Volunteers serve up food and friendship
All are welcome at South River church for Thursday meals
BY MICHAEL ACKER
Staff Writer

PHOTOS BYSCOTT PILLING staff Above: South River High School students Billy Murphy, Megan Logan and Laura Manfre, volunteers for the community dinners at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, serve up some dessert Dec. 21. At right: The Rev. Phil Kasey recites a predinner prayer. Below: Sonia Sternik, a volunteer from South River High School, helps serve food to local seniors.

SOUTH RIVER –– As they have every Thursday for the past 12 years, high school students and church volunteers could be found last week serving up a hot meal at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.

Their generosity is appreciated by the many who come out to the community dinners, including the more than 50 people feasting at the Leonardine Avenue church on Dec. 21.

Among those enjoying a meal last week was Zina Kolomyetz, a South River resident who hails from Russia. Kolomyetz said the visit was not her first and won’t be her last.

“It is wonderful,” Kolomyetz said. “It is a good idea to have the young people learn [to give of themselves].”

Chet Brandt, a member of the church for 20 years, said he got the idea for the dinner from St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Spotswood, which has long been offering dinners for anyone in need.

“As you can see by the people who are here, many are elderly,” Brandt said. “You don’t know if they get to see their children during the holidays or if they have lost spouses. So this is an opportunity for them to have a meal and companionship.”

A group of 10 South River High School students, dubbed South River Students Enhance the Community (SRSEC) prepared and served last week’s dinner. The 20-member student organization is an umbrella group under the South River Municipal Alliance. At least two of the students volunteer at the church each week, according to Deirdre Klimcsak, chairwoman of the alliance.

Fliers advertising the dinner are distributed to those in need at the borough’s food bank on Ferry Street, Brandt said, who noted however that attendance tends to be low among the estimated 8 percent of South River residents who live in poverty.

Instead, many local senior citizens attend regularly, thanks to the Office on Aging spreading the word.

“It is anonymous. We don’t take people’s names,” Brandt said, adding that all are welcome to attend.

Brandt said that donations help to keep the service going.

“We have received a lot of support from the community,” Brandt said.

This includes donations from St. Mary of Ostrabrama Church, the Wawa on Willett Avenue and several other South River businesses and food stores.

“The Towne Sub Shop has been donating rolls since day one,” Brandt said.

The Rev. Phil Kasey said the dinner is a collaborative effort every week, and the church gets an average of 40 guests each time.

On Thursday, the reverend offered prayers of thanks before dinner.

“Thank you, Lord, for the coming of Christmas,” Kasey said. “Let us remember those who are alone this holiday season.”

Church member Jo Molinari cooks the meals each week, and last week offered pork chops with apple stuffing, mashed yams and salad. She served carrot cake and chocolate cake for dessert.

Chartwell’s Catering and Boy Scout Troop 83 are frequent sponsors of the dinners, Molinari said, adding that the church pays for any additional costs or weeks without local sponsors.

Seventeen-year-old Vlada Soshkina, the current president of the student volunteer group, said SRSEC provides other services such as book readings for primary school students in second grade.

“I like it,” Vlada said. “It is nice to have the ability to do community service. I like helping and I like to see people smile.”

Borough Councilman Anthony Razzano was also in attendance last week. The retired South River school teacher said the students have been performing great services for the community.

“The kids that volunteer to do this also sing to shut-ins, or people who can’t get out of their house or someone who is in a wheelchair. They do whatever they can do for the community,” Razzano said.

Samantha Soto, a 15-year-old student and SRSEC member, said she enjoys volunteering at the weekly dinners, but even more so at this time of year.

“I love it,” Samantha said. “It is very satisfying, especially during the Christmas season. It feels like you are giving back to the community.”

Laura Manfre, 15, agreed. She joined SRSEC this year, her sophomore year in high school.

“I like helping everybody out,” Laura said. “I like to serve the senior citizens and I enjoy cooking too.”

Louis Wronski was the first person to come to the dinner 12 years ago. The 78-year-old resident has earned the nickname “Chewy Louie” for regularly attending the dinners.

“The first time I came, nobody was here but me,” Wronski said. “I said that I hope more come next week, and gradually they did.”

Wronski said he has made many friends here over the years through the service, and he is thankful to those who make it possible.

“The volunteers are great people,” Wronski said.

The dinners are held Thursday nights at 5:30 p.m. at the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church at 90 Leonardine Ave.