Robbinsville Mayor Dave Fried presented his 9th annual “Pay it Forward” program on May 14.
The event, which was held at The Stone Terrace by John Henry’s in Hamilton Township, was part of the mayor’s State of Robbinsville Township address.
This year’s initiative benefited Robbinsville Meals on Wheels. Fried announced that the total amount raised for individuals and organizations in need since he started Pay it Forward in 2015 has eclipsed $500,000.
“That is something I never imagined in my wildest dreams, said Fried, who also presented “Pay it Forward Community Partner Awards” to Christine O’Brian of David Bradley Chocolatier and local non-profit Be Kind Inc.
“We love this event,” Fried said. “We transformed something we had to do by law (the State of the Township Township speech) into something we look forward to doing. We’ve made a tangible difference in people’s lives and that’s really cool.”
Meals on Wheels founder Josephine Parr, 87, was a surprise attendee. The mayor—with the help of current MOW Executive Director Jodi Marra—bestowed Parr with just the third David L. Fried Humanitarian Award.
“None of this could be possible without the vision, compassion and kindness of Josephine Parr,” Fried said. “We have only given out two of these (Humanitarian Awards) in my nearly 20 years as mayor, so this is as special as it gets. Her vision, compassion and kindness shown to every single homebound resident of Robbinsville over the past three decades is an inspiration.”
As for Township business, Fried announced that this year’s municipal budget includes the 10th flat or reduced tax rate in the past 13 years. A public hearing and vote for adoption on the $28.5 million budget is scheduled for June 13.
“Getting there was not easy, it almost never is on either side of the balance sheet, but we are staying flat despite the worst inflation battle since the 70s, which as you all know has led to price hikes everywhere you turn,” Fried said. “We are doing this while also improving our services and adding initiatives. No one hates raising taxes more than me, and I am very happy to be able to stay flat this year.”
The mayor, who was introduced by the evening’s emcee—Mercer County Commissioner and William Penn Bank Senior Vice President Nina Melker—also unveiled his revised vision for moving Robbinsville’s municipal court and police department into the former Roma/Investors Bank Building next door to the existing municipal building at 2298 Route 33.
“Logistically speaking, the decision is a no-brainer,” he said. “Financially speaking, leasing the building for 10 to 12 years—compared to buying it outright at what we consider an inflated price—seems to be the way to go.”
“Even after retrofit and other renovations, we will still save compared to building new,” he said. “We also leave open the option of owning the building via condemnation when the lease expires. We desperately need a new court and police station, which will be shared both in terms of space and costs, with our neighbors in Hightstown. We cannot kick this can down the road any further because there is no more road.”
Past Pay it Forward recipients include the Shepherd Family, Quilts for Comfort, Deborah Dauer, C.A.R.E., Mercer Street Friends Food Bank, the We Love Our R’ville Neighbors campaign, the Breden Family and the McLaughin family.
Donations to Meals on Wheels are still being accepted. Make checks payable to C.A.R.E. and send to: 2298 Route 33, Robbinsville, NJ 08691. Attn: Jodi Stephens. Please write “2024 Pay it Forward” in the check notes.
Robbinsville Mayor Dave Fried with Meals on Wheels founder Josephine Parr at the 9th annual Pay it Forward event on May 14, 2024.,
