Kids-for-Kids’ 14th annual Walk-for-Chalk takes place on Saturday, May 16, from noon to 4 p.m. in the West Windsor Community Park on Princeton-Hightstown Road and Bernt Midland Boulevard. The walk begins at 1 p.m.##M:[more]##
The walk raises funds to support Kids-for-Kids community service projects benefiting needy children in New Jersey — the largest project being the purchase of new backpacks and school supplies to be delivered to underprivileged children in New Jersey for the upcoming school year. In the past 13 years, the organization has raised close to $140,”000, primarily through the walks, bake sales, gift wrapping sessions, and car washes. This past year, Kids for Kids was able to distribute 375 new backpacks stuffed with school supplies.
Other activities at the event include a moonwalk, carnival games, arts and crafts, food and drinks. DJ Sully will provide music during the walk. Prizes will be awarded to walk participants. Alexandra and Danielle Olgin are chairing the event overall. The games and crafts committee is chaired by Chris Leyden and Ana Matos. Decorations committee chairs include Vera Shulgina, Sarah Peck, Isi Olivaria, and Harshita Neduhuri. Food chairs are Greg Spina, Jeff Reimann, and Connor Farrell.
The Trenton Children’s Chorus will be performing between 1:30 and 2 p.m. under the pavilion at the West Windsor Community Park. The group has donated backpacks and school supplies to the chorus the past couple years and has spent some time with these kids. “Getting to meet the kids who we supply the backpacks to, and seeing how happy they are to receive something brand new makes me happy,” says Chris Leyden, a senior at High School South.
Walkers solicit sponsors prior to the walk (usually five laps or one mile). Checks should be made payable to Kids-for-Kids of New Jersey. Donations are accepted at the walk or may be mailed prior to the walk to Kids-for-Kids of New Jersey, Box 0163, Princeton Junction 08550-0163. For information E-mail k4k_wwp@yahoo.com, visit the website at www.kidsnj.moonfruit.com, or call 609-897-0564.
“Kids for Kids has also established relationships with area corporate sponsors that have substantially contributed monetary donations to the backpack drive, as well as provided employee and volunteer assistance and items for ongoing events during the year,” says Elise Olgin, parent advisor to Kids-for-Kids of New Jersey.
Other community service projects include hosting parties at area group homes and shelters for children and conducting drives for toys, art supplies, toiletries, dental supplies, baby supplies, pajamas, sneakers, towels, socks, and underwear. “I like seeing the smiles on the little kids’ faces at the walk and the parties we hold for them,” says Sergio Ingato, a sophomore at High School South.
This past year the group held a Thanksgiving luncheon for children at the Children’s Day School in Ewing, and hosted parties for the children at the Laurie Haven House in Edison and the Davis House in Newark. The members have also taken children from the Laurie Haven House to a performance of “A Christmas Carol” at McCarter Theater.
High School South members, who volunteered at the Crisis Ministry Food Pantry in Trenton, also tutor and mentor children through the GET SET Program at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Trenton on a weekly basis.
Kids-for Kids, founded by Carly Rothman of Princeton in 1995, currently has three chapters in West Windsor (High School South, High School North, and Grover Middle School) and a chapter at the Robbinsville High School. The High School South chapter is led by Alexandra and Danielle Olgin. The High School North chapter is led by Sarah Shapiro and Anne Corbett. Sabrina Olgin and Stephanie Krakower lead the Grover chapter.
The current members are High School South seniors Emma Allen, Connor Farrell, Stephanie Gati, Laura Kuhlman, Amy Lazarlus, Chris Leyden, Brittany Mathes, Ana Matos, Christine Ogelsby, Alexandra Olgin, Caralynn Reiff, Jeff Reimann, and Greg Spina. Also, Greg Kuhlman, a junior.
Sophomores at High School South include Taylor Birnbaum, Annie Bonazzi, Mike Casarona, Lauren Goldfiner, Larry Goun, Sergio Ingato, Mike Krakower, Darian Lanzetta, Bijan Matthews, Nichelle Mendes, Jena Modi, Harshita Neduhuri, Isi Olivarria, Danielle Olgin, Sarah Peck, Vera Shulgina, Ingrid Simon, Rose Soskind, and Megan Spencer.
High School North members include freshmen Anne Corbett and Sarah Shapiro. Grover Middle School students include seventh graders Sabrina Olgin and Stephanie Krakower.
“I love being able to give back to the community,” says Vera Shulgina, a sophomore at High School South. Kids-for-Kids’s car wash at the Valero gas station on May 2 yielded close to $300, despite the on and off rainy weather. Sergio Ingato, Bijan Matthews, and Mike Casaraona co-chaired the event.
“I enjoy seeing members of the group coming out to have fun, but at the same time knowing they’re actually making a difference,” says Sarah Shapiro, a freshman at High School North.
Walk for Chalk, Kids-for-Kids, West Windsor Community Park, Princeton-Hightstown Road, West Windsor, 609-897-0564. Saturday, May 16, Noon to 4 p.m.
