While some may be thinking of chocolate, flowers, jewelry, and a fancy restaurant, there are others utilizing the Valentine Day holiday to help others.##M:[more]##
George Schoepfer, a junior at High School South, and Caroline Bourassa, a freshman at High School North, organized a fundraiser to support the Crisis Ministry’s Valentines for Food Drive. They will be collecting change from students at their respective high schools each day during lunch the week of February 7 to 14.
The Crisis Ministry is a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing hunger and homelessness. Both George and Caroline have been Crisis Ministry volunteers for several years. Last year George created a DVD for the Crisis Ministry that portrays poverty in the community and highlights young Mercer County volunteers who have helped the organization make a difference in the lives of the working poor. Caroline has worked in the Trenton Food Pantry, collected coats for the coat drive, and served as a hostess at various fundraisers.
The community can get involved by purchasing a “Valentine for Food” at McCaffrey’s during the week of the drive. McCaffrey’s is matching donations up to $5,”000 this year. In addition to the high school fundraiser, the Grover Middle School PTSA, and St. David the King will be collecting food from their members to support Valentines for Food.
Other North students helping include Interact Club co-presidents Melissa Casparius and Liz Safranak, and members Nina Boal, Allsion Puzzio, Tammy Shpilberg, Allie Briffa, Ankita Gumaste, Allison Casparius, Sammy Tatulli, Courtney Pisani, Betsy Bourassa, Hannah Pellichero, Kelsey Pellichero, Jordan Anderer, Jane Sandberg, Kate Sandberg, and Hillary Katz.
“It is great to see both West Windsor high schools working toward a common goal,” says Schoepfer.
Singing Valentines
Meanwhile, the Princeton Garden Statesmen, a championship chorus that meets every Tuesday night at the Pavilions in Forrestal Village, is now accepting bookings for quartets to sing to your sweetheart in four-part harmony for Valentine’s Day. Quartet members include Brian Reilly of West Windsor and Hugh Devine of Plainsboro.
Quartets will be singing on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 13 and 14. Formally attired in tuxedos, each quartet will serenade your special someone at home, work, a retirement or nursing facility, a hospital or convalescent center, or a favorite restaurant. They will sing two love songs to your love, present him or her with a red rose, chocolate, card, and photo of the event — all for $50.
Proceeds are used to support ongoing activities of the Princeton Garden Statesmen, a non-profit organization that supports area school choral music programs and similar causes. To book a singing valentine, call Bob Thomas at 609-883-3942.
