Resident cooks up a fundraiser for family
Raises nearly $2,000 worth of kitchen products for victims of house fire
BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer

NORTH BRUNSWICK - Almost $2,000 worth of kitchen products were donated to a family who lost their home to a fire in December.

Township resident Heather Fraunberger, who did not know the Nam family but was affected by their loss, decided to hold a Pampered Chef party last month to raise donations to restock her neighbor's kitchen.

"It is so amazing. From my family, we really appreciate all the help and all the donations from the community. Before, our neighbors, we never even saw them, but since the fire they stop by to see if we need anything," Hyun J. Nam said. "When it's a good time, you [may not] know them but when it's a bad time, people give so much support."

The fundraiser took the total amount of sales, whether through Fraunberger's friends and family at her party, or through the $500 worth ofWeb orders she received from strangers, and gave Fraunberger back a percentage. Residents also chose to buy certain products and donate them directly to the Nams.

Fraunberger delivered the products to the Nams on Feb. 15, who are now living in an apartment in town while they await the demolition of their current structure and the rebuilding of a new home on the same property.

"Mrs. Nam expected to take two boxes out of my husband's car and she took out nine boxes," Fraunberger said. "She was over the moon."

The Nams had asked for a five-piece pot and pan set, a knife set, baking pans and some smaller items. Instead, they received a seven-piece cookware set in addition to the five-piece, mixing bowls, five knifes, skillets and sauté pans, whisks, cutting boards, batter bowls, a muffin pan, a can opener, a vegetable peeler and other items.

"She gave us that little tiny wish list and we were able to fulfill that wish list in about the first five minutes," Fraunberger said.

The neighbor credits the generosity of people who heard about the fire with making the fundraiser a success, including the party host David Meenan, who donated his own $1,000 cookware set to the Nams because he was so impressed by everyone.

"Normally, you have a fundraiser and people order a few little things. This family is going to be so excited. It almost felt like Ty [Pennington] on [the reality television show] 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' but we were kitchen cupboard makeover," the Broadway Chef said. "These people are all here and this person doesn't really know anybody and they're donating things. It's really touching."

Nam said her family also received tremendous support from the North Brunswick Township High School. Her sons' counselors donated about five to 10 bags of clothing, the band and English classes made donations, the school's winter concert raised $500, and a pancake breakfast was held to support them.

Her neighbors, friends and fellow employees also contributed.

"Just outrageous support from the community. We're just touched," Nam said.