10 minute read
Local Heroes
Mom’s Foundation Supports NICU Families
By Jackie Schatell
When Elena Rivera, of Stirling, NJ, suffered the unbearable loss of one of her twins, Martina, when she went into labor at 24 weeks, she had to leave her son Dion in the NICU for four months. The trips back and forth and the visits took a toll on her mentally and financially. Noting her difficulty, the hospital provided her with food coupons and parking vouchers. She says that this kindness really helped her out during the dark time in her life.
When she got home, she says she felt depressed and empty because of her loss and decided to fill the void by giving back. She created Martina’s Wish Foundation to provide the same type of services she was afforded at the hospital. The foundation supports NICU parents with financial need. It is funded by donations and fundraisers. Monies raised fund coupons and vouchers for food, parking, gas, and lodging. The foundation also helps families after discharge on an as needed basis with items such as diapers, formula, clothing, and fulfills requests made by families within reach.
“A NICU stay is typically emotional, isolating, stressful and expensive,” says Elena. “Through individual and corporate donations, fundraisers and sponsorships, we help families pay for non-medical expenses related to frequent visits to see their babies and help them enjoy every precious moment they have with their children.”
She says helping others “makes her feel great.” “Giving back is important. The kindness bestowed on me at my time of need helped me and I want to do the same for others. I just like to see people smile.”
Elena was recently approached by Overlook and Morristown Medical Center to offer the services of her foundation to the NICUs there. She hopes to be up and running there shortly. To donate or volunteer, please go to martinaswishfoundation.org or send an email to martinaswish@gmail.com.
Elena Rivera and her two children, Dion, 11, and Gabriella, 8
Chatham Borough Resident is a Fixture at the Chatham Food Pantry & Food Distribution
By Jackie Schatell
Len Resto, of Chatham Borough, has been volunteering since he was 18. He says he grew up on food stamps and always knew that he wanted to give back. Now he volunteers at the Chatham Food Pantry and Food Distribution every week.
He says, “It is a labor of love” and that he tells people who are retiring that when they run out of fixup projects to do at home, they should volunteer. “It keeps you busy and feeling useful,” he says.
Together with 25 regular volunteers from ages 30 to 92, and 20-25 high school volunteers, Len helps others keep the Food Pantry, which he calls “the fabric of the community” stocked.
Len says that the need for the Pantry has grown as the pandemic has continued and that there are 40-50 families using the pantry weekly. “Many people have been out of work, some people earning minimum wage at part-time jobs and are unable to make ends meet, and some seniors are having trouble making their social security checks last all month,” he says.
As the demand has grown, the need for partnerships has grown too and one such partnership has flourished – BoxCar, an organization out of Chatham, had a link on their website to donate fresh produce to the Food Distribution. With BoxCar back in business, the online ordering is now on the Chatham Methodist Church’s website for people to pay $40 a box to donate fresh produce milk and eggs. Len says that one such benefactor had been donating 10 boxes a week. People donating to the outdoor pop-up Pantry are asked to only leave the following there: non-perishable soups, beans, canned vegetables, peanut butter, jelly, canned fruit, toiletries such as soaps, shaving cream, deodorant, razors, toothpaste, toothbrushes, baby products including diapers, baby shampoo, and baby food, women’s feminine products, manual can openers, salt, spices, and olive oil.
Perishables, milk, eggs, and the like should be dropped off on Wednesdays during the Food Distribution that takes place behind the Chatham United Methodist Church from 3:304:30pm.
Recently, Len posted on his Facebook page, “Please keep your generosity going because several families that come through the food distribution are sick with Covid and their times are even tougher than normal.”
Those interested in donating can donate money on the Chatham Methodist Church’s website, mail a check for Shoprite gift cards to Joan Carroll of Helping Hands at 14 Red Road, mail a check to Chatham Methodist Church at 460 Main Street, drop off goods at Len’s house, which is located at 35 Center St., donate through the Amazon Wish List, or donate directly at the Pantry.
Len Resto at the Chatham Food Pantry and Food Distribution.
Death by Design
What could be funnier than homicide?! How about the same murder committed by several different people with various weapons and wildly dissimilar motives. A spoiled actress, a narcissistic playwright, a loopy bohemian, and a raving anarchist are only a few of the possible suspects in this hilarious murder mystery/ comedy. Join us to sort all this out with a lot of twists, turn, and laughs! Death by Design is directed by Belle Wesel.
Through March 12
The Summit Playhouse 10 New England Avenue, Summit 908-273-2192 | www.thesummitplayhouse.org
Maple Sugaring Demos
The Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center is offering three maple sugaring demonstrations for children ages 2 to 5 during the month of March. Children and their parents are invited to listen to a story about maple sugaring and participate in a walk and talk with a naturalist all about making maple syrup from trees. The program will be held entirely outdoors.
Tuesday March 1, Thursday March 3 and Thursday March 10 10-10:45am Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center 247 Southern Boulevard, Chatham Register at: http//tinyurl.com/yc3mwmcz or call 973-635-6629
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The Summit Symphony Orchestra Performance
The Summit Symphony Orchestra’s first concert of 2022 will begin with the “The Moldau” by Bedrich Smetana. Next will be “El rio de los site estrelas” (The River of the Seven Stars) by Venezuelan Evencio Castellanos, and conclude with Symphony No. 3 “The Rhenish” by Robert Schumann.
The Summit Symphony has been providing free orchestral concerts for the Summit area since 1938 to provide an arena for qualified non-professional musicians to read and perform orchestral music, and to present orchestral concerts, free of charge, to residents of Summit and the surrounding areas.
Sunday, March 13—2pm
Summit High School, Kent Place Blvd., Summit www.summitsymphony.org
March Fourth 5K and Dog Walk
The fifth annual March Fourth 5K will take place on Sunday March 6th, 2022. Following the race, there will be a dog walk! Gather your friends and family together and walk your dogs! 5K starts at 9am followed by the dog walk. All donations will go directly to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance to support screenings.
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Youth Chess Tournament Registration
The Florham Park and Madison Knights of Columbus Council 2248’s round-robin chess tournament will return after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tournament is for all students in grades 3-8 who live in the local area— Florham Park, Madison, the Chathams, and throughout Morris County. Most entrants play seven to ten games in the round robin tournament.
There will be two divisions: grades 6-8 and grades 3-5. Trophies will be awarded to first, second and third place winners in both divisions, and ribbons to fourth, fifth and sixth place. There will be a limit of 30 players for each division, 60 players total. Parents must certify their child’s grade level with a teacher or principal’s note. Small chess game, chess literature and hot dog lunch will be offered. Call chess tournament chair Joe O’Brien at 973-301-1864 with any questions.
Saturday, March 26, 8:30am-noon Holy Family Church Gym, Tucker Street, Florham Park
Voices From The Arctic
NJ Festival Orchestra continues its triumphant return to the concert hall as masterworks from Rautavaara, Sibelius, and Tchaikovsky come together in a passionate storm of ice and fire. Featuring authentic arctic birdsong, soaring Sibelius melodies with internationally acclaimed violin virtuoso Jaewon Kim and, arguably, Tchaikovsky’s finest and most heartrending symphony, live music doesn’t get much better than this! Maestro David Wroe conducts.
Sunday March 27–3pm The Concert Hall, Drew University Dorothy Young Center for the Arts, 36 Madison Ave, Madison 908 232 9400 | www.njfestivalorchestra.org/concerts
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Women in STEM: Invisible No More
Do you know a girl in middle school or starting in high school, who has expressed some interest in science, technology, engineering or mathematics and might want to pursue a career in it? Research shows that out-of-school experiences that connect girls with women in STEM careers can be instrumental in countering gender stereotypes and helping girls self-identify with STEM.
“Women in STEM: Invisible No More” is a meet and greet program that is designed to connect the girls with women in STEM careers. Girls will have an opportunity to engage with professional women in small groups for a period of time after which they will switch groups. Light refreshments will be available to facilitate any mingling and networking.
March 8, 6:30pm Community House, 25 Cook Avenue, Madison Register at volunteersignup.org/8L4AA. www.aauwmadisonnj.com
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