The Free Meal Center Photo Gallery

This is how the building appeared prior to TFMC taking possession and before TFMC volunteers began transforming the grounds.

The Free Meal Center - Because Sometimes People Need a Helping Hand

The flower beds looked great after a fresh layer of mulch was applied at the first Outdoor Work Day of 2011.

Pitching in to help drag brush and briars at the April 9, 2011 Outdoor Work Day

TFMC fundraising director Frank Bowker cuts brush at the Outdoor Work Day.

Student Zach Blaesi recorded the Outdoor Work Day to put together a clip for TFMC's Facebook page

Bamboo poles were prepared to use in the vegetable garden for staking plants

Enthusiastic volunteers of all ages helped out at the April 9, 2011 Outdoor Work Day

Two CCD students from Our Lady of the Angels, Laura Dingler and Jenn McCann, present a check for $559 earned at their bake sale to Joyce and Douglas Jewell on behalf of TFMC.

As the Jewell's talked about TFMC and hunger in Cape May County, the CCD students had a chance to reflect on their fortunate circumstances.

The 6th-7th-8th graders showed determination and compassion in holding a bake sale to benefit TFMC.

CCD students at Our Lady of the Angels listen to a talk about TFMC given by Joyce & Douglas Jewell

The 50-50 Raffle Drawing was held March 6th. Shown are TFMC Board member Melanie Collins, spectator Belle Alto, who drew the winning tickets from the cylinder, and Board members Butch Hamer and Bobbie Greenwood. Cynthia Pashley won the first prize of $4,320, with 2nd and 3rd rizes of $540 going to Bernie Lappin/Laura Nichols of Wildwood Crest and Bill Bezaire of Cape May. Cynthis generously donated $1,000 back to TFMC from her winnings.

A rainy Saturday, February 8, 2011 found 28 volunteers from the Marianist Family Retreat Center in Cape May Point helping out at TFMC. Jackhammering concrete was the toughest task.

These teenagers from Bergen County changed the message board to tell about our 50-50 raffle.

Teenage volunteers helped clean up debris from the December demolition of the back kitchen wall.

A group of Marianist volunteer kids sanded table bases, then sprayed them with primer paint.

Adult leaders of the February 8th Service Day performed such jobs as changing the deadbolt lock on the front door.

32 Middle Township High School students from Rich Urbanski's Key Club and school nurse Tracey Nagle's Red Cross Club helped out at TFMC on Wednesday afternoon, November 10th.

Students staining tables got TFMC closer to its goal of feeding the hungry of Cape May County, NJ.

Students stained 5 picnic tables to start the afternoon work session.

These 3 students tackled the most physical job - digging a ditch - without a complaint!

A new sewer pipe will go in this ditch in the near future thanks to these energetic Middle High students.

No workday would be complete without a session of dragging brush out of the woods. Eventually, this area will be a tranquil park-like setting.

These 6 safety posts help to keep an errant vehicle from driving through the front of the building. The students sanded off the rust, then painted the posts.

Mr. Urbanski and Mrs. Nagle's clubs finished the workday by sanding the rust off table legs from some of the 52 tables donated by Jim Salasin of Two Mile Landing Restaurant.

Everyone pitched in to feed brush into the chippers at the September 11th Outdoor Work Day..

Volunteers in action dragging brush to the chippers.

It was a busy morning chipping brush, but the 31 volunteers enjoyed the camraderie.

Two commercial chippers were donated for the day by Mitchell Nichols and Dave Drummond. The crew of 31 volunteers made short work a a huge pile of brush.

One of the five chainsaw operators who helped thin out the woods over the course of two Outdoor Work Days.

A half dozen folks utilized hand clippers to remove briars and vines.

Here are the results of the August 14th Outdoor Workday, where one crew installed vinyl siding on the north side of the building.

A crew of six volunteers work on installing vinyl siding on the south side of the building at the September 11th Outdoor Work Day.

Cape May County Association of Realtors president Carol Anderson and Jeannette DiNardo present a check for $4,700 for red quarry floor tile to TFMC's Joyce & Douglas Jewell

The Home Depot manager Matt Peterson presents a check representing their contribution in building materials to the Free Meal Center board members Douglas Jewell and Joyce Jewell. The Home Depot has given TFMC absolutely every item they've requested, from brooms to paint to lumber and roofing materials.

Matt, Frank and Joe putting up our new signs made by Mike Gallo of MG Signs.

The signs are in place and drawing eyes from Route 9 passerbys.

April 24th workday at TFMC - Boys Scouts and Mormon church members spruce up the grounds and paint.

The Boy Scouts planted these trees and plants.

More plantings by the Boy Scouts and their families and friends.

Cutting, hauling, and piling broken limbs and brush from the winter storm.

The heavy snow brought down trees and limbs that had to be hauled away.

The dumpster was filled with demolition debris and junk from the building.

Volunteers from the Mormon church busily paint the interior of the building.

This banner - donated by Dave Goldstein of Anchor Advertising Agency - announces our intentions.

Our lawn out back will host special events.

Eventually, 40 picnic tables will be placed in the backyard. We've had 10 donated so far.

On May 15th volunteers painted yellow 23 curbs we found around the property. The 5 new picnic tables were donated.

The herb/vegetable garden is rototilled and ready for planting.

Carpenters Union 1743 has 25 volunteers signed up to help with the construction phase.

These evergreen shrubs reduced the ability of drivers leaving the parking lot to see oncoming traffic.

Goodbye shrubs, hello safety.

The February, 2010 snowstorm buried the property under 24" of wet, heavy, frozen snow.