2ba9c85458cfb5e24ede59157e9fc76e.jpg

ROBBINSVILLE: Pasta dinner helps benefit senior trips

By Amy Batista, Special Writer
ROBBINSVILLE — The Robbinsville Township Recreation Committee hosted its second annual Pasta Benefit to raise money for senior trips and activities on Saturday night.
"I just wanted to let you know that all this money is going to the Senior Recreation activities and trips," said Director Robbinsville Senior Center Renee Burns. "It is really going to make a wonderful difference with the money we have raised tonight to really do some great things here for the seniors."
Ms. Burn said on Monday that they "raised over $1,500." So awesome, she said.
The benefit was hosted at the Senior Center on Saturday evening. The cost was $25 per person or $180 for a table of eight.
Lead Pastor Dan Greco from Lifetree Community Church gave the blessing.
"Heavenly Father we thank you so much for the opportunity to get together tonight," said Pastor Greco. "I thank you for the wonderful people in this room. I thank you for a wonderful community who gathers together and encourages and supports one another."
The volunteers from the Lifetree Community Church donated their time to cook the pasta meal and serve it to the seniors. The church meets at the Senior Center on Sundays.
"We sat down with the Senior Center Director Renee and said what can we do to help," he said. "She said, ‘How about a pasta night?’"
Kathryn Petito, of Robbinsville, was in-charge of cooking the meal along with help from several other church volunteers.
"It’s so wonderful to raise money for the seniors in this township who can’t afford to go to shows," said Ms. Petito. "It’s a blessing and I like to give back to the community."
She attributes her time helping with the Meals on Wheelers program on how she got involved in doing the cooking.
Kevin Holt, constituent relations specialist/confidential aide to the mayor at Township of Robbinsville and community pastor at Lifetree Community Church, honored Ms. Petito and presented her with a bouquet of flowers.
"The reason we are honoring her is because she made that amazing meal that you just had," said Mr. Holt.
Timothy’s Garden Center donated the chrysanthemums which were the centerpieces on the tables and raffled off later in the evening. A & M Farm and Garden Center donated the pies for dessert. David Bradley Chocolatier donated a basket of chocolate which was raffled off.
"Everything is donated for this event," Pastor Greco said. "Everybody gives a little bit and then it doesn’t cost them anything to run it so they can just put all their money towards it."
The theme of the evening was "Better Together."
"This is it in play," he said. "Everybody does a little bit and it turns out to be an easy job for everybody."
He said they donate the pasta, meatballs and "all that good stuff."
"We just help to support the seniors and their trips so we volunteer people to come help and set up and to make sure the seniors have a good time," he said. "We have some real good home cooks that actually make the sauce." The volunteers from the church come to help out in shifts from setting up, to serving the dinner and then clean up.
"It’s a good event for the community and we just basically help," he said.
For Pastor Greco, his favorite part of the dinner is "hanging out with the seniors."
"It’s a bunch of really great people who you get a chance to talk to over dinner, see how they are doing and serve them," he said. "To be honest they are fun. It’s just a fun time hanging out with everybody."
Shanna Calabro, 16, of Robbinsville was volunteering and serving the pasta dinners.
"I just like volunteering and helping other people in the community and taking time to do things for others," said Shanna. Michaela Petito, 16, of Robbinsville teamed up with Shanna to help serve the meals.
"I just think that it’s important to realize that more people in the community are appreciative of what people do for them," said Michaela. "Stepping in and helping can change someone’s day."
The Senior of the Year Award was presented to Connie Ferrara by council member and liaison to the Senior Advisor Council Vincent Calcagno on behalf of Mayor Dave Fried.
"Connie Ferrara has been a long-standing, active member of the Robbinsville Senior Center," Ms. Burns said. "Connie’s motto was ‘Yoga for everyone.’ Body, mind and spirit no matter what age you are or what condition you are in you can experience the health benefits of yoga."
She said that about 15 years ago Ms. Ferrara "spearheaded" the Robbinsville Senior Center Chair Yoga Program, volunteering her time every Tuesday and Thursday morning for an hour.
"Connie focuses on the postures and breathing," she said. "She tells her students "Don’t forget to breathe." She begins every class with a warm up and a few simple shoulder rolls and then a shake out of arms and hands."
She said that several senior participants have limited mobility.
"Connie’s encouragement, dedication and her passion for yoga has inspired many seniors at the Robbinsville Senior Center to participate in both of her weekly classes," she said, adding that it has expanded and is held in the multi-purpose room."I was so surprised I didn’t really believe it until people started telling me this is for you," said Ms. Ferrara, adding she is also grateful.
"If you keep your body moving all the time especially your mind you can help yourself," she said. "We are in charge of our own bodies and our own mind."
She shared a yoga exercise, a lion’s roar, with the guests.
"It’s for your throat because a lot of times as you get older you can’t swallow and you can’t speak," she said. For her, the highlight of the evening besides being honored was "socializing and seeing her friends."
"I adore Renee," she said. "She is always looking out for us."
Her neighbors joined her for the celebration.
"My husband and I are honored to be here to celebrate her," said Carine Race, of Robbinsville, who has known her for 22 years.
"She is a wonderful neighbor because she inspires people and she does not take nonsense from you," She’s straight-forward and down-to-earth, she added.
Jocelyn Jalijali, of Allentown, was seated at a table with friends and there to celebrate with Ms. Ferrara.
"The food is delicious and my company is great," she said. "The service is good."
She was attending the dinner for the first time.
"I love Connie," she said. "I take yoga lessons with her and she is great."