Project Thanksgiving 2013

Do YOU have a spare frozen turkey!?  Would you consider helping people who live in Cumberland, Atlantic, or Gloucester Counties in New Jersey?  Yes?  Well, you may want to consider giving that frozen bird a good home for the holiday.  Yes, Project Thanksgiving 2013 is about to commence anew.  The Annual Turkey Drive is happening THIS WEEKEND, November 23d, from 9:00 – 5:00 PM.  Drop Off Points will be collecting frozen turkeys, cash, and checks payable to the Salvation Army of the Food Bank of South Jersey at these locations:

All four ShopRite locations in Cumberland County

The Mullica Hill & Sewell ShopRite locations in Gloucester

The Venice Italian Eatery in Gloucester County

The Buena Municipal Building in Atlantic County

That's this weekend, November 23d, from 9:00 - 5:00!

“Project Thanksgiving – what is that?”

Once more, Gentle Reader, I commend you on your attentiveness.  Project Thanksgiving hosts an annual Turkey Drive to aid with the Salvation Army, the Food Bank of South Jersey, Love Through Laces (who get shoes to homeless children), and with Family Promise (providing temporary shelter, food, & training for homeless families in the South Jersey area) to make sure that the turkeys and donations go to where they are needed most.  YOU can find Project Thanksgiving NJ on Facebook right here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Project-Thanksgiving-NJ/302695739793341   

Stop by, you can drop off a turkey and, if you’re lucky, meet one...

This is Nigel

I know these are hard times.  But for some the times are a little harder than we could possibly be aware.  If you can, show Project Thanksgiving some love.  The humble power of putting ourselves aside and putting others first, I’ve seen it work firsthand.  It does not take much to touch someone’s life, to make a true and lasting difference.  Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, Gentle Reader.  In the words of Tiny Tim, “God bless us, every one.”

Thank you

Project Thanksgiving NJ & The Salvation Army

“May you live in interesting times.”

Gentle Reader, I humbly submit, with the economy as it is and mother nature as she’s been behaving (thank you, ‘Sandy’), these are interesting times.  It’s almost Thanksgiving and while there is much to be thankful for there are those who find these times not only interesting but also flat out hard.  Such times have ensured that some have it harder than others and that is where Project Thanksgiving & The Salvation Army step in.

Project Thanksgiving NJ is the brainchild of Alex Kaganzev and Steve Plevins.  It started about four years ago when the two wanted to help feed families working in conjunction with the Vineland chapter of the Salvation Army.  Project Thanksgiving has grown over the years to the point that it has extended beyond the Cumberland County area and into Gloucester County too.  The goal this year is to feed 1000 families with special attention paid to veterans and those returning from wars overseas.  Not a handout but a thank you.

“1000 families.  That’s a lot of people.”

Why yes, yes it is.  Especially when The Salvation Army’s shelves are stretched thin due to the immediate response to “Sandy”.  Food pantries across the state have felt the pinch so this particular blog entry is two-fold.  I am going to ask you to consider giving to TWO entities in one blog.  However, this is not as hard as it may sound. 

First, let’s talk turkey.  Project Thanksgiving’s Turkey Drive is going to be held on Saturday, November 17th at ShopRite supermarkets located in Millville, Upper Deerfield, Mullica Hill, Sewell, the TWO ShopRites in Vineland, and at the Cosmopolitan Restaurant (also in Vineland) from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM.  They will be collecting frozen turkeys, certificates for turkeys/hams, petty cash, or checks made payable to the Salvation Army.  The Daily Journal, the local newspaper here in the Vineland area published this article written by Stephanie Loder that does a fine job explaining the need further: http://www.thedailyjournal.com/article/20121110/NEWS01/311100058/Local-Project-Thanksgiving-puts-call-out-donations?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE.  Come on out ~ you just may have a chance to meet Nigel, Project Thanksgiving’s official mascot who was created and designed by Mrs. Gloucester County NJ herself, the lovely and talented Mrs. Kathy Ramos.  I can’t guarantee that Nigel will be there but, as with a great many things, you simply never know.

Secondly, there are a lot of empty shelves at the Salvation Army office in Vineland.  Hurricane Sandy blew their contents up north to go where they were needed.  They need to be restocked.  The people from the Salvation Army are often the first line of defense when the unexpected happens. There have been a lot of unexpected things happening recently. Keep them in mind the next time you head to the supermarket and drop them off something to restock.  It’s relatively painless.  Perhaps a bag of non-perishables or two during your next shopping trip.  We are a community.  We are part of something much more than ourselves.

All donations for the Vineland Salvation Army can be dropped off at their offices at 733 E Chestnut Avenue, Vineland, NJ 08360.  If you have any questions here’s their number: 856-696-5050 ext 201.

Project Thanksgiving NJ can be found on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Project-Thanksgiving-NJ/302695739793341?ref=ts&fref=ts.  Like them on Facebook and show ‘em some love.  Their goal is to feed a thousand families this Thanksgiving.  Together, we can help them meet that goal.  Let’s share the harvest.  The blessings we have are not ours to keep.  Give ‘em away & spread ‘em around.

Thank you & God bless, Gentle Reader.

Happy Thanksgiving!

This Side of the Storm

  

“If a hurricane doesn't leave you dead

It will make you strong

Don't try to explain it just nod your head

Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On” – Jimmy Buffett & Matt Betton

Buffett & Betton wrote, “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On” after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast of Louisiana and Alabama and broke the levees in New Orleans.  The lyrics are from another tragedy but they certainly still ring true.  We can’t explain such things we can only pick up and move on.  From those who have been through the storm to those who are going through it now I highly recommend this Tumblr: http://sandykatrina.tumblr.com/.  It shows people from NOLA giving messages to people sorting through life after Sandy.    

That said, I’m from the Jersey Shore.  I grew up right outside of the island of Wildwood & Cape May in a hamlet known as Green Creek, NJ.  I saw my share of storms as a child but nothing the likes of Hurricane Sandy.  I heard people talk of the “March Storm” of ’62 yet I never had anything to really compare it to until the last few days of October.  I still live in South Jersey with my brood; however, we live farther away from the shore now in the Vineland area of the state. 

The storm’s center was over our county.  We were in the eye of the storm where it was quiet and eerily calm.  While we were nestled in the eye Sandy raged against the coastline of the eastern seaboard. The video & pictures are eight shades of creepy and, as per 11/3/12, “At least 181 people have been confirmed killed across the United States, the Caribbean, Canada, and the Bahamas, as a result of the storm” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Sandy).  Property damages are being tallied at $50 billion.  50 billion.  Homes and lifetimes; places of business and worship have been swept out to sea. 

While I am thankful that we were spared Sandy’s wrath my heart breaks for those other shore dwellers whose lives have been torn asunder.  You have my love, my prayers, and my support.  The Salvation Army and The Red Cross are two organizations that are often the first line of defense against disasters such as Sandy.  I have personally seen these organizations go to work in people’s lives after the storm has passed.  There are many storms in life.  I know for a fact; however, that these two organizations do good work. 

If you feel led to donate here is where you can do so:

The Salvation Army:

https://donate.salvationarmyusa.org/disaster   

The Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org/templates/render/render.jsp?pageId=11400031&scode=RSG00000E017&subcode=paiddonationsbrand&gclid=CL6d3dG8s7MCFQ-f4AodLm0AXg

If you can’t give monetarily you may be able to give some of your time.  Volunteers will be needed.  There will be much to clean up at the Jersey Shore and in New York’s southern boroughs.  From what I can gather, Staten Island really took a hit.  The words, “war zone” have been used to describe the damage there.  Do what you can, where you can.

Thank you and God bless.

“According to my watch the time is now

The past is dead and gone

Don't try to shake it just nod your head

Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On”