Rotary supports the Caldwell Food Pantry. Donations needed to help local families.

Rotary Club of the Caldwells presents The Caldwell Food Pantry with a $1000.00 check to help local families in need. L to R: Tom Cocchiola, President Caldwell Rotary; Maria Burak, Caldwell Director of Human Services; Sam Kent, Caldwell Rotarian. Photo by Bob Markman

Please join The Rotary Club of The Caldwells in providing assistance to local families by supporting the Caldwell Food Pantry. “The need to help our neighbors has increased significantly in the past year,” explained Maria Burak, Caldwell’s Director of Human Services, in her recent presentation to the club. “Every week I get a call from someone whose home is going into foreclosure or who is having difficulty providing for their family. The Caldwell Food Pantry can help make ends meet through challenging times.”

Rotary President Tom Cocchiola presented Burak with a check for one thousand dollars that will be used to purchase supermarket gift cards for Caldwell and West Caldwell residents in need. Rotarians are also kicking off a food drive to support the pantry. Non-perishable food items can be dropped off at The Caldwell Community Center. Checks should be made payable to “The Caldwell Welfare Fund” and mailed to 1 Provost Square, Caldwell, NJ 07006. All money donated will be used to purchase supermarket gift cards.

While all food and toiletries will be gladly accepted, special focus in the coming weeks will be on the preparation of at least 80 Thanksgiving gift baskets for delivery to local families. “Anything you’d prepare for your own Thanksgiving dinner could be included,” said Burak. “Our goal is to raise enough money to include a gift card with each basket.”

Rotary volunteers will help assemble the Thanksgiving baskets on Monday, November 22 and Tuesday, November 23 at The Caldwell Food Pantry and will deliver them to local families on Tuesday evening, November 23. If you would like to volunteer your time on either date, please contact Maria Burak at 973-403-4623.

The Caldwell Food Pantry, located at 14 Park Avenue in Caldwell, is available to any Caldwell or West Caldwell resident who needs food. For additional information, please call 973-403-4623.

The Rotary Club of the Caldwells is a community service organization whose members dedicate their time and talent to dozens of worthwhile causes both locally and internationally. To learn more about Rotary, please visit www.caldwellrotary.org or call Tom Cocchiola at 973-226-2344.

by Rotarian Christy Berg