mansion and its grounds, he said. The fundraising committee would be charged with the task of obtaining funds that would enable the JHA to continue to operate and maintain the mansion.
Mr. Becker said the association also plans to reach out to those interested in preserving history and invite them to become members. He said he is particularity interested in recruiting younger members.
"For the past 27 years, the Jamesburg Historical Association has worked hard to preserve our area’s history," Mr. Becker said. "We need younger people to step up to help us in that task and carry it on."
In addition to increasing its membership, Mr. Becker said the JHA plans to expand its programs.
He said programs offered by the association are mostly historically based, such as a February visit by an Abraham Lincoln impersonator. Adding programs will help bring more people into the mansion, and offer them an opportunity to experience the past, he said.
Lastly, in order to help achieve those goals, Mr. Becker said the JHA plans to step up its publicity.
"We need to start advertising ourselves," Mr. Becker said. "Preserving history is really very important."
Stephanie Brown
Recreation Department
The Recreation Department plans to introduce new programs, improve its current programs and recruit more volunteers in 2007.
The Recreation Department currently offers basketball, cheerleading, floor hockey, runs a summer camp program, co-sponsors the Annual Pumpkin Festival in October and works in conjunction with the Jamesburg Baseball Association.
Mayor Tony LaMantia said he is open to all suggestions as to what kind of programs should be offered.
He also said the department is looking for more coaches and other volunteers to help expand upon the programs it already offers.
"The goal is to improve the programs we have and add more programs for the community," Mayor LaMantia said.
Stephanie Brown
Jamesburg Civic
Association
The Jamesburg Civic Association plans to continue raising money to fund its many philanthropic efforts.
The JCA is a nonprofit, nonpolitical group that raises money to be reinvested in the community. The association has given to the Jamesburg First Aid Squad, the Jamesburg Volunteer Fire Company, the Public Library, and the Deacons Food Cupboard, and has other groups and individuals in the borough.
"Our mission is to do planned and random acts of kindness for our community," JCA President Elliott Stroul said.
The JCA holds several fundraisers each year, like the annual World Famous Zerbini Circus and winter carriage rides.
Mr. Stroul said the JCA is exploring another possible fundraiser for the upcoming year a casino night.
"We are currently researching the best way to do it so that it will be a success," Mr. Stroul said.
Overall, Mr. Stroul said he is looking forward to the new year and how the JCA will be able to continue benefiting the town.
"I’m really happy with the way things are going," he said. "For the size of the town, we have a real positive feeling of caring, sharing and giving going on and we just hope that that continues."
Meetings are held the first Thursday of every month 7 p.m. at Lisco’s Country Café at 49 E. Railroad Ave. For more information go to www.jamesburg.net.
Stephanie Brown

