By Audrey Levine, Staff Writer
A Feb. 27 fundraiser organized to help the family of Davenport Way resident Daniel Wasylak, killed Jan. 17 in an auto accident, raised more than $5,000 for the family.
Mr. Wasylak, 44, died when his vehicle struck a marked patrol car head on, and was then struck by a second vehicle head on, on Finderne Avenue in Bridgewater.
The spaghetti dinner fundraiser at Woods Road Elementary School was organized by Barbara Evans, of Regina Drive, to benefit Mr. Wasylak’s widow, Jane, an 11-year-old daughter and 9-year-old twin daughters.
”It was very heartwarming,” Ms. Wasylak said of the fundraiser, which netted $5,100. “I can’t say in words how wonderful everyone has been.”
With the assistance of Sodexho Food Services, which provides meals for Hillsborough schools, Ms. Evans said they put together the dinner of baked ziti, salad, bread and other items. In total, she said, about 17 local businesses also participated in the fundraiser, donating ice, water, cookies and other items, in addition to donating money by paying for dinners for their staff.
Ms. Evans said she is grateful to all the businesses that donated and participated in the fundraiser, namely Angelo’s Pizza, Wegmans, Pathmark, Shop Rite, Culinary Creations, Petrock’s Bar & Grill, TechnicianX, Catered Affair, Hair Plus, Hillsborough Diner, St. Joseph’s Knights of Columbus, Hillsborough Funeral Home and Dollars & Sense. In addition, she said, Girl Scout troops 100, 210 and 391 baked desserts for the dinner.
According to Ms. Evans, Kathy Majors, the manager for Sodexho in Hillsborough, worked with Chef Sean Wilson to bake all the food served at the fundraiser, in part because she wanted to help a family in need since receiving support from the community herself after a fire destroyed her Pennsylvania home in June.
”The Hillsborough community helped her out because she’s involved (in the town),” Ms. Evans said. “Now, Kathy wanted to help another family and pay it forward.”
With the fundraiser, Ms. Evans said, she is proud to have helped the Wasylak family, who are friends of hers, in their time of need.
”They not only lost their dad in the accident, but they lost their financial security,” she said. “They were a family in need, and it broke my heart.”
In order to raise money for herself, Ms. Wasylak, who said she had already sold her Davenport Way home in October, is holding estate sales over the next two weekends to sell the contents of her first floor as she prepares to move.
”It’s a large house, but I’ve never had expensive taste,” she said. “There are odds and ends.”
Ms. Wasylak said she is trying to raise money by selling furniture, books, clocks, prints and other items, including a 650-pound custom glass dining room table that fits 14 people and a 21-light foyer chandelier.
In addition, she said, she is looking to sell an 8-foot-long wall unit, a 9-foot projection screen and other items in her home.
”The glass table is priced at about $5,000,” she said. “There is nothing more expensive than that. Prices could go down to $1.”
As she looks toward the sale and the future, Ms. Wasylak said she is hoping to finish working for her bachelor’s degree in education and start teaching. She said she already has applied to Hillsborough Township schools to be a substitute teacher.
But most importantly, she said while trying to hold back tears, as she tries to get through this difficult time, she is hoping to remain in Hillsborough.
”I am looking to stay in Hillsborough, especially for my kids,” she said. “I love the town and I would like to keep us here.”
The sale, at 31 Davenport Way, will be held on March 7, March 8, March 14 and March 15 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

