Every spring, Girl Scout Troops gather in kitchens all across Hillsborough to cook for the Samaritan Homeless Interim Program, also known as SHIP.
SHIP’s mission is to respond to the needs of the poor and working poor in Somerset County and the surrounding area. It does this every day through the support of grants, donations, and hundreds of volunteers who work in the soup kitchen, perform street outreach, deliver meals on wheels, and provide medical care and counseling.
Since its inception in March 1984 SHIP has served more than 100,000 neighbors in need. Year after year Hillsborough Girl Scout troops have been a part of supporting the organization with the donation of dozens of trays of home-cooked nutritionally dense meals — turkey and chicken pot pie, beef stew, beef chili, and other protein rich recipes.
One special neighborhood business is integral to the event, For as many years as the girls have been cooking, former Girl Scout leader and local business owner Jayne Mochnacz of Super Sundaes has been involved. Super Sundaes, located in the Amwell Center Plaza near the post office on Amwell Road, serves as the main food tray drop-off location and provides freezer storage space for the meals until the trays can be transported to SHIPs main location.
This year, unforeseen freezer issues threatened her own early-season inventory but Jayne and her husband, Steve, still found a way to keep these donations safely frozen until delivery day.
Adding excitement to this year’s event was a special contest for the troop who delivered the most meals. The prize was a coveted Super Sundaes ice cream party. Seventeen troops ranging in age from Kindergarten Daisies to High School Senior Ambassadors participated, and collectively 70 trays of food were donated.
The winning troop was Cadette Troop 60261, which prepared 19 trays of food to support the cause.
"We all love to cook," explained Scout Sarah Shapiro, who together with her mom, Dana, provided one of several food preparation kitchens. "It’s a perfect way for us to spend time together and work for a great cause. We never thought we’d pull together 19 trays though. We surprised ourselves!"
Brownie Troop 60022 worked hard to take the runnerup position.
"This was a community-wide Scouting event, a service project that spanned all age levels and touched many troops’ hearts and every single tray that was prepared is important," said Girl Scout Leader and SHIP Service Chair Cara Carley. "I’m so pleased that we were able to make such a big impact."
Participating troops included 60022, 60042, 60062, 60126, 60143, 60230, 60261, 60356, 60365, 60367, 60395, 60576, 60821, 61041, 60142, 61094 and 61164.

