When a Community Chooses Care, Pantries Fill and Hope Rises
Jersey Desk/10319822

WEST ORANGE, N.J. - JerseyDesk -- When food insecurity is rising even in suburban communities, action matters. This past weekend, members of the Rotary Club of West Orange turned compassion into impact during a two-day food drive at West Orange ShopRite, delivering one of the most successful drives in the club's history.

Over Saturday and Sunday, Rotary volunteers worked side by side with generous shoppers who paused their holiday errands to give. The result was tangible support for local families and food pantries experiencing increased demand during the holiday season.

By the numbers:

• 67 boxes and 10 bags of food delivered to the Holy Trinity Food Pantry
• $1,259 in donations collected
• $320 in essential food items purchased immediately
• 3 boxes of toiletries delivered to the Bobrow Food Pantry at Oheb Shalom Congregation
• $939 remaining designated to purchase additional high-priority items requested by local pantries

"This was the most successful food drive the Rotary Club of West Orange has ever conducted," said Michael Karu, President of the Rotary Club of West Orange. "It shows what can happen when a community decides to care and take action together."

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The club extended special thanks to Kenneth Gibbons for coordinating the ShopRite schedule and ensuring the drive could take place during a critical holiday window. Appreciation was also shared with Tonii Langhorne and Geeta Shroff, who brought their families to volunteer, reflecting Rotary's commitment to service across generations.

"We are incredibly grateful to West Orange ShopRite for their partnership and to every shopper who chose generosity," Karu added. "Each donated item, each dollar, and each hour of service directly strengthens families in our community."

Throughout the weekend, volunteers packed, lifted, taped, sorted, and served—quiet acts of leadership that often go unseen but make a lasting difference. The scenes told a powerful story: neighbors helping neighbors, families volunteering together, and a town refusing to look away from need.

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The holidays are brighter when no one is forgotten. This weekend, West Orange proved that kindness remains a core community value—and that when people choose to care, hope follows.

Happy Holidays, and thank you for being part of the solution.

To find out more about the Rotary Club of West Orange visit: https://www.westorangenjrotary.org/