Maplewood cares for Maplewood

Photo Courtesy of Mary Lou Phifer
Photo Courtesy of Mary Lou Phifer

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The Evening Membership Department of the Maplewood Woman’s Club continued its Thanksgiving tradition of providing 10 food bins to the Maplewood Welfare Department. Members have been packing the colorful bins each year for the past 15 years. Each bin contains five pounds of potatoes; three pounds of onions; a fresh turnip; fresh clementines; canned sweet potatoes; many cans of vegetables, broth, gravy and tuna fish; and boxes of cereal, stuffing mix, corn muffin mix, fruit cocktail, hot chocolate, macaroni and cheese, and jello; candy; pumpkin pie; and a frozen turkey with the pan to roast it in. The holiday is brightened with fresh kitchen towels and an oven mitt, plus Thanksgiving napkins.

This group of ladies has been dedicated to helping their fellow citizens for many years, always donating to the Maplewood Fund — previously called the Christmas Fund. After hearing a presentation by the Welfare director, members were happy to donate $500 to the fund last year. The Maplewood Fund is a discretionary fund that provides year-round limited cash assistance to Maplewood citizens in need; it is administered by new Welfare director Beverly Ashman.