Percentage of sales go to nonprofit organization
By: Matthew Armstrong
A township community-based nonprofit organization was able to earn a little extra spending money this holiday season with the help of a nearby business.
Community Renewal of South Brunswick was selected by Wal-Mart of North Brunswick to be the recipient of its Charity Appeal Drive under which a percentage of the store’s sales during a specified period is donated to charity. During a five-hour period on Dec. 26, Community Renewal received $2,441 from a percentage of Wal-Mart’s sales. This is the 10th year of the nationwide program by Wal-Mart.
"We were very fortunate to be selected as the charity," said Shirley Osipov, founder of Community Renewal, a nonprofit organization that operates entirely from donations.
Community Renewal of South Brunswick was originally set up to help Manville flood victims, said Ms. Osipov. It provided 135 families devastated by Hurricane Floyd with kitchen start-up kits, and gift certificates for household goods. In the past year, it has sponsored a Greenhouse Project in which children raise seedlings that are later planted outside; a Senior Outreach program that informs senior citizens about assistance programs; and Back-to-School Shopping Day, that provided backpacks and school supplies this year to financially disadvantaged children.
"We will be able to provide so many programs to our residents and touch so many people with this money," said Ms. Osipov. "It’s an amazing thing for our community."
With the money, Ms. Osipov said that the organization will be able to expand some of the programs that were set up last year.
"We’re looking forward to bigger and better programs," said Ms. Osipov. "We started out small last year and are looking forward to becoming bigger."
Starting in February, Community Renewal will sponsor "Hands On" as part of its Senior Outreach initiative. Hands on will be a series of workshops with a massage therapist teaching seniors self-massage, which can improve flexibility and blood circulation, said Ms. Osipov.
Another program in need of expansion is the Back-to-School Shopping program, which provides needy children with school supplies. Last year, the organization was able to provide about 20 backpacks and supplies to children. But the need is much larger and the Board of Education said that over 100 children could benefit greatly from this program. Community Renewal is hoping to be able to fill this need next fall.
In addition, the organization is putting high school students in contact with senior citizens as part of Spring Cleanup. High school students will help seniors in the spring with household chores to get their homes ready for the warmer weather such as installing air conditioners.
The organization also hopes to reach out to Citizens for Independent Living which assists disabled residents who live on their own.
During last month’s charity drive, Ms. Osipov and other volunteers bagged purchased goods alongside the cashiers at Wal-Mart.
"That’s a tougher job than you think," said Ms. Osipov. "One of our volunteers said that it brought back a lot of memories for him because bagging groceries was his first job he ever had. It was really a good experience and it will help us do so much."
The organization will need to continue to reach out to area businesses and residents to help fund more community programs throughout the year. For more information call (732)398-1452.