The Free Meal Center
PO Box 863
1206 Route 9 South
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210
info@freemealcenter.com
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What's New
Your Notes are touching
Since tax deductible donations began coming into The Free Meal Center back in 2010, many have included a personal note from the contributor. They have been from the heart and quite touching.
Folks have shared stories about growing up in the depression and how they can relate to hunger. Others share our compassion for the less fortunate, especially the kids and senior citizens who aren’t getting sufficient nutrition. Still more tell us that TFMC is now their charity of choice, mostly because we’re local and the help goes directly to Cape May County residents.
So, in this season of thanks, let us thank you not only for your much-needed monetary contributions but also for your outpourings of support and shared concern about the plight of the needy. Thank you from our hearts - Douglas Jewell, Burgess “Butch” Hamer, Bobbie Greenwood, Charlotte Bohan and Joyce Jewell - the Board of Directors of TFMC.
December - the month of giving!
December has traditionally been the month of giving. For charities and non-profit groups like The Free Meal Center, December can represent nearly one-third of the year’s donations.
What makes December a time when folks open their hearts and pocketbooks? The obvious answer is the spirit of Christmas and the holidays. When people are focused on how lucky they are, the flip side of how unfortunate others have it is never far from their thoughts. We’re a world of haves and have-nots.
December is also the end of the tax year. Donating to non-profits gives everyone a chance to target where their dollars go, instead of giving it to the government to decide. This is the month that The Free Meal Center mails out mountains of tax deductible receipts, so it’s easy to donate knowing the deduction will be coming soon in the mail.
So, what do you say? Isn’t this the perfect time to support TFMC?
...and the Winner is
TFMC held the drawing for $1,000 worth of gift certificates at ShopRite this morning and the winner is Anna Carbone of Wildwood Crest. Congratulations. Thank you to the many folks who purchased $5 chances to win the prize. Proceeds go to TFMC.
Thinking Ahead
For the past year or so we’ve always maintained that we have just one chance to get everything right in planning out and implementing the reconstruction phase of our building. Once we’re open to the public, we’ll never really be able to close for a couple weeks to rebuild some portion of the building because of a miscalculation.
Anyone who drops by TFMC to get a tour and talk with us learns a lot about some of the ideas and strategies we’ll be implementing. We’re always willing to share our vision. In fact, we have so many ideas that the media doesn’t usually pick up on them. They’re overwhelming.
With that in mind, let us share one with you.
We have always planned to have a backup generator in case of a power outage. Our refrigerators and freezers would be hooked to that system so that we wouldn’t lose thousands of dollars worth of perishable food should it be an extended outage. We also planned to hook our gas heating system to the generator, so that the fans could still circulate the forced heated air. But that was to be the extent of our backup electrical system.
Today, in a planning session with our electrician Jim Rowland of Quality Electric, the importance of powering the entire building dawned on us. Thinking back to the heavy snowfall in the Winter of 2010 and the ensuing power outage of up to nine days in the Wildwoods, we reflected on the service we could provide by serving meals all day long until folks’ power was restored. And so it was decided. In a storm, TFMC will be totally self-sufficient and able to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner to those unfortunate people who are displaced due to a power outage at their homes.
TFMC will be able to provide heat, lights, water and meals to those who need them. Basically, we can provide everything but a place to sleep. That might not mean much to you right now, but someday it might. We’ll be there for you!
Gift Certificate Drawing on Saturday
The drawing for a $1,000 gift certificate at ShopRite will be this Saturday, December 10th, at 11am at TFMC. Everyone is invited to the drawing, and at the same time you can get a tour of the progress we’ve made on the rehabilitation of the building. Hope to see you there!
Food for Thought
Recently released statistics show just how much Cape May County children need the nutritious meals that will be provided by The Free Meal Center.
In a study of school-aged children (5-17 years old), Wildwood has 313 school kids living in poverty, an astonishing 46% of the total school population. Woodbine has 32% of the kids in poverty, a total of 108. Other towns’ statistics show Lower Township with 373 plus Lower Cape May Regional School district with another 306, Middle Township with 382, Ocean City 208, Upper Township 156, and Dennis Township 137. The county’s other municipalities total another 243 kids.
This disheartening total of 2,226 county students are going to school each day without the benefits of proper nutrition. This, in the “land of plenty”. Using the averages, another 972 toddlers under the age of five are also suffering the effects of poverty.
How will TFMC positively affect these kids? Let’s start by calculating how many days these kids can take advantage of TFMC. They have a 180 day school year, meaning they have 185 days off. Subtract the 52 Sundays that TFMC will be closed and that leaves 133 days per year that kids can enjoy a healthy, free lunch at our facility. Since we’ll be serving both breakfast and lunch on Saturdays, that’s 52 opportunities for the kids to fuel up starting off their weekends.
In a county that is the summer playground of the well-to-do, our own kids are falling through the cracks. Won’t you help us help them?
We need heat!
In order to have our dedicated contractors continue to work throughout the cold winter months, we need to get our two heat/AC package units and all the necessary duct work in place by Christmas. If we don’t get the heat in, we won’t be able to be open to the public by April.
We are presently trying to raise the $18,000 needed to fund the systems. If you can help, send your tax deductible donation to TFMC, PO Box 863, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210. We have no paid positions at TFMC, so 100% of your contribution goes toward getting our facility up and running so that we can feed the hundreds of needy families in Cape May County.
Construction Continues
Construction continued at TFMC throughout the autumn. Carpenter Matt Tribulski led a group of volunteers at several Wednesday work days. Retirees Gene Mulligan and Jorg Speck were always on hand to assist Matt in finishing closing in the new kitchen addition. The largest work day attracted about 15 volunteers, which included a group that cleaned up the garden and another that cleaned up construction debris and beautified the interior. Other Wednesday and Saturday work days typically drew about eight volunteers and a number of tasks were completed.
Meanwhile, our electrician Jim Rowland and his company, Quality Electric, were busy in October and November installing all new wiring in the building. So far they’ve put in 3,000’ of new wiring and they’re only about half done. They also installed two service panels, and a new main entry panel is next. Thanks Jim!
"Ladies Day out" a huge success
TFMC held a Ladies Day Out event Saturday, October 15th at Atkinsons Restaurant. The day was run by TFMC Board of Director members Charlotte Bohan, Bobbie Greenwood and Joyce Jewell. About 20 vendors and 200 folks turned out and nearly $3,000 was raised to help offset construction expenses at the property. Another Ladies Day Out is tentatively scheduled in the spring.
Thievery Continues
Unfortunately, TFMC continues to be the target of thieves despite five high-intensity lights that light up the property at night. Our latest loss was a 400-pound plow that goes on the back of a tractor. Our intention was to sell the plow as scrap metal, but the scrappers beat us to it. This was our 11th robbery! There was another attempted robbery in October. This time, thieves began removing glass from a jalousey window before apparantly being scared off.
The good news is that a group college students made a $675 donation to help us purchase a camera system, and Vector security is currently wiring the building in preparation for installing the cameras.
Our garden is growing
The vegetable and herb garden at TFMC has just been planted by Cape May County Technical High School students under the direction of teacher Joanne Sopchak. The 40’ x 40’ garden is planted in nice, neat mounded rows of a delicious variety of veggies and herbs. With school ready to break for summer vacation, the garden will now be tended for the second straight summer by Deborah Adams of the Cape May Master Gardeners Club.
One new feature this year is a water outlet right in the garden with two faucets, allowing a sprinkler and separate watering at the same time. The 130’ feet of water pipes and all the installation was done by our plumber, Mark Bohn of DMB Plumbing.
Thanks Joanne, Deborah and Mark!
We have an Outdoor Stage
On Friday, May 13, The Free Meal Center got lucky. Gary Farrow from Gary’s Auto in Cape May Court House helped load and transport a 12-foot by 25-foot stage to the picnic grove at the rear of our property. It was quite a job loading the stage onto his flatbed tow truck, but once loaded the transporting went smoothly. The stage, donated by Keith Chapman, now sits on the slab of concrete that previously was the floor of the old - and infamous - turkey house. The stage will eventually have a roof over it, electricity, and a speaker system. Barbecue grills will complete the entertainment area, which will host fundraisers.
Red Day gives help to TFMC
Red Day is a nationwide opportunity for Keller Williams real estate agents to give back to their community. On Thursday, May 12, Keller Williams Oceanside of Wildwood Crest brought 12 agents to The Free Meal Center for a four-hour session working on preparing our picnic grove for planting. The enthusiastic group, led by broker/owner Paul Chiolo, pulled roots from the ground and raked out stones and debris.
The area is now about 50 percent ready to plant with 300 pounds of grass seed generously donated by Bob Smeltzer of Smeltzer & Son. We still need another group or workday to finish prepping the area. If your group would like to pitch in, let us know.
Grant Writer Wanted
The Free Meal Center is in need of an experienced grant writer. This is a position that will have monetary compensation based on results. Here’s your chance to help Cape May County’s first-ever daily soup kitchen secure funding for construction materials and food.
Or maybe you know a qualified person that you can send our way? Give Douglas Jewell a call at 609-780-7129.
Groups Needed to do Car Wash
The Free Meal Center holds a Flea Market / Farmers Market every Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 3pm. We’re getting ready for our fourth weekend and as yet no youth or church groups have come forward to volunteer to do a Saturday car wash. How about it? Will your group give us four hours on a Saturday (10am to 2pm) to do a car wash to benefit TFMC? We provide the hoses, rags, sponges, and buckets.
Call Douglas Jewell at 609-780-7129 to pick a Saturday.
Pass the Hat
Bob from the Swainton Shell gas station was outraged when he read in the AC Press about the eighth and most painful robbery at The Free Meal Center. And he did something about it!
Bob and his employees have a donation can at each fuel pump where they ask customers to donate 10 cents or more. Most leave a buck. In the first 30 minutes today they had already received over $30. Wow! That will go a long way to help out TFMC.
If you own or know a high volume customer business that might take one of our donation cans, give Douglas Jewell a call at 609-780-7129 and we’ll get a can to you. The outside cover of the can is a copy of the AC Press newspaper article by Michael Miller with the large headlines “Thieves hit Middle Twp soup kitchen”.
If we get enough donation cans into stores, it could make a big difference.
TFMC robbed again!
Either Sunday or Monday night, April 24-25th, The Free Meal Center was the victim of thieves for the eighth time in the last nine months.
This time the lowlifes stole an 800-pound aluminum handicap ramp that was chained together and locked with heavy locks. The 24-foot ramp, with aluminum handrails, had been used just five days before it was donated last summer. We had it in sections of 10’, 10’ and four feet that were chained together with very heavy chain. It took considerable thought and work to steal this practically new ramp, which was to be used at the front entrance of the soup kitchen.
The thought of people stealing is upsetting, but stealing from a free soup kitchen is despicable. Their mothers should be proud of them.
Outdoor Workday April 30th
TFMC will be holding it’s second Outdoor Work Day of 2011 on Saturday, April 30 from 9am to 1pm. There are two tasks to be accomplished.
The big job is clipping the hundreds of roots sticking above the ground on the newly graded picnic grove. We have seven long handled clippers, plus you can bring your own. We need to cut the roots and load them in wheelbarrows and remove them to our brush pile. With lots of volunteers, this tedious job can be easily completed. Then we need to rake the area with garden rakes to smooth it out. Finally, we will spread grass seed and let the greening begin.
The other job to put up the few sections of stockade fence around the garden that were taken down last year in order to expedite installing vinyl siding on the building. Cape May Tech High School will be maintaining the vegetable/herb garden this year and we don’t want to see the local rabbits consuming their bounty. Carpentry tools and a post hole digger are all that is needed to complete this job.
Hope to see you at our Outdoor Work Day. It’s a chance to enjoy a nice day and good camraderie, while helping a good cause.
Thanks, Ken
The Free Meal Center owes a special thanks to Ken Overcash of Overcash Excavating for the work he recently completed at the property. Several Outdoor Work Days over the past year resulted in the tangled mess of briars, climbing vines, and invasive saplings being removed from the rear of the property. The past two weekends, Ken brought his bulldozer and backhoe and removed the hundreds of stumps and roots from the ground and graded the entire area. He also loaded a 40-yard dumpster with most of the large tree stumps.
Volunteerism is what TFMC is all about. Thank you Ken for giving your time and use of your equipment the past two weekends.
Flea & Farmers Market kicks off April 16-17
The Free Meal Center begins its weekly Flea & Farmers Market this Saturday and Sunday, April 16-17, 9am to 3pm. The Market will run every Saturday and Sunday right through the spring and summer.
Vendor spaces are available for the bargain price of just $10 per day. If a table is needed from us, it’s just $5. Several crafters are already signed up and there is room for dozens of sellers. It’s also a good chance to clean out your attic or garage and earn some bucks for your unwanted items,
TFMC is also encouraging youth and church groups to pick a day to do a car wash to benefit our soup kitchen. We have hoses and water and concrete pad out front as an area upon which to wash the vehicles. TFMC is also accepting donations of baked goods and other items to sell at our booth. We also need volunteers to help man our booth.
Our highly-visible location on busy Route 9 midway between Cape May Court House and Rio Grande will make our Flea & Farmers Market the place to be on weekends. For more information, call Frank at 609-402-8243.
Outdoor Work Day Draws 25 Volunteers
The April 9, 2011 Outdoor Work Day saw unexpected blue skies for the 25 volunteers eager to help out at The Free Meal Center. The theme of the day was “spring cleanup” as volunteers helped cut and drag brush into a 40-yard dumpster donated by Mitchell Nichols Enterprises. Broken concrete and concrete block were placed in another dumpster donated by Garden State Excavating. The flowers gardens in front of the building were dressed up with fresh mulch donated by Albrecht and Huen. The volunteers also tackled jobs such as removing demolition debris from the dining room and preparing bamboo poles for staking vegetables in the garden. All in all it was a successful day with plenty of camraderie amongst the volunteers.
Outdoor Stage donated to TFMC
The Free Meal Center recently received the donation of a 12’x25’ deck, which will be moved to the rear of the property and placed on the 12’x45’ concrete pad and utilized as an outdoor stage. The stage has railings around most of the perimeter and will be supported about 20 inches above the ground.
The stage, donated by Keith Chapman of CMCH, will be moved by Gary’s Auto as soon as the ground is dry enough to be driven on without damaging the lawns. A free standing roof will be built over the stage, making those using it less susceptible to foul weather.
TFMC will be hosting family events, music, and special events on the stage.
Flower Sales Easter and Mother's Day weekends
TFMC will be holding a Flower Sale on Easter weekend and Mother’s Day weekend. Easter weekend, April 22-24, and Mother’s Day weekend, May 6-8, the times will be Friday 3:00 to 6:00pm, Saturday 12 noon to 6:00pm and Sunday 12 noon to 6:00pm. We’ll have nice flowers at reasonable prices that can later be transplanted into your garden.
Volunteers are needed to help us facilitate the sales. A travel trailer will be on site for taking breaks in comfort. If you’ve wanted to help out TFMC, here’s your chance. Contact us through the website or call Douglas Jewell at 609-780-7129.
Weekend Flea Market begins April 16th-17th
With construction progressing on the building, TFMC will be hosting a regular weekend Flea Market beginning the weekend of April 16th & 17th. The Flea Market will operate Saturdays and Sundays 9:00am to 3:00pm right through Labor Day weekend.
Retail spaces are available for just $10 per day. Tables are an extra $5. The high visibility of being on Route 9 makes this $10 price a real bargain.
In addition, TFMC will also be selling donated household items and volunteers are needed to man the booth. We will have a travel trailer on the site so that volunteers will have a relaxing place to take breaks. There is also a nice, clean porta-potty on the premises compliments of Caprioni’s.
TFMC will also hopefully be selling food. We are currently searching for someone to lend us a health department-approved concession trailer so that we may offer food. Or, you can run your concession yourself and donate the proceeds.
We also hope to have a youth group run a car wash during the Flea Market. If you or your child’s group would like to volunteer to take a weekend, let us know.
So many folks have been anxious to volunteer to help out TFMC. Here is a 20-week activity that gives you the opportunity to help out anywhere from one day to every weekend. Your help is greatly appreciated. Come be part of the fun.
TFMC will Speak to your Group
Is your group wondering about The Free Meal Center? What’s it all about, how will the operation run, when will volunteers be needed?
TFMC is glad to give a presentation to your group. In the past few months, we have given talks to the North Wildwood Crime Watch, the Cape May County Advisory Commission on the Status of Women, Our Lady of the Angels 6th-7th-8th grade CCD classes, and more.
If you’d like to learn more about Cape May County’s first-ever daily soup kitchen, contact us through this website or call Douglas Jewell at 609-780-7129.
50-50 Raffle Winners
The Free Meal Center held its 50-50 Raffle drawing on Sunday, March 6th. The names were drawn out of the bin by a spectator, Belle Alto. The grand prize winner was Cynthia Pashley of North Wildwood, who pocketed $4,320. The two runner-up winners were Bernie Lappin/Laura Nichols of Wildwood Crest and Bill Bezaire of Cape May, both snaring $540.
Congratulations to the winners and thanks to everyone who bought tickets. TFMC was able to add $5,400 to its property purchase funds.
Congratulations, Ben!
The Free Meal Center wants to congratulate Ben Weisberg of Boy Scout Troop 79 for achieving his Eagle Pin. Ben led a contingent of 40 workers last April at TFMC. They added a drip irrigation system, landscaping, new timbers, and mulch to the gardens in front facing the highway. They also added vinyl siding to the front wall and moved brush. The project was Ben’s final project to fill his Eagle Scout requirements. Congrats!
Student Makes Parking Lot Signs
Alex Terenik, age 15, of Cape May Court House, recently made three parking lot signs for The Free Meal Center. A straight “A” honor student, he created three professional-looking signs to be mounted in the parking lot directing cars to the “Volunteer Parking”, “Customer Parking”, and “Drop Off Area, No Parking”.
The signs are needed to aid traffic flow in the parking lot once TFMC gets open in the late spring. Thanks, Alex!
Our Lady of the Angels holding Bake Sale
Our Lady of the Angels Parish is hosting a bake sale on Sunday, March 6th from 8:00am to 12:00 noon to benefit The Free Meal Center. The sale is being done by the 6th - 7th - 8th grade religious education students in the Parish Center, which is located in the little house to the right of the church. Parishioners and the general public are invited to come and purchase some goodies.
The kids and advisor Betteann Kerr have invited TFMC board members Joyce and Douglas Jewell to speak about Cape May County’s first-ever daily soup kitchen on Sunday morning, March 20th. At that time they will also be presenting the proceeds from the bake sale to TFMC.
Woodbine Seniors Sew Aprons
The Woodbine Seniors have been busy the past few months sewing aprons to be worn by volunteers serving meals at The Free Meal Center. Last Thursday, Della Gray and Helena Huber made a presentation of over a dozen of the beautiful, colorful aprons of all sizes to TFMC’s Douglas Jewell.
The heavy duty aprons are made from vibrant colored clothes for the gals and more subdued colored clothes for the men. The aprons span the full range of sizes. They also made a variety of lengths, from full length to mid-thigh.
The Woodbine Seniors will continue to sew more aprons for TFMC in the coming months. Their sewing days are Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays from 9:30am to 2:30pm. The Center is located at 812 Longfellow Avenue in Woodbine, right across from Lincoln Park. Their phone number is 861-2800.
Construction begins
With the worst of winter behind us, the construction phase of TFMC can finally begin. Michael McCarthy’s high school carpentry class has been working every Tuesday since the fall, first stripping the large dining room walls to bare studs, then tackling the job of removing the center wall to open up the dining room. The class is now ready to pour concrete for three supports, then removal of the wall can take place.
Mason Ernie Troiano is preparing to dig a footing, place in rebar, and pour concrete to support the new kitchen rear wall, which will be 12-feet tall and constructed of concrete block. Meanwhile, general contractor Matt Tribulski has the materials ready to build a 14-foot wall constructed of 2"x6"s at the front of the new kitchen. That wall will have a bank of windows across the top, allowing natural light into the cooking area of the kitchen.
The 700 concrete blocks were donated by John DeSantis and Sandra Novick. The rebar is being donated by Ernie Troiano and the lumber has all been given by The Home Depot. We thank them for their generous support.
February 8th Service Day at TFMC
The Marianist Family Retreat Center of Cape May Point provided TFMC with 28 eager volunteers on February 8, 2011 for a day of service. The effort was coordinated by Jessica Sherwen, Program Director of the MFRC.
The biggest task was removing concrete with a jackhammer in preparation for local mason Ernie Troiano to begin work on the footing for the new kitchen rear wall. Despite rain the entire four hours, about a dozen of the kids worked diligently to accomplish their job. Other crews sanded and painted table bases, cleaned up demolition debris, trimmed brush in the outdoor picnic area, changed the message on the marquee out front by Route 9, and installed a new deadbolt lock on the front door.
Most of the teens were from Bergen County, while some of the adult supervisors came from as far away as Texas. Pictures of the day’s activities can be found in the Photo Gallery page of this website. The MFRC will be holding another workday at TFMC on Monday, March 14th.
50-50 Tickets On Sale
Tickets for the 50-50 raffle to benefit TFMC are now for sale. A maximum of 500 tickets will be sold at $50 apiece. First prize if all are sold is $10,000. Second & third prizes will be $1,250 each. The split is 40%, 5%, 5%. Prizes will be awarded Sunday, March 6th.
The Free Meal Center is a great cause to support. Every cent collected in the past year has gone directly to the building renovations. There are no salaried employees and each of the five Board members is strictly a volunteer with no monetary compensation.
To buy a ticket or help us sell them, contact one of the Board members - Bobbie Greenwood, Butch Hamer, Melanie Collins, or Joyce or Douglas Jewell. Or you can contact us at info@FreeMealCenter.com . We’ll even deliver your ticket to you.
You can also purchase tickets at Don Martin Realty (North Wildwood), Jewell Real Estate Agency (Wildwood Crest), Total Image Salon (Wildwood), Wilsey Realty (Cape May), Ferguson Dechert Realty (Avalon), Rizzo Chiropractic (Cape May), Back to Health Chiropractic (Wildwood), Atlantic Realty (WIldwood Crest), Hoffman Agency (Wildwood Crest), and Wildwood Catholic High School. Thanks.
Just 26 Cents
With The Free Meal Center just $25,000 short of its monetary goal to purchase the 2.38 acre property at 1206 Route 9 South in Burleigh, perhaps that should be put into perspective. If every man, woman and child living yearround in Cape May County gave us 26 cents, we’d raise the $25,000. If every man, woman and child in Cape May County on any given summer day gave us 3.5 cents, we’d have the $25,000.
Won’t you help us make feeding the hungry of Cape May County a reality? Feel free to donate more than 26 cents.
Sister Jean Passes Away
Sister Jean Webster, who founded and ran Sister Jean’s Soup Kitchen in Atlantic City, passed away yesterday afternoon. Sister Jean told Butch and Douglas last January that five percent of her clients - about 40 per day - came from Cape May County. We are unsure if her soup kitchen will survive without her leadership, but either way it increases the pressure for The Free Meal Center to get open to the public.
Joyce Jewell Comes Home
After four days in the hospital and 13 days in a convalescent center, Joyce Jewell returned home on Monday, January 10th. Joyce is getting around with the help of a walker after breaking her hip on Christmas morning while attempting to find and feed homeless guys living near the railroad tracks in Rio Grande. Thanks to everyone who inquired about her condition during this ordeal and made donations to The Free Meal Center in her name.
Halfway There
TFMC is halfway toward it goal of raising $50,000 by March 15 so that we can complete the purchase of the 2.38 acre property at 1206 Route 9 in Burleigh.
As part of our commitment to feed the hungry of Cape May County, we opted from the very start last January to purchase - not rent - the building that would become our home. As part of our sale agreement, we were given a one-year lease on the property. As the end of our lease approaches, we prepare for the transfer of the property to TFMC.
Please help us any way you can in raising the final $25,000. Host a fundraiser, pass the hat at work, make a donation, or assist us in pursuing large donors. The less-fortunate residents of Cape May County are counting on you.
TFMC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. Tax deductible receipts are sent to all donors.
Our 50-50 Raffle
Want a chance to win a first prize of $10,000 or one of two consolation prizes of $1,250? And the odds are 500 to 1, which is a lot better than MegaMillions or Powerball.
TFMC is holding a 50-50 raffle, with tickets available from any of the Board of Director members - Butch Hamer, Bobbie Greenwood, Joyce & Douglas Jewell, or Melanie Collins. And, of course, you can email us at info@FreeMealCenter.com and we’ll deliver a ticket or tickets to you.
The cost is $50 per ticket. Proceeds go toward the TFMC’s purchase of the property at 1206 Route 9 South. The drawing for the three winners will be held Friday, March 11 at 6:00pm at the facility.
C’mon, buy a ticket. It’s for a good cause and you just might be the one to pocket 10,000 bucks!
Update on Joyce Jewell
Joyce’s surgery took place on Sunday morning, the day after Christmas. “The surgery went well,” said Dr. TJ, who performed the operation. “The new ball snapped right into place and fit snug. We didn’t have to bond it at all.”
That was good news. The only trouble they had was resusciating her from the anesthesia, but they injected some drug and she soon regained consciousness. I got to visit her about 2 o’clock in the afternoon and her spirits were high. She was groggy, but she knew the operation was a success and we shared our relief. They had her legs strapped together with a large padded block in between. That would deny her any chance to twist her hip during sleep or while awake.
The next day they got Joyce up out of bed and she used a walker – with help – to travel a couple steps to a special chair. She sat in the chair for a couple hours before needing to stretch out again in a bed. They also removed her intravenous drip and oxygen hose. Today, they gave her more rehab and at 4 o’clock this afternoon they are moving her to Court House Convalescent Center from her three day home at Cape Regional Medical Center. The staff at CRMC was professional and friendly and we have no complaints. Even the food was okay.
Joyce is now at CHCC for 10 days or so, receiving physical therapy and learning how to get around with the help of a walker. She is even learning how to dress herself, how to sit, and how to stand.
Like having food to eat, sometimes we take ordinary things in life for granted.
A Good Deed Turned Sour
“No good deed goes unpunished” is the old expression. Now we know exactly what it means.
We woke up Christmas morning and I had an idea in keeping with the seasonal spirit of love and charity. Joyce & I would go down to Rio Grande and find the homeless guys who live outdoors near the railroad tracks and take them out for a hot meal, or at the very least see if we could bring them some warm food and coffee. We knew they lived there in the warm months and had been recently told they were still there. We felt an extra incentive to do this kind deed because this soup kitchen we founded, The Free Meal Center, was still undergoing renovations and not yet open to the public.
We parked our truck near the railroad tracks and proceeded to walks the tracks north to find the down-on-their-luck guys. After a couple hundred feet, Joyce fell and landed with a thud. She couldn’t get up. She couldn’t even move. She is in top shape, exercises every day, and weighs barely over a hundred pounds, so we knew her injury was for real. Her upper right leg was in agony.
I called the Middle Township police and in just minutes two police cars and an ambulance were on the scene. They brought in a gurney and took her back to the ambulance. The ride to the hospital was quick and she was in the Emergency Room right away. For hours we shared a concern about how severe was her injury? Hopefully it was just a bad bruise or maybe a sprain. Unfortunately, the worst case scenario played out. The hip was broken. The hip ball was so far out of the socket that hip replacement surgery was necessary. Since it was Christmas day, they scheduled the operation for the next day, Sunday, December 26th.
So now, just five hours before the operation, I spent an almost sleepless night worrying about my life partner, my best friend. I’ll give an update on her condition later today or tomorrow.
In lieu of flowers or cards, Joyce asks that you send a donation to The Free Meal Center, PO Box 863, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210.
The Land of Plenty, ... and Poverty
Cape May County, New Jersey is known for its beaches, the Atlantic Ocean, fishing, boating, golf courses, the zoo, and a myriad of other leisure venues. Cape May, Avalon, and Stone Harbor are known for their multi-million dollar homes – McMansions, actually – that are second homes to the rich and famous. Ocean City, Sea Isle, and the Wildwoods attract a mix of wealthy and middle class, all pursuing a relaxed escape from the hectic pace of their everyday lives in metropolitan Philadelphia or New York City.
To many, the county is shangri-la, a place to attain nirvana. They associate it with “the good life”.
Unfortunately, year-round residents see past that illusion. They know the ugly truth. Of 42,000 year-round households, over 4,000 families live below the poverty level, which is an embarrassingly-low $22,050 for a family of four. Can you imagine trying to make it on $22,050 per year?
Recently released statistics show that the worst conditions are in Woodbine, where 24% of families live in poverty. Wildwood is next at 20% under the poverty line, with the median income just $30,974. To extrapolate, that means that another 30% of year-round families in Wildwood make between $22,050 and $30,974. Yikes!
Families are also struggling in Wildwood Crest with 11% in poverty, West Cape May with 10%, West Wildwood with 8%, and North Wildwood with 6%.
Here’s another telling statistic. Cape May County had 317 homeless people in 2010. That number includes 54 families totaling 157 people. Another 160 individuals were labeled homeless and nine more were classified chronically homeless, meaning they’ve gone a full year or more without a home.
So where do they all live? Why don’t you see them pushing around a shopping cart with all their possessions, like in Philly or Atlantic City or any big city? The answer is that the NJ Social Services Department uses a half dozen local motels to house the homeless. Since most don’t have a vehicle, driving past one of these motels gives the illusion that the rooms are mostly vacant, but they’re not. Families, couples, and individuals are living in these motel rooms, with little more than a couple beds, a bathroom, microwave, and old TV. But, at least they have heat. Some other families are put up in temporary housing provided by churches. Sadly, some live in the woods, under the Boardwalk, or in dilapidated abandoned homes. These poor folks don’t have heat in the winter, and stay warm by piling on layers of clothes.
It’s a shame, a disgrace, that our country with so much has so many folks with so little. Our government “by the people and for the people” isn’t exactly for all the people. We need to change that. As individuals, we have compassion. But as a nation, we have less compassion than we should. When will we all truly care?
Electrical Contractor Needed
TFMC needs an electrical contractor, or a group of electrical contractors, to take on the electrical work that needs to be done.
Right now, we need an electrician to look at our gutted dining room and tell us if any wiring needs to be done. Maybe it doesn’t. But this is our only chance since we have the walls down to studs in the main dining room. Then in about April, we’ll need the kitchen equipment and the three 5-ton heat/AC units wired. TFMC will supply all the materials.
If you know some electrical contractor that may be willing to help us out, give Douglas Jewell a call at 609-780-7129. We do give tax deductible receipts for all services performed.
Artists Needed
TFMC has a few blank walls in the lobby and hallways that would be perfect for murals. We are hoping that some talented students, art classes, or adults might share their talents by painting a mural for us. If you or someone you know has that artistic ability, call Douglas Jewell at 609-780-7129. Thanks!
The 2011 Board of Directors
The Free Meal Center held its monthly Board of Directors meeting Thursday and the Board for 2011 is:
Douglas Jewell, Chairperson; Bobbie Greenwood, Vice-Chair; Joyce Jewell, Secretary; Burgess “Butch” Hamer; Melanie Collins. Congratulations to the two new members.
We expect 2011 to be a banner year, as the facility will open to the public and many services will be offered and family-type fundraisers will be held at our 1206 Route 9 South home in Burleigh.
Get your electricity from Viridian Energy, help TFMC
The Free Meal Center is running a promotion for Viridian Energy, an alternative to Atlantic City Electric that combines wind, solar and hydro power instead of polluting coal-burning plants. And the best part is that your monthly electric bill will be reduced.
If you sign up before December 31, TFMC will receive a bonus $10. Also, each month, TFMC will receive $2 for each customer enrolled by TFMC. That really helps us out.
Here’s the answers to the questions swirling around in your head: You still get your electric bill through AC Electric and there is no separate bill from Viridian. You still call AC Electric if you have any service problems or power interruption. Your annual electric bill will be 5% to 20% less. Enrolling is FREE. There are NO contracts, NO time obligations, NO cancellation fees, NO hidden fees (just a 49 cent monthly service fee), NO deposit, and NO credit checks.
So what are you waiting for? Email or call us (609-780-7129) and we’ll get a 1-page application to you via email, fax, or we’ll deliver to your home. All you need is a copy of your electric bill and to fill out a simple application.
We’ve already had a few families sign up, plus TFMC, Jewell Real Estate Agency, and the Swainton home of Joyce & Douglas Jewell. C’mon and join us in helping TFMC!
Final Outdoor Work Day of 2010 completes 3 projects
The final Outdoor Work Day of 2010 saw a dozen hearty folks brave the cold temperatures and brisk winds to complete three ongoing projects.
Kevin Conrey manned the commercial chipper he operates for Mitchell Nichols Enterprises and along with Sandy and John Heisler they chipped up the final piles of brush from three months of clearing woods to create a park setting. Meanwhile, Chad Acevedo operated the rototiller donated by Rental Country and churned fresh, organic mulch into the sandy soil of the vegetable/herb garden with the help of Nan LaCorte. Over near the kitchen, Jody Carrera, Butch Hamer and a half-dozen others helped stack demolition debris into the 30-yard dumpster, also donated by Mitchell Nichols.
The whole Work Day took just 2 1/2 hours and the property was in tip-top shape going into the winter. Thanks to everyone who helped out!
Holiday Baked Goods - Order by December 19th
TFMC will be holding another fundraiser selling baked goods made from scratch by Madison’s Bakery of Cold Spring Village. Orders must be placed by Sunday, December 19th and all items will be delivered to your home or workplace on Wednesday, December 22nd.
The goodies, all priced at $15 dollars, are a cookie tray, 12” pumpkin roll, and 10” coconut custard pie, pumpkin pie and sweet potato pie.
To order, call Madison’s Bakery at 609-775-4788 or email us through this website. Please specify the window of time we can deliver your order on the 22nd and any other specific directions. Make checks out to: Madison’s Bakery and mail to TFMC, PO Box 863, CMCH, NJ 08210
TFMC gets its Building Permit
The Free Meal Center has been waiting patiently - and at times not so patiently - since last Spring to be given a building permit by the Middle Township construction office. Finally, the frustrating process is over.
Today, the day before Thanksgiving, the construction permit was issued and we now have the coveted piece of paper in hand. Hurray!
The renovations on the former restaurant will now begin almost immediately. Contractors have been notified and work schedules are being plotted. First up - we need to pour a concrete footing for the new rear wall on the kitchen, so we’re hoping that old man Winter stays away until January.
It’s so exciting to finally be talking about construction. We’ll continue to give regular updates on this website.
Outdoor Work Day on Saturday, December 4
TFMC is holding the final Outdoor Work Day of 2010 on Saturday, December 4th from 9:00am to 12 noon. Even if it’s a little chilly outside, the work and comraderie will keep you warm. We have three projects to tackle, and they’ll all be done at the same time with three crews.
We have plenty of construction debris that needs to be loaded into a dumpster, which will be placed in close proximity to the pile. That job should take about two hours or less.
We also have brush at the edge of the parking lot that needs to be passed to a commercial chipper operator. He’ll run it through the chipper. That’s a one hour job.
The third task is hauling mulch in wheelbarrows to the garden. The mulch is very lightweight and easy to handle. It will be rototilled into the garden then. We are looking for someone with a rototiller to help us with that project, so if you know someone with a rototiller ask them to give us an assist. That job will also take less than two hours.
Hope to see you and your friends there! For more info or to volunteer your rotiller, call Douglas Jewell at 609-780-7129.
The Clock is Ticking
As we approach the conclusion of our first year in existence, it’s time to begin raising the $50,000 we need for a down payment on purchasing the property. Our sales contract called for TFMC to lease the 1206 Route 9 South in Burleigh property for one year while we got our feet wet, so to speak. Now we enter the second phase, where we complete the purchase of the 2.38 acre property and its 4,275 square-foot building.
We went into this venture with the intent of showing our 100% commitment to feeding the hungry and less-fortunate of Cape May County by owning the building where we were housed. We didn’t think renting a storefront in a strip mall was appropriate, nor wise. Plus, we wanted the stability and satisfaction of knowing that TFMC would live on beyond our lifetimes.
So now we need your help. You can assist us in reaching our goal of raising $50,000 by holding a fundraiser, passing the hat at work, making a donation, or helping us pursue large donors? Whaddya say? Will you help us make a difference in people’s lives?
Volunteer Meeting Wednesday, November 17th at 7pm
The Free Meal Center is holding a get-together of volunteers - those interested plus those already signed up - at the facility at 1206 Route 9 South in Burleigh. The time is 7:00pm. Drop in and speak to Board of Director members and active volunteers. We will share our vision with you, plus bring you up to date on our progress.
We are excited about the many, many positive things that have happened since February. We expect 2011 to be a monumental year and we hope you are part of it.
For more info, call Douglas Jewell at 609-780-7129 or contact us through info@FreeMealCenter.com .
Volunteers Make It Happen
It’s the many compassionate and helpful volunteers that drive The Free Meal Center.
Last Sunday, October 31, was a case in point. Early in the morning, Douglas Jewell was out in front of the building digging holes in an attempt to local a sewer pipe. Doug Fulford of Doug’s Septic Systems was driving by on Route 9, but couldn’t resist stopping in to see if he could lend a hand. An hour and a half later, Doug had helped locate all the sewer lines coming out of the building. Thanks, Doug!
As Doug was finishing up, Mark Bohn of DMB Plumbing pulled up and he spent the next 3 and a half hours helping Douglas test all the toilets, sinks, and drain lines to see which drained into which sewer line. One clogged line was discovered and the two guys dug it up and discovered the problem. Thanks, Mark!
On Monday, Phil Lisko of Northstar Marine sent over a backhoe and operator to spread the four huge piles of clamshells, donated by Ralph Shuman, on the parking lot. While there, he used the backhoe to dig up two concrete pads that had to be removed prior to the building renovations. Thanks, guys!
Meanwhile, retirees Jorg Speck and Gene Mulligan were busy inside the building helping to build a few temporary walls that are needed to secure the building once the rear portion of the kitchen is torn off. They returned Tuesday and completed the job. Thanks, fellows!
As is the case every Tuesday, Mike McCarthy’s carpentry class at CMC Special Services School spent four hours or so helping gut the walls and ceiling of the main dining room. The half dozen students have done a good job and Mike is an able and knowledgeable teacher. Thanks everyone!
This is a typical 72 hour period at TFMC - volunteers taking a stake in the success of our mission to feed the hungry of Cape May County. Do you want to help, too? The comraderie and making new friends is worth the effort. Give Douglas Jewell a call at 609-780-7129 if you have some time to give.
Two Board of Director seats available
The deadline is December 1st, 2010 to send TFMC a “Letter of Interest” to join our five-member Board of Directors.
We expect 2011 to be an exciting year for TFMC. The construction phase of the project will be completed and the facility will be opened for lunch Monday through Saturday, plus breakfast on Saturdays.
Prospective Boards members are expected to be hands-on and involved in the many decisions that come with renovating the building and implementing our feeding program. We’re looking for common sense approaches and innovative thinking.
If you are interested in becoming a vital part of Cape May County’s first-ever daily soup kitchen, send a Letter of Interest to TFMC at PO Box 863, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210. The two new members will be selected at the December 7, 2010 Board meeting and their term runs from January 1 to December 31, 2011.
Wouldn’t you like to give a year of your life to helping feed the hungry of Cape May County?
Thieves Strike TFMC
The Free Meal Center was the victim of thieves five times in the last two months. This was a Robin Hood who stole from the poor to give to themselves.
The latest three incidences, October 14th, 24th, and 28th, pretty much wiped out our stockpile of scrap metal that we intended to cash in for money. Amongst the items pilfered were eight wall air conditioners, a 300-pound hot water heater, a 12-foot kitchen hood, and hundreds of feet of pipes and duct. The total value to TFMC if we had gotten to sell these items for scrap metal was about $600. The October 14th break-in included pushing through a side window of the building to steal copper pipes from the kitchen.
Also stolen was a 700-pound commercial refrigerator, six-feet high and six-feet long, that we intended to use in the kitchen. It was valued at $1,500 or more.
If you have any information about who may have committed these planned thefts, please let us know and we’ll pass it on to the police.
We Need a Heat/AC System - October 4, 2010
One more unexpected system is needed in The Free Meal Center building - a gas heat / central air conditioning system. Well, it’s not really unexpected. It’s just that we thought we could get by this winter with the three wall mounted gas heaters we currently have, then install a system before we need air conditioning in May. It didn’t work out that way.
When officials required us to have the heaters certified, we soon found out that no HVAC company was willing to do that. Hence, we’ve had to push up the timeline for installing the system. We are currently receiving bids from contractors so we don’t know the exact cost, but it appears that it will be no less than $12,000.
If you civic group, school class, or church group would like to help us reach that goal through a fundraiser or donation, give Douglas Jewell a call at 609-780-7129. Thanks.
A Generous Benefactor - October 1, 2010
The Free Meal Center’s call to raise funds for a new hood vent system for the kitchen and an indoor fire suppression system for the dining rooms was answered - by one generous benefactor. The family - which wishes to remain anonymous - presented a check to TFMC on Friday, October 1 quietly and with no fanfare for $30,745. That covers the $14,745 for the hood vent and $16,000 for the indoor sprinkler system.
It’s this spirit of giving and caring that has inspired TFMC to become the first-ever daily soup kitchen in Cape May County. Thank you!
Free Meal Center Needs More Help
Those organizing a new facility in Cape May County that will provide free, healthy meals to local residents were hoping to have the center up and running by now. But, despite all the help they have received from the community, they still need a little bit more to finally be able to open its doors. View the Full Video
Work Day a Success
Work Day a Success
The Outdoor Work Day saw 31 volunteers accomplish every task TFMC needed completed. Dave Drummond and Mitchell Nichols each supplied commercial chippers, which could consume tree parts up to 17 inches across. They made short work of the montrous pile of brush we had previously cut with chainsaws. Two assembly lines of energetic volunteers passed the debris into the chippers and in 2 1/2 hours the job was done.
Meanwhile, another crew of six volunteers tackled siding the difficult south side of the building. After removing or loosening many obstacles such as phone lines, vacated gas lines, etc, the crew got on to putting up the vinyl siding. By early afternoon the work was completed and now the front and both sides of the building look spiffy with the new vinyl siding replacing the weathered T111 siding.
Thank you to everyone who participated. Everyone made new friends and enjoyed the comraderie of working together.
Another Outdoor Work Day Scheduled for September 11
Another Outdoor Work Day scheduled for Saturday, September 11
The final Outdoor Work Day of the summer is set for Saturday, September 11 from 8am to 1pm. There are three goals for the day. One is to finish installing the vinyl siding, this time on the south side of the building. Once again, the siding has been donated by The Home Depot.
The transforming of the woods into a park setting will also be concluded. We need folks with chainsaws to cut brush and saplings, and landscapers with commercial chippers to chip up the brush. We’ll need plenty of volunteers to form an assembly line to pass the brush to the chipper operators. Our last task of the day - and smallest - is to get the front flower beds weeded.
Anyone interested in helping us out should show up at 8am or so with work gloves, tools (clippers, chainsaw, hammers, etc), long pants and sensible footwear.
The Free Meal Center Not Open Yet
Much to our dismay, The Free Meal Center is still not open for business. The reason is that after nearly six months we still don’t have a building permit. We’re caught in New Jersey’s bureacratic barb wire. We hope to have the permit in hand later in September.
We have two big unexpected expenses - $16,000 for an indoor fire supression system (sprinklers) and $14,745 for a hood vent system for the kitchen. Obviously, we can’t open our kitchen until we have the hood vent system. That’s our first priority. Until we have the sprinkler system, our occupancy capacity has been cut from 178 people to a mere 79. This, of course, cripples our plans to have large Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day meals. We had projected being open for four or five hours each holiday, and feeding and entertaining 400 to 600 folks.
It now looks like TFMC won’t be open until winter. We’re especially concerned for the hundreds of folks whose summer employment ends by Halloween and their time of need - and the cold weather - arrive.
Two locals have stepped up in the last week to help us toward our goal of $14,745, then another $16,000. Mark Collins of Rio Grande has rented the Whitesboro Rec Center for Saturday, October 30th. He’ll be using his well-known DJ skills in hosting a Halloween party. Tickets are just $5 and all proceeds go to TFMC. Ebony & Ivory Beauty Salon owner Christina Sheldon is currently organizing a haircut day on a Saturday in November and she’s enlisting other county stylists and salons to participate. Proceeds from the county-wide event go to TFMC. Let your hairdresser know about this day and have them contact Christina at 465-3212 to participate.
If your civic group or student class would like to organize a fundraiser to help get TFMC open, give Douglas a call at 609-780-7129.
Taking the Challenge
It’s heartwarming to experience the generosity and determination of Cape May County folks. Here are two examples.
Sandra Novick of Swainton approached us in the summer asking what need we had. “We need 700 concrete blocks,” was our immediate answer. Two weeks later, the 700 blocks were at TFMC. The first 200 came from John “Chief” DeSantis of Woodbine, who was contacted by Margie Gruff. The other 500 were purchased with donations corraled by Sandra and friends.
Anne Sanderson of the Cape May County Association of Realtors also quizzed us on our needs. “We need $3,000 to buy red quarry tile for the kitchen floor,” was our response. Anne went right to work by contacting all the county real estate offices and beginning a campaign to raise the money. The donations began to come in, but a challenge to the other offices to raise $300 each by Wilsey Realty of Cape May really kicked off a flurry of donations. Recently, the CMCAR presented TFMC with a check for $4,700, enough to not only purchase the heavy duty tile for the kitchen floor but the dry storage room and the buffet line room.
These two gals got the ball rolling on fundraising, then hundreds more answered the call. That’s the American spirit of compassion, generosity and determination that makes our country great!
Outdoor Workday August 14
An Outdoor Work Day was held on Saturday, August 14 from 8am to 1pm. The 28 volunteers tackled several jobs. One group was busy disassembling a fallen down 12’x40’ shed and separating the metal to be sold for scrap and placing the rest of the debris in a 20-yard dumpster supplied by Garden State General Construction. Another group put up vinyl siding - supplied by The Home Depot - on the north side of the building, while the bulk of the volunteers helped cut brush, saplings and vines and drag them to a pile for chipping. The weather was beautiful, with temperatures only in the low 80’s. It was a great day to accomplish some necessary tasks while enjoying each other’s company.
County 4-H Fair a Success
TFMC sold alot of great food at the annual 4-H Fair, easily being the busiest food booth of a dozen or so on the grounds. A special thanks to the 18 volunteers who manned the booth, greeting each customer with smiles and fast, courteous service.
Food Booth at the County 4-H Fair
Volunteers from The Free Meal Center are manning the largest food booth at the Cape May County 4-H Fair on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, July 15-17th. Our menu has burgers, hot dogs, french fries, cheesesteaks, meatball subs, pulled pork sandwiches, and canned cold soda, iced tea and bottled water. Naturally, all proceeds go to TFMC.
Stop by and say hello and patronize out food booth. We’ll also have a donation jar and be handing out our new TFMC pamphlet.
It's Been a Great Week - July 1, 2010
The past week found TFMC getting some major donations that almost completes the list of all the equipment and building supplies we need.
We needed 700 concrete blocks to build the new kitchen back wall, and Chief DeSantis, Sandra Novick and Margy Gruff came through and we have our blocks. We also had a grill and compressor for the walk-in refrigerator donated by Louis Elwell. The Cape May Association of Realtors has started a drive to raise the $3,000 we need to put a red quarry tile floor in the kitchen. If you’d like to help with that, send a check to TFMC, PO Box 863, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210.
The exterior of the building is looking nice. Our painter, Joe Nichols, has been working diligently in the hot weather to get the windows and trim painted. The CMC Master Gardener’s Club has planted our herb and vegetable garden and things are growing profusely. Deborah Adams has been watering and weeding the garden regularly and Barbara Clemens has been weeding all the front flower beds.
And lastly, The Free Meal Center has rented a booth at the Cape May County 4-H Fair, to be held July 15-17, Thursday-Saturday. The food concession will be open 12 noon to 9:00pm each day and we need volunteers to man the booth, mainly taking orders and money. You can volunteer for a few hours, or as much as you’d like.
The menu we’re offering is hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries, pulled pork sandwiches, cheesesteaks, and meatball sandwiches, and soda and iced tea. If you are interested in helping with this fundraiser, email us at info@FreeMealCenter.com or call Douglas Jewell at 609-780-7129. If you know folks who might be interested but don’t have internet access, pass the word.
More than Just Lunch - Our vision for TFMC
Up until now, The Free Meal Center has only talked about the lunches we will be serving Monday through Saturday, plus breakfast on Saturdays.
Now, the rest of the story.
TFMC intends to be much more. With our two dining rooms able to handle 90, we have plenty of room to accommodate banquets, dinner parties, business breakfasts and group meetings as an income source. Fundraisers in our building will include a family ice cream night, pre-teen night, karaoke night, trivial pursuit and chess competitions, chef competitions between area high schools, and in the off-season, chef competitions between local restaurants. We also have cooking classes. Out back on our 1-acre lawn we will host chicken barbeques, clam bakes, movie nights, kids field days, and family activities.
Our educational slate will include professionals offering advice and instruction on health, food, finances, jobs, careers, and family matters. These seminars and consultations will take place before and after lunch and in the early evenings to anyone seeking help.
TFMC wants to do more than serve lunch. We want to truly make a difference in people’s lives.
Two New Volunteer Directors
TFMC is proud to announce that two of the three Volunteer Director positions have been filled. Frank Bowker is the new Volunteer Director of Fundraising. Frank handled the same position for Camden County Habitat for Humanity and was on the Board at the South Jersey Food Bank. Al Kalish is the Volunteer Director of Food Acquisition. Al owned the local Dominos Pizzas and has vast experience in the field of food.
That leaves just the Volunteer Director of the Site as the sole position to be filled. If you’d like to know more about this Directorship, give Douglas a call at 609-780-7129.
Gardeners Needed
We need someone (or a group) to take over care of our landscaping beds in front of the building. Responsibilities would include watering the new shrubs and plants, plus weed control. The weeds could be controlled by either laying down landscaping cloth and more mulch or by physically pulling the weeds. Let us know if you are interested.
Workday - May 15, 2010
Volunteers completed several tasks on the 3rd workday. The area inside the stockade fence was rototilled and raked out in preparation of planting an herb and vegetable garden. About 30 or so herb and vegetable starter plants were brought by volunteers to be planted. Volunteers also painted the 23 parking curbs a highly-visible yellow and painting was begun on some of the picnic tables. The weekend also saw the last pile of recycled concrete spread out on the parking lot and the donation of a commercial ice machine for our kitchen.
Kitchen Equipment Needed
Most of the commercial kitchen equipment we need has been donated, however there are a few lacking. To fill out our kitchen we need: a hood vent (12’ or longer), a steamer, a dishwasher, a grease trap, and a compressor for our walk-in refrigerator.
Open House / Volunteer Gathering and Signup
Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 15th. The Free Meal Center will be a beehive of activity from 9:00am to 2:00pm that day.
An Open House will give the general public a chance to share our vision for Cape May County’s first-ever daily soup kitchen. Folks can tour the building and grounds to see firsthand how we are transforming an unused former restaurant into an attractive and functioning meal center. Anyone interested can get information about becoming a volunteer.
The Volunteer Gathering will give any of the 160 volunteers already on-board a chance to share their ideas for the building, grounds, operations, or fundraisers. The volunteers haven’t gotten together since winter, so this is an opportunity to re-connect and see the building renovations since then.
The Workday will include painting 5 picnic tables, staining 2 picnic tables, removing a stockade fence, and hauling the remains of a fallen down shed into a dumpster. We may come up with a few other outdoor projects. Whether you’d like to help out for a little while or all day, we appreciate your effort. You can also just watch or bring food or beverages for the hungry workers. No matter what your level of involvement, we’d enjoy the pleasure of your company. For more info, or to get an idea of what tools or refreshments to bring, call Douglas Jewell at 609-780-7129.
TFMC is officially a 501(c)(3)
The Free Meal Center received great news today, May 5, 2010. The Internal Revenue Service has recognized us a 501(c)(3), meaning we have tax exempt status and we’ve been classified as a public charity. We are now qualified to receive tax deductible bequests and gifts, plus we can now apply for grants - an important fundraising avenue that hasn’t been available to us up until now. The 501(c)(3) is retroactive to January 25, 2010, the day we officially incorporated as a non-profit organization in the state of New Jersey.
Now that we have the ability to apply for grants, we need volunteer grant writers to assist us in searching out the types of grants that apply to our charitable endeavour and then help us write the grant proposals. If you have expertise in grant writing or know someone who does, let us know.
Volunteers Help Free Meal Center
The Free Meal Center makes it’s first appearance on NBC TV 40 News: View the full story and video.
Workday - April 24, 2010
Over 50 kids and adults did a great job on-site. Boy Scout Troop 79 of Upper Township assisted Ben Weisberg with his Eagle Scout civic project and The Jesus Christ Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormons), led by Tom and Pam Berry, put in a workday.
Ben’s project began by transforming our overgrow, out-of-control flower beds in front of the building into a thing of beauty. They removed the tumbling brick retaining wall and replaced it with an engineered masterpiece of 6"x6” posts. The beds were prepared for drip irrigation lines, then donated landscaping trees, shrubs and plants were placed in. It was a lot of work and next weekend the project will be completed.
The Mormons multi-tasked, with one group painting four rooms inside the building while others worked outside staining stockade fences, cutting and hauling brush, repairing picnic tables, and securing the main signage by the highway. Several folks began the day by hauling demolition debris from a dining room to the dumpster.
Not only was the day a success work-wise, but the comraderie amongst the groups and compassion for our mission was enlightening. Thank you to all of you wonderful folks, who ranged in age from 6 to 60.
The icing on the cake was the news coverage we received from NBC-40 TV (view video here), which ran footage and a story by Dan Carrigan that night on the 11pm News; plus the interviews and photos by Editor Al Campbell of the Cape May County Herald and Managing Editor Christopher South of the Cape May Star and Wave. We look forward to reading their stories in this week’s newspapers.
Progress Report - April 22, 2010
Our vision of the interior of the building has changed since we took possession on March 15. We have decided to eliminate the walls between the first and second dining rooms, and the second and third dining rooms, effectively giving us one large dining room that will seat about 100 people. This will also help us generate more money, as some outside groups have already expressed interest in holding breakfast or dinner meetings at our facility. We also have the other dining room on the south side of the building that will seat 30 or more, and it too can be used by private groups. The revenue we realize from these bookings will help feed the needy lunch Monday through Saturday, plus breakfast on Saturday.
We have also decided to convert the office into the handicap bathroom we’re required by law to provide. The room is about 8’x10’, giving plenty of room. We’re also changing the entrance to the ladies room, which is located right next to the new handicap bathroom. The entrance door will now be in the central hallway instead of in the dining room, giving more privacy and allowing us to place two extra tables in the dining room.
The kitchen is also undergoing a radical makeover. The rear portion of the kitchen, which will contain all the cooking equipment, needs a higher ceiling. The 8’ ceilings are insufficient and don’t enough leave room to put in the hood vent system. So we’re tearing down the decaying rear wall of the kitchen and replacing it with a concrete block wall 10’ high and 40’ long. This will also make our building safer as far as having fire walls near the cooking area. A new roof in this section of the kitchen is part of the project.
We are already making progress on sprucing up the back yard. Most of the trees and limbs damaged in the February snowstorm have been removed. The old turkey coop, which collapsed from the snow weight, will be next to be dismantled and sent to the landfill. Our idea for the backyard is to have rows of picnic tables, eventually 30 or 40. In the warm months, we can host chicken barbecues and clam bakes and such as money raisers. The area is a half acre, so there’s plenty of space to host a couple hundred folks. We’ll also have a small stage for musicians, a disk jockey, or speaker.
With all that we’re planning, the implemention will take all the spring and part of the summer. Our realistic “grand opening” is now most likely going to be in the mid-summer. In the long run, getting the building and grounds done right the first time will pay dividends and make our facility one that the citizens of Cape May County can be proud of.
We Need:
We Need:
Electricians and folks to build us picnic tables! If your child is in shop class in school, see if their class might be willing to build us some picnic tables. We hope to have 15 picnic tables out back by the time we open and 30-40 eventually. We have outdoor summer events planned and picnic tables are a key to their success. Call Douglas at 609-780-7129.
Yard Sale and Bake Sale a Success
Our first-ever yard sale and bake sale March 27th brought in over $1,000. Thank you to the 30 volunteers who helped set up and run the event. A special thanks to Board of Director member Kathleen Matthews, who organized and took care of every detail. And thanks to all the caring folks who donated items and those delicious goodies.
