SCARC'S HARVEST HOME FOODS PROGRAM

Ernesto Silva - Our 2009 Success Story  

        Ernie (far left) and Ogdensburg School students at their food drive.              

 Ernie relaxing at his group home                                                   Ernie packing a box of food to be distributed.      

Ernie at the food pantry after a trip from                                                    Ernie picking up food at NORWESCAP

NORWESCAP Food Bank.                                                                           Food Bank.

SCARC SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETES EXCEL AT STATE GAMES

Augusta - On June 6, 7 and 8, 2008, 21 athletes representing SCARC, Inc participated in the New Jersey Special Olympics Summer Games at the College of New Jersey in Trenton. Six athletes participated in the power lifting competition and an additional 15 athletes participated in the aquatic competition. These training programs are offered through the SCARC recreation department.
The power lifting athletes train at the Newton High School weight lifting room under the guidance of volunteer coaches Tom Brennan, John Kryspin and Pam Brennan. The athletes that participated in this event were Joel Gill of Frankford, Nate Bartsch of Branchville, Shawn Barber of Vernon, Rich Kane of Hampton, Joe Pezzolla of Byram and Steven Kryspin of Hopatcong. All athletes performed very well during the competitions with a climax of Steven Kryspin lifting 400 pounds.
The aquatic athletes were coached by volunteers Karen Newburgh, Meredith Andrews and Scott Bonadonna. The swimming program trains at the Sussex County Technical School pool on Saturdays from September through May. The athletes that participated were Michael Hulse of Byram, Carol Noble and Brad Perkins of Frankford, Chris Prout and Krista Black of Sussex, Michelle Auer and Leeann Grady of Wantage, David Weed, Karen Hrobak, Ryan O’Rourke and Devon Lewinsky of Newton, Dee Schug of Lafayette, Mark Spehalski of Hampton and Kyle DeGroat of Stillwater.
All athletes had a wonderful time and won numerous medals and ribbons despite the heat. The athletes have been in training for the past 10 months for these competitions.
For more information about SCARC’s Special Olympics program, contact Dave Vanden Heuvel at SCARC at 973-383-7442.

Photo Caption: Richard Kane of Hampton competes in Special Olympics Swimming at State Games.

2008 -2009 United Way
Success Story


This year’s success story will focus on Don “Dee” Schug, one of SCARC’s 18 Harvest Home Foods Volunteers. Dee has volunteered in the Harvest Home Foods Program since its formation in 1999. Prior to that Dee worked at SCARC’s Fredon Employment Center for many years engaging in sub-contact work. Dee’s life now includes volunteering at SCARC’s food pantry, interacting with food recipients through the Harvest Home Foods Program.

Dee is a 52 year old man who lives in SCARC’s Lafayette Group Home. Dee loves meeting new people and he attends the Lafayette Federated Church each week being driven to church by a volunteer member of the church. He has progressed in leaps and bounds and has become quite independent in the community and in developing new relationships. He is always social, pleasant, and definitely an asset to the food program because he eagerly greets food recipients and is excited to deliver food to people who are needy. He always wants to help people enjoy life and he works within the venue of food distribution to promote the welfare of other people.

Dee is involved in all aspects of the Harvest Home Foods operation including, traveling to the NORWESCAP Food Bank in Phillipsburg to load up bulk boxes of food into the van to be driven back to the pantry in Ogdensburg. Dee also is fastidious about keeping the food shelves neat and clean and all of the food items in order. He promotes enthusiasm and happiness whenever he speaks with visitors, food recipients, or other Harvest Home Foods volunteers. Dee is a well-rounded individual involved in making vast contributions to the Sussex County community through the Harvest Home Foods Program.