Fundraiser is a “Slam Dink”
After a year in the making, the First Annual Pickleball Against Poverty Tournament was an overwhelming success. Earlier this year, over 160 players, 40 volunteers, and loads of spectators gathered at the Total Turf Experience in Pitman to raise funds and awareness about poverty in South Jersey. Teams of Mixed Doubles, and Men's and Women's Doubles enjoyed a round robin format for all ages and skill levels. We heard, "It was a first class operation!!" and "I enjoyed getting to participate in an event that supports and benefits a great organization" and "I enjoyed doing this and will come back next year".
Invented in 1965 by three middle-aged fathers in Washington state, pickleball is a quirky cross between tennis, ping pong and badminton, played with a paddle, on a court, and with a plastic ball with holes. ("Dink" in the title is a pickleball term for tapping the ball). With 4.8 million players, it has now become the fastest-growing sport in America for the second year in a row according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA).
Through entry fees, sponsorships and contests, over $21,000 in support was raised through this "sold out" event. Our major sponsors included William Brooks III Roofing, Heritage's Dairy Stores, and Team Montani - CrossCountry Mortgage, as well as donations from Sunoco LP, Kelly Electrical Contractors, Holman Enterprises, Deptford-Signarama, EP Henry, Columbia Bank, Fulton Bank, Brida Stone, The Faith Center, Head Sports, and the Marlkress Chick-fil-A in Marlton. Save the date for 2023 - March 25th! Full tournament details HERE.
Cereal Box Dominoes
Red Bank Elementary wrapped up their school year with a "Spreading Kindness has a Domino Effect" Cereal Drive. They collected hundreds of boxes of cereal to demonstrate how a kind deed can promote more kindness. They arranged the cereal boxes in a continuous "domino" circle and let them fall! What an exciting event for the students and the many families we serve. They're GRRRRREAT!
This is a perfect time to host a Food Drive because essential non-perishable foods are in short supply! You can fill the gap and make a difference in the lives of hungry people by organizing a Food Drive in your neighborhood, business, or group today. It's super easy. Learn more HERE.
Give Back for Back to School
The South Jersey Dream Center is partnering with the Deptford Mall to help collect 175 new backpacks for local school students in need. To donate, we have two simple options…
1) New backpacks can be donated at select mall shops and in return you will receive a special “thank you” offer from that select store. Full details HERE.
2) For those unable to go to the mall or purchase a backpack, you can visit the South Jersey Dream Center virtual donation station HERE to support this initiative. Simply select how many backpacks you would like to provide with your financial donation.
Every child deserves the chance to advance in all areas of learning, and your gift is exactly what they need to help them get started for the school year.
Local Farmers Donate Fresh Produce During Harvest Season
Meet Cody Cassaday (left) of Cassaday Farms. Cassaday is into it's fifth generation of farmers who started with a 70 acre farm and has now grown to over 2,500 acres that markets 40 different vegetables. Also, meet Joann (right) of Heritage’s Farms, whose roots also date back to the early 20th century with Harold H. Heritage, known as Grandpop Skeets, and his brother Sam. Both cultivated and harvested fruits and vegetables to support their families on 100 acres of land they inherited from their father. We are so blessed by Cassaday and Heritage's donations with each harvest.
Food Bank of South Jersey Healthy Pantry Initiative
To help members of the community make healthier food choices and lead healthier lives, the Dream Center is partnering with the Food Bank of South Jersey through the Healthy Pantry Initiative (HPI), funded by New Jersey’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed). HPI provides information and hands-on workshops to encourage people of all ages to make healthy food choices and lead more active lives. Every Dream Center curbside grocery pickup guest and all Senior Nutrition Program sites will be given HPI gift bags, packed with recipes and the necessary ingredients, and nutritional information.
IN THE NEWS
4imprint Comes to the Rescue
With the recent ban in New Jersey on providing customers with single-use plastic carryout bags, we found ourselves in a pinch. We greatly depend on recycled plastic bags to distribute our groceries to guests. So, we reached out to 4imprint for help, and were so thankful for their donation of hundreds of totes made up of overruns and misprinted bags.
Groceries for the New Family
It was a blast to welcome the McCormick family to their new home with our customary cart full of groceries! Christian, Imani and their two girls were surrounded by family, friends, local officials, and Habitat for Humanity staff for this very special event.
PSE&G Donation
Big thanks to PSE&G NJ for their generous donation of energy efficient products. We now have advanced technology LED bulbs, hot water saving kits, and power strips to share with our guests. The best news is that they will be in abundant supply for several months to come.
