Valentine campaign helps feed hungry families

Effort to benefit the Crisis Ministry honors the late Donald Dickason

By: Kristin Boyd
   The idea is simple enough: If people would spend $3.99 for a fancy Valentine’s Day card, wouldn’t they pay the same amount to help feed a hungry family?
   The late Donald Dickason certainly believed so, and in mere months he persuaded the Princeton community to buy into his "Valentines for Food" idea as well.
   "He was so enthusiastic. It was very difficult for people to say no to him," said the Rev. Sally Osmer, director of The Crisis Ministry of Princeton and Trenton.
   The third annual food drive kicks off Wednesday and continues through Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14. As a tribute to Mr. Dickason, who passed away in July, the event has been renamed in his memory.
   "We were determined to keep this tradition going, but (his death) has meant real loss," the Rev. Osmer said. "He was a really nice person who was genuinely concerned about people in the area who didn’t have the resources to get the food they need."
   The drive benefits Crisis Ministry, which supplies emergency food to 1,100 Mercer County homes monthly. Of those, 100 are located in Princeton, the Rev. Osmer said.
   The need, she adds, continues to grow as residents earning low wages or living on fixed incomes struggle to pay rising housing costs. When there isn’t enough money left over for food, those residents often turn to the Crisis Ministry for the basics: rice, cereal, peanut butter, tomato sauce, canned fruits and vegetables, macaroni and cheese.
   A $3.99 "Valentine for Food" donation can feed a Crisis Ministry household for a full day, possibly more, the Rev. Osmer said.
   "Hunger and poverty exist in our community," she said. "During February, there’s not a holiday like Thanksgiving or Christmas, where people are thinking about donating to Crisis Ministry. Yet, people are hungry all year long."
   The 2006 drive, fueled by Mr. Dickason’s aggressive goal, netted more than 20 tons of food. That number, the Rev. Osmer said, includes both the non-perishables collected and monetary donations, which are later used to buy wholesale foods.
   The community is again rallying behind Mr. Dickason’s pet project. During the week of Feb. 7-14, McCaffrey’s supermarkets in Princeton and West Windsor will sell "Valentine Bags of Food" for $3.99 and match each donation.
   In addition, the Rotary Club of Princeton, in which Mr. Dickason was an active member, is hosting a special lunch on Feb. 13 at Nassau Presbyterian Church, 61 Nassau St. Club members will prepare a dishes using typical food-pantry fare.
   The evening of Valentine’s Day the Rotaract Club at Princeton University is hosting a "Valentines Auction." Donations from local businesses, including dinner certificates and gift cards, will be auctioned.
   For more information about the "Don Dickason Memorial Valentines for Food Drive" and related events, call Jill Schreiber, Crisis Ministry Food Drive volunteer, at (609) 921-6875, or the Rev. Sally Osmer of the Crisis Ministry of Princeton and Trenton at (609) 396-9355, ext. 13. The Crisis Ministry Web site is www.thecrisisministry.org.
Food drive: Ways to offer assistance
   The "Don Dickason Memorial Valentines for Food Drive" is scheduled for Feb. 7 through Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14. There are several ways for residents to donate either food or money:
   • Bring non-perishable foods to one of the participating Princeton-area schools, which include: Community Park; Johnson Park, Littlebrook, Riverside, John Witherspoon Middle School, Grover Middle School, Princeton High School, Princeton Charter School, The Hun School of Princeton, West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North, West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South and the American Boychoir School.
   • Bring non-perishable foods to one of the participating congregations, which include: All Saints Episcopal Church; Christ Congregation; First Baptist Church of Pennington; Nassau Presbyterian Church; Trinity Episcopal Church; Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton; First Baptist Church of Princeton; First Presbyterian Church of Ewing; Kingston United Methodist; St. Matthias Episcopal Church and St. David the King.
   • The congregations will also have "Valentines for Food" envelopes for residents to donate money. Make checks payable to "The Crisis Ministry — Food." The Crisis Ministry of Princeton and Trenton will use the money to buy wholesale foods.
   • Visit McCaffery’s supermarkets in Princeton or West Windsor and buy a Valentine Bag of Food for $3.99. McCaffrey’s will match each donation.
   If buying food, suggested items include: cereal, pasta, canned beans, canned meats and fish, jelly, jam and honey. All cans should be 12 to 16 ounces. Foods should not be in glass containers.