Toy donation
New Jersey State Park Police Sergeant Amanda Smith delivered more than 400 toys to the Pinelands United Methodist Church Dec. 11, said Terry Schmidt, of Lower Bank, a Wharton State Forest employee and Pinelands UMC member.
The church has locations in Mullica Township and in Washington Township, Burlington County.
Toys were collected by several organizations in the area, including the Grass Roots Jeep Club and Central Jersey Jeep Association. Smith was also assisted by other state park employees in the region. Toys are distributed to local families in need with the help of the church and the Mullica/Green Bank school district.
Kids Fun Run
The Atlantic City Marathon Kids Fun Run, in which more than 100 children participated in October, raised $1,000 for Atlantic Cape Court Appointed Special Advocates.
Race organizers at the Milton & Betty Katz Jewish Community Center of Atlantic County partnered with CASA for the first time this year and recently presented the check to CASA representatives.
Bike give-away
Linwood resident Drew Smith and his helpers gave out 289 bikes to children in need at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church in Atlantic City on Saturday, in the fifth year of their bike giveaway.
The bikes were collected at the Atlantic County Utilities Authority and by Smith during 2011, then refurbished. For information call the church at 609-344-1040 or email
Hammonton First Christmas
Hammonton residents donated canned goods, toys, kids' clothes and pet food at the Hammonton First Christmas Event on
Dec. 11 at DiDonato's Bowling Center.
Donations will benefit the St. Vincent de Paul Society Food Pantry at St. Joseph Church in Hammonton, the Atlantic County SPCA, and Hammonton-area children in need, organizers said. Call 609-561-7730 or email didonato@hammontonfirst.com.
Food pantry gets help
United Way of Cape May County helped stock the shelves at the Lazarus House Food Pantry in Wildwood recently.
A federal emergency food and shelter grant obtained through United Way of Cape May County provided nearly $1,000 of food items that will be distributed to local families in need during the holiday season. For more information, visit www.uwcmc.org.
Fire company helps troops
The members of the Richland Volunteer Fire Company, Station 12-1 of Buena Vista Township, collected snack food, clothing and personal items for one of their firefighters, Monica Rivera, who is stationed in Afghanistan with the 177th Air National Guard, Fighter Interceptor Group.
The gifts will be distributed to her and her fellow soldiers, organizers said. Fire company members packed six boxes of items last weekend and shipped them on Monday.
Celiac event
The Celiac Diagnostic Center at Atlantic Gastroenterology Associates sponsored the educational event "Got Celiac?," in October at Steve and Cookies By the Bay, in Margate. It raised $1,025 for the Celiac Disease Foundation.
People with celiac disease cannot digest wheat gluten without suffering damage to their intestines, and eventually the damage prevents nutrients from being absorbed by the body.
Beach plum planting
About 20 volunteers helped the Ocean City Environmental Commission and Clean Communities Program plant 100 beach plum seedlings on Dec. 4, from 23rd Street south, a city spokesperson said.
The city is participating in a study with Rutgers University to determine if a polymer applied to the roots of beach plums will stimulate greater growth. Call 609-399-6111 ext. 9285.
Coat Drives
•Mrs. Brizzle's Buns and Deli in Sea Isle City is hosting a Christmas Coat Drive to benefit the Atlantic City Rescue Mission.
Donated outerwear can be placed in a collection bin inside the eatery, located at 4601 Landis Ave.,from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For additional information, phone 609-263-2773.
•All Hair Cuttery salons, including five in Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties, are collecting gently used coats, jackets, hats, scarves and mittens through Jan. 1, for Krausey's Koats, a national effort to gather cold-weather gear for those in need.
All items will be delivered to local missions and homeless shelters, and a variety of non-profits serving the needy, the company said.
