Caring for the Community

A little bit of rain the day before wasn’t about to dampen the spirits at Ewing Township and The College of New Jersey’s joint annual Community Fest, held on campus on October 7.

This year’s theme, “Planting the Seeds of Tomorrow,” provided the opportunity for local environmental organizations to come together using innovative and creative ways to address critical environmental issues and reach a large and diverse audience of people of all ages from the Ewing area.

Attendees got the chance to browse the Community Fest village, shop, eat, and enjoy the best of what the region has to offer.  With face-painting, rides, a magic show, and special guest appearances from Nickelodeon stars SpongeBob Square Pants and Dora the Explorer, the event was especially fun for the kids.

Additional information on Community Fest, including how to be an active part of it next year, can be found at www.tcnj.edu/~comfest/.

Wrapping up the Community Fest celebration and kicking off the start of Spirit Week was Roscoe's Rock-a-Thon, a six-hour dance marathon co-sponsored by Golden Key International Honor Society and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mercer County.

The event was held to raise both funds and awareness for the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, according to Golden Key President Meghan Perrone, and it was a complete success before the first song was even played.

A number of Greek and other campus organizations participating in the Homecoming competition took part in the dance-a-thon, with each team raising at least $500.  Combined with the funds raised by other groups and individual participants, about $8,000 was collected by the start of the event, said Perrone.

But just as important as the money was the attention the dance-a-thon brought to the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.  Not only does it cost about $1,000 a year to mentor just one youth, Perrone said, the program is always in need of volunteers.

Those interested in contributing to Big Brothers Big Sisters are in luck—donations will be accepted for another two weeks through www.tcnj.kintera.org