Page 8 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • January 30, 2013 Area The Bergen Highlands-Ramsey Rotary Club recently provided support for the 19th annual Food and Toy Drive sponsored by the New Jersey Community Development Corporation. For the past 19 years, NJCDC has organized an annual effort to provide cheer to hundreds of disadvantaged Paterson families. The 2012 drive was the most successful event of its kind, with record-breaking donations from generous individuals, civic organizations, and local and regional businesses. The drive is the agency’s longest running tradition. Organized and led by the Paterson Community Schools Corps (NJCDC’s AmeriCorps program), this event is made possible every year through the hard work and dedication of the AmeriCorps members. The most recent drive served 364 families and 2,160 children, including referrals from the NJCDC’s five partner schools. Over 5,000 toys were collected, along with thousands of books and hundreds of new and slightly-used clothing items. A record-breaking collection of two metric tons of non-perishable food and financial contributions like the $2,000 provided by the Bergen Highlands-Ramsey Rotary Club completed this extraordinary effort to support our neighbors. The Bergen Highlands-Ramsey Rotary Club has been supporting educational and charitable needs since 1952. The club serves Allendale, Mahwah, Ramsey, Saddle River, and Upper Saddle River, and provides college scholarships for local students and funding for local causes such as The Center for Food Action. Club members run the children’s rides at Ramsey Day and Mahwah Day, with proceeds Local Rotary Club teams up with NJCDC Members of the New Jersey Community Development Corporation gather with some of the many donations provided by organizations including the Bergen Highlands-Ramsey Rotary Club. (Photo courtesy of Tom Grissom.) going toward the club’s charitable activities. As part of Rotary International, the club also raises funds to support educational, medical, and sanitary facilities in Nicaragua, India, and Haiti. Rotary International is a worldwide organization of more than 1.2 million business, professional, and community leaders who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. Local clubs like the Bergen Highlands/Ramsey Rotary Club also actively work with a wide range of local charities. The Bergen Highlands-Ramsey Rotary Club holds its weekly meetings on Mondays at 12:15 p.m. at Houlihan’s in Ramsey. For more information about club activities or membership, call Membership Chair Bob Baron at (201) 934-1222, e-mail bob@baronpoolservice.com, or visit www.bergenhighlandsrotary.org.