"A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion
are the things which renew humanity"
Buddha
The Esteemed Sponsor Program
It is here that we honor our stalwart supporters - those who have kept the food bank
glued together with their committment to provide us with a stable source of income. Take a look back to 2002, and see how
we've grown and who is still with us now.
In 2001, the food bank's cupboards were scantily stocked and much of that
was out dated cans and packages. We had less than $1,000 in the bank. Donations for the past year had totaled only $2,500,
with CAFFREY's Restaurant donating $1,500 of the that. One other sponsor, local attorney Art Stein, was also a steady contributor
but despite their support, it became apparent that we'd have to discontinue the food bank program.
If we only had
more sponsors, we reasoned, maybe we could keep the program going. Because despite our meager and often inadequate offerings,
the needy came.
Many of them were the elderly, who might have to eat tea and toast for dinner that last week if we
were not there for them. Or parents unable to offer milk & cereal, peanut butter & jelly or protein at dinner time
to their children.
So we devised the "Esteemed Sponsor" program and via letters and fliers invited participation from
those in the community who wanted to share their resources with those less fortunate.
Each sponsor commits to supporting
one family for one year by contributing $20 monthly, or $240 per family. This enables us to buy a $10. food certificate to
ShopRite and $10 worth of supplemental food not normally collected in food drives.
The esteemed sponsors have increased
from 13 in 2002, to 28 in 2003, 39 in 2004, 47 in 2005 49 in 2006 & 70 in 2007.
The goal is to enlist one sponsor for each family, but some sponsor several families,
so we are almost 3\4 of the way there. Let's hope the committment to this program remains steadfast and grows.
Many private citizen sponsors renew their committment every month as part of our favorite
group "the monthlies" Either send us a check each month, or if you have online bill paying with your bank, you can arrange
to have it automatically done for you.
The client load also increased from 47 in 2001 to the present 186 families as we end
the year 2008 - so the esteemed sponsor program has become critical to the ability of the food bank to keep up with the needs
of the families.
The Lacey Garden Club, in a program started by Dorothy Simon, takes up a collection at each meeting.
They have sponsored two families for the last three years.
Caffrey's Restaurant, our first and only esteemed sponsor
for several years, supported 6 families last year. No matter how you do it, or for how much, your committment will keep
the food bank alive.
Three esteemed sponsors took advantage of their employer's matching funds for charity programs
to double their gifts. Check it out with your employer, even if you are retired and request a form to fill out so that
our contribution will be matched by them. Home Depot and PSE&G are two employers who match their employees and retirees
donations.
Our goal? To have a sponsor for each and every family . And then to keep those committments going so that
the food bank will remain solvent.
Help us reach the goal. Spread the word. You'll feel good about yourself and by
doing so will become a member of a very select group of people .
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