Youth Council tries to curb hunger for North Brunswick family
Members donate basket to benefit township food bank
BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer
Members of the North Brunswick Youth Council donated nonperishable food items to benefit a family served by the North Brunswick Food Bank (NBFB).

CHRIS KELLY staff North Brunswick Youth Council members Caroline Connolly, Kiersten Zinnikas and Patrice Zinnikas work together to carry a heavy basket of food the group donated to the North Brunswick Food Bank on Nov. 17.

Christina Pierpaoli, the group's president, said that each of the student members and advisers made a donation to the basket, which included pasta, sauce, stuffing, potatoes, rice, soup, canned fruits and vegetables and coffee.

"Our ultimate goal was to provide a family with a balance of food groups and provide the family with a balanced meal," she said.

NBFB, which provides a confidential service to more than 200 families in the township, has been in constant need of donations.

Pierpaoli said the middle and high school students felt a food drive is necessary as part of their volunteer platform because "Hunger pervades every season; hunger is present all year-round." She said the basket was so heavy, "we needed three people to carry it."

The high school student also said that the Youth Council's upcoming mission will be to organize Cure for a Chow, which, if approved by the superintendent, would allow a collection of at least one item from every high school student who attends a pep rally.

"Could you imagine if one person brought in one thing? The food bank could be stocked for a year," Pierpaoli said of the 1,800 students enrolled at the high school.

The Youth Council also conducts other volunteer missions, such as visits to the Ronald McDonald house in New Brunswick, helping senior citizens, distributing refreshments at the annual Winter Wonderland celebration in December, hosting a cell phone drive to benefit victims of domestic violence in February, holding a St. Patrick's Day pasta dinner for senior citizens in March and planting a youth tree at the Community Park in April.

"We want to make a valiant effort to contribute to the community," Pierpaoli said. "We are the future and if we want to make change, we have to start making changes as soon as possible … to help other citizens."

Any student in sixth through 12th grade who wants to join the Youth Council can contact Lou Ann Benson at 732-247-0922, ext. 475.