People Help lends a hand to county families

SUSSEX COUNTY-The Christmas Basket Program sponsored by People Help of Sussex County and the Sparta Ecumenical Council and hosted by the First Presbyterian Church in Sparta distributed bags overflowing with groceries and new toys to area families in December. An anonymous donor in Newton provided 250 local families with a turkey for their Christmas dinner while employees of Dingmans Dairy in Sparta donated food and the use of a refrigerated truck. Local participating schools included Helen Morgan, Mohawk Avenue, Hilltop Day School, Frankford Township, Franklin Elementary, Sussex VoTech, Sparta High and others in Branchville, Wantage, and Newton. Churches participating included Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, United Methodist Church of Sparta, Our Lady of the Lake, Our Lady Queen of Peace, and Balesville Congregational. Local grocery stores involved included Ronnecto ShopRites, Weis Markets, Stop & Shop, and One Stop Bagel and Deli. Donating individuals included employees of Newton Memorial Hospital, Selective Insurance, and Sparta Parks & Recreation, Sparta Friends and Neighbor members, local school nurses and parent teacher association members, Boy & Girl Scouts, and Pass It Along volunteers. Additional food donations can be dropped off at the Sussex County Ecumenical Food Pantry at the Sparta Presbyterian Church, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Monetary contributions can be sent to People Help, P.O. Box 203, Newton N.J. 07860. People Help of Sussex County is a non-profit, volunteer organization providing emergency assistance to those in need in Sussex County. People Help has no overhead expenses and all donations go directly to people in need.