CRANBURY — The First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury hosted its annual Strawberry Festival fundraiser Saturday, attended by some 450 people.
By Amy Batista, Special Writer
CRANBURY — The First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury hosted its annual Strawberry Festival fundraiser Saturday, attended by some 450 people..
”The festival is old-fashioned community fun,” said Rebecca Huselid, deacon and Benevolence Fund chair of the First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury. “It has been a favorite annual event at our church.”
The event, which raises money for the Benevolence Fund and has been hosted by the church for more than 50 years, is typically held the first Saturday in June and is organized by the board of deacons.
”We use the money to help financially families and individuals in crisis from Cranbury and the surrounding area,” Ms. Huselid said. “We provide one-time help to help people working hard but needing a boost to get back on their feet after a crisis. In addition, we have a food pantry and a large thanksgiving basket program for needy families in the area.”
Ms. Huselid said Tuesday that the event raised somewhere around $3,500.
”I don’t know what expenses were so I am not sure about profits. I think we will raise about $2,500 for our benevolence fund,” Ms. Huselid said.
Attendees were able to participate in an unlimited variety of games, face painting, tour emergency vehicles including a fire truck, ambulance, police car, and have food. A clown was also there making balloon animals for the kids.
”It’s a great community affair that just happens with lots of hard work from not just the deacons but every member of our church wanting to be involved in this (event).” said Sue Britton, deacon at the First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury.
”We are having a good time,” said Krista D’Ambrose of Monroe who was attending for the first time with her daughter, Ava, 3, who is a student at the Cranbury Presbyterian Nursery School.
For some families, attending is a tradition that was now being shared with the next generation. For others, it was their first time experiencing the festival, which was recommended to them by friends or because they are now participating since their child is attending the church’s nursery school.
Stephanie Martin of Manhattan carried on the tradition with her daughter, Madeline, 2, and returned to experience the festival as she did when she was a child.
”It’s fun growing up here knowing (about) it, and then to be able to take your kids,” said Ms. Martin. “It really is lovely to bring your kids after you had come. (My daughter) has been looking forward to it since we came last year.”
Katey Beykirch of Whitehouse Station was visiting her parents in Cranbury and brought her son Ben, 2, to experience the festival.
”I use to come here when I was a little girl and I loved it,” said Ms. Beykirch.
According to Ms. Beykirch, she was one of the volunteers at the festival when she was younger and “worked it” running the games including a fishing game, which she happened to be participating in with her son at the time.
”I was just really excited to be able to bring my son to the same that I got to go to,” Ms. Beykirch added.
Matilda Igereh of Cranbury was enjoying the festival with her kids and friends.
”I think it’s great for the kids,” Ms. Igereh said. “I think the kids are having fun.”
Many people said the highlight of the event was the strawberry shortcake and ice cream.
Strawberries, ice cream and cake were served with tea or lemonade. The local Boy Scout troop provided barbecue food at an additional charge. The cub scouts led by John Kirkener and his wife Brenda hosted the food section.
Harriet Coveny of Cranbury was one of the volunteers who helped during the morning by cutting strawberries for the strawberry shortcake.
According to Ms. Coveny, the highlight of the festival for her is “meeting people,” and she was able to do that with a group of 12 people cutting the buckets upon buckets of strawberries.”It’s work, fun, and a great satisfaction to do something for those in need,” Ms. Britton said. “A yearly tradition our church started years ago and needs to be carried on.”
If you would like any further information or would like to make a donation to the Deacons Benevolence Fund, please contact the First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury church office at 609-395-0897 or email [email protected].