Check out “Lucky” the Leprechaun Duck, available for just $5.oo at the Anglesea Volunteer Fire Company during this weekend’s Irish Fest. Visit the firehouse this Saturday from 8am to 7 pm and pick up a lucky duck for yourself and your friends! Proceeds benefit United Way of Cape May County.

Mary Poppins at The Academy of Music

Family Bus Trip and Show Fundraiser

Show: Mary Poppins
Show Time: 1:00 PM
When: Thursday, April 14, 2011
Where: Philadelphia Academy of Music
Price: $99 per person (Price includes bus and ticket for show.)

Bus Pick-Up Locations and Time

• TD Bank – Wildwood ~ 8:30 AM
• Cape Regional Medical Center ~ 8:45 AM
• Roy Rogers on Parkway ~ 9:00 AM

A $50.00 per person deposit is required by 1/31/2011. Balance is due by 3/31/2011.

For more information or to make reservations contact:
Lisa Rendzak @
609-729-2002
Mail payments:
United Way of Cape May County
C/O Lisa Rendzak
P.O. Box 595
Wildwood, NJ 08260

On the second Saturday of every month, Shore Fellowship Church located on Ocean Heights
Avenue in Egg Harbor Township does a community service project which gets its members
involved in helping the community. A coat drive was initiated and coats were collected to hand
out to the homeless in Atlantic City, as well as make a trip to Atlantic City Rescue Mission..

A member of the Shore Fellowship Church, Stephanie Berge, that also volunteers at The United
Way of Cape May County on Thursdays helping serve hot lunches had noticed that boxes of
brand new coats that had been donated 2 years ago were going unused due an over abundance
of coat donations received this year. The United Way clothing volunteers were putting the coats
out every week for people to take, and it seemed as if everyone had taken what they needed and
for weeks we have had the leftovers of coats sitting there. It was decided by the United Way’s
administration to put the Cape May County United Way’s over abundance of coats to good use
and help a fellow county. “When Stephanie had mentioned the coat drive that her church was
doing and asked if she could take them, we were happy to donate and help the homeless in any
way possible,” noted an administer of The United Way.

“What I thought was about 60 coats of all different sizes that was being donated, turned out to be
double that! 120 coats to help keep homeless in Atlantic City warm was a true blessing! It was
proof that even though located in different counties and dealing with different people, that we
all have the same mission,” said Stephanie Berge. “Since donations to our church were a little
lower than what they had hoped for, The United Way of Cape May County’s donation meant a
lot to us all, especially those receiving them.”

As the Shore Fellowship Church of Egg Harbor Township headed out in the snow to St. James
Street in Atlantic City, on Saturday morning, January 8th, people came flocking out from
underneath the boardwalk for coats and things to keep them warm. The donations from The
United Way of Cape May County, as well as the people in our community were put to good use
and everyone was thankful for what they received. The remainder of the coats and donations
were sent to the Atlantic City Rescue Mission which is currently at full capacity.

The United Way of Cape May County is accepting clothing and food donations, as well as seeking
numerous volunteers for various positions. To find out how you can help, call 729-2002. The office 
is
possible.

The community room of First Baptist Church, on Maple Avenue, in Wildwood was bustling with activity on Wednesday, and bursting with gratitude. Nearly a hundred local residents and families shared a Thanksgiving meal together, compliments of the United Way of Cape May County’s Board of Directors and an ever-growing team of other volunteers, who are committed to making life better for county residents.

“Everybody chipped in,” United Way Board President, Dr. James Farrell said.

The meal, which included turkey with all the trimmings, was prepared by volunteer Jim Zalewski and his friend Frank Michaels. It was paid for and served by Board Members and individuals and businesses from all over the county, including: Acme employees; Morey’s Piers Accounting Department; Morey’s Nick Lassor and Kristel Fillmore; Wildwood Convention Center Staff; Weichert Realty’s John Bruno, Jerry Hall, and Edward Augsberger, and longtime United Way volunteer John Evancich all contributed to the effort.

“It came together pretty quickly,” Farrell said. “I just put a call out for help, and people stepped up.”

Traditions are what makes holidays special, and Wilsey Realty, 501 Lafayette Street, Cape May is building on its tradition of community involvement by holding its second annual Holiday Diaper Drive for the United Way of Cape May County.

Wilsey Marketing Manager/Realtor, Julie Emery, says that last year, she and her co-workers wanted to sponsor a charity event for the holidays, and since she had been involved in a similar drive for the United Way before, they agreed to give this idea a shot.

“We had such a great response from teachers and merchants and others, including many of our clients” she said. They collected 1700 diapers and wipes, and they are hoping this year will be even more successful.

Wilsey would like to build a reputation as an annual holiday diaper drop-off spot that makes it convenient for busy folks to do something charitable within their community, Emery said.

The diapers will be distributed throughout the year through the United Way food pantry and its partner agencies to families who need them. The drive is being held from Nov. 15 to Jan. 3. Donations can be dropped off Monday -Saturday, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and on Sunday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Diapers in sizes 3, 4, and 5 are most in demand.

The United Way of Cape May County’s food programs are open for business. Throughout the summer, the food pantry has been helping residents in need by providing food or personal items when they can’t afford to buy them.   This week, with the support of the First Baptist Church, 230 E Maple Ave. Wildwood, the United Way Hot Lunch Program has resumed.

“The only thing that has really changed is the schedule,” United Way Board President, Dr. James Farrell said.

The pantry now opens its doors at 10:30 a.m., and volunteers start serving the weekly hot lunch at 11:30 a.m.

Something else has changed, too, however. With the loss of a full-time director, the bulk of the work is now being done by teams of dedicated volunteers, who believe in the United Way’s mission to make life better for county residents.

At the food pantry, longtime volunteers, Floss Stingel and Bobby Robinson provided clients with bags of food to help them through the next two weeks. The food on the shelves was provided by individuals, as well as community groups like the Greater Wildwood Elks and students from Crest Memorial School.

New to the process, is volunteer Kristel Fillmore, a United Way board member from Morey’s Piers, who has offered to volunteer her time on Thursdays (and other days) to coordinate the effort.

In the kitchen, First Baptist Church members were servicing up a hot meal of chicken fingers, macaroni and cheese and green beans with cookies for dessert. Pastor Joe Mathis, another longtime supporter, had asked for their help, and they were quick to volunteer.

“I’m used to serving a crowd at home,” Debbie Brannon said.

The volunteers purchased, prepared and served lunch to about 30 people on Thursday, including a handful of young children.

“They are so grateful,” one volunteer said. “One couple said they felt like they had gone out to dinner.”

“That’s how I want them to feel,” Brannon said. “Didn’t Jesus say, “Do unto others.’?”

Pastor Joe, who donates the church’s storage space and kitchen facilities for the program, said that they are committed to helping however they can.

“We still need volunteers, however,” Farrell said. “We want to get the word out that we are still here to help people and more than ever we need volunteers to make it work.

The Wildwood Chamber of Commerce is a dedicated drop-off point for donations of non-perishable food and personal care items, like soap, toilet paper and diapers. To find out how you can help by volunteering or holding a food drive or fundraiser, call 729-2002. The office is not manned regularly, but leave a message, and someone will get back to you as soon as possible. Visit uwcmc.org for more information about the United Way’s work throughout Cape May County.

A rainy morning couldn’t spoil the fun for the bikers, who roared down the Boardwalk on Sunday for the United Way’s Rubber Ducky Ride. And from now on, one local motorcycle fan will be roaring louder than ever. James Loper, Jr. was the first local resident in Roar to the Shore history to win the annual motorcycle raffle. He is now the proud owner of a 2011 Harley-Davidson Black Denim Street Bob valued at $13,000 from Atlantic County Harley Davidson.

The real winners, however, of the annual ride and raffle are the residents of Cape May County. Thanks to a partnership with Cape Classic Motorcycle Group and Roar to the Shore Entertainment, The United Way of Cape May County raised more than $12,000 at the event. That money will stay in the county to support education and assistance programs that help residents live better lives.

United Way volunteers worked throughout the weekend, selling tickets to the raffle, even braving Sunday morning’s wet weather to make sure the event was a successful one. The United Way is currently working to build its volunteer base to compensate for the recent loss of paid staff. They are hoping to transform the United Way into a true, community volunteer organization.
“This has been a tough year for us financially, just as it is a tough year for many residents in our county,” United Way President, Dr. James Farrell said. “That’s why we are so grateful to businesses, volunteers and civic organizations like Cape Classic and Roar to the Shore, who support the work we do. They truly are leaders in our community, and we need them and people like them more than ever.”

The 2010 Rubber Ducky Regatta was a quacking success. Thanks to a dedicated flock of volunteers and community-minded organizations like Morey’s Piers and the Gazette newspapers, local banks and businesses and area residents, the United Way Rubber Ducky Regatta will again allow us to provide the valuable services and programs that make our county such a great place to live.

Please call 729-2002 if you think you are a winner.

The winning duck numbers:

Who is this mysterious duck? No one knows.
No one – except Stephanie Hoover of the United Way of Cape May County. And she isn’t telling.
At least not yet.

“It’s top secret – for now,” Hoover said, but on Sunday, the new duck’s identity will be revealed.
This brand new ducky flew into town this year – just like Cowgirl Sal Duck, Suzy Spa Duck, Ron the Rocker and EMS Eddie. But he has been hiding out in an undisclosed location, waiting for his race day debut.

He will go on sale this Sunday before the Rubber Ducky Regatta at Morey’s Raging Waters Park at Schellenger Avenue. The last chance ducky sale will kick-off at at 1 p.m. until the race gets underway at 7 p.m., when ducky fans will find a viewing spot along the lazy river to await the 7:30 post time.

The regatta is a unique community event, where hundreds of residents and visitors gather at Raging Waters Water Park to cheer on thousands of yellow duckies as they make their way around the Lazy River, winning prizes for their human sponsors.
And it’s not too late to get in on the fun. Becoming a sponsor is easy – simply purchase a souvenir ducky on race day to be entered in the race for your chance to win. Fabulous prizes are given away on race day to the sponsors of winning ducks. Plus, everyone who sponsors a duck for $5.00 receives an adorable souvenir ducky and a ticket good for additional gifts from local businesses.

This year, ducky sponsors will receive a coupon good for a hot dog and a soda from Wreckers Grill on race day; a coupon for buy one get free ice cream cones at Wildwood Dairy Queen; and a ticket for a free ride on Mariners Landings’ Giant Ferris Wheel.

And while the Mystery Duck’s identity is still not known, one thing is certain – it will be a ducky day for all.
Proceeds from the race will benefit United Way of Cape May County programs, which strive to make life better for county residents. For more information, call 729-2002.