MILLVILLE, NJ — Eight Rotarian volunteers recently came together for a community service project at the Hope Center in Millville, serving hot, nourishing lunch meals to individuals in need.

Led by project leader Gail Marino, the volunteers generously gave their time to help ensure that members of the community had access to a warm, satisfying meal. A very special thank-you goes to Gail for organizing and leading this meaningful service project!

The eight Rotarian volunteers who participated were:

• Gail Marino, Project Leader
• Karen Bauman
• Preston Foster III
• Denise Jackson
• Harry Maloney
• Suzanne Martinelli
• Dave Schad
• Sherry Soutiere

Together, the volunteers contributed approximately 20 hours of service to the project.

Additional thanks go to Becky Lein and the students at Cumberland Christian School for preparing delicious desserts to accompany the lunch meals. Their thoughtful contribution added a special touch to the day's service.

The Hope Center provides a hot midday meal 365 days a year to anyone in need of food. The program is well organized, and the appreciation expressed by its clients is a reminder of how important these services are to the community. With three high-rise apartment buildings located within a few blocks of the center, food insecurity is a concern for many nearby residents.

The Rotarians were grateful for the opportunity to help serve hot, delicious, and nourishing meals to their neighbors. The experience reinforced the value of community partnerships and the difference that volunteers can make in addressing local needs.

Looking Ahead: Continued Support for the Hope Center

In addition to serving meals, the group is exploring ways to provide ongoing assistance to the Hope Center. Although the program receives food through Rural Development and Gateway Funding in Bridgeton, paper products and other supplies must be purchased using the center's limited financial resources.

The volunteers are discussing how they might help meet some of these paper supply needs, with additional details to be developed as plans take shape.

The group also hopes to make serving at the Hope Center a recurring service project, potentially on a quarterly or other regular schedule. The center has an organized online volunteer scheduling system, which Gail Marino can access to help coordinate future visits.

Experience from this project suggests that eight volunteers is the ideal group size to serve effectively while respecting the center's operational needs.

This successful service project reflects the spirit of community service, compassion, and fellowship. The volunteers extend their sincere thanks to the Hope Center staff, Becky Lein, the students at Cumberland Christian School, and everyone who helped make the project possible.

Through continued service and collaboration, the group hopes to build on this experience and provide meaningful support to the Hope Center and the Millville community.