Community Corner

Local Volunteers to be Offered 'Thanks' at Service Awards

'Evening of Thanks' sponsored by Homefirst slated for Oct. 24.

Residents of Mountainside and New Providence are among the 12 Union County citizens to be honored at “An Evening of Thanks,” the first annual Union County Family Service Awards sponsored by Homefirst.

Assemblyman Jon Bramnick will serve as master of ceremonies at the event, planned for Oct. 24 at Galloping Hill Golf Club in Kenilworth.

“Our honorees are an inspiration to me and to my colleagues at Homefirst and to everyone who cares about families in need. They work quietly and faithfully to support and strengthen families facing adversity, and we are very excited to salute them at An Evening of Thanks on Oct. 24,” said Ellen McGovern, Homefirst’s executive director.  

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For many years Sigrid Patsch of Mountainside has been involved in volunteer efforts throughout the community. One effort in which she has been very active volunteering is the St. Joseph’s Service Center in Elizabeth. An advocate of helping the working poor, Patsch coordinates the efforts of 125 individuals who cook food on a monthly basis, with 25 drivers delivering the meals. 

She also enlists the Scouts in the community to assist in making backpacks to enable children to attend school with the proper supplies. Along with the food and school supplies, Patsch and her network prepare care packs filled with clothes, toiletries, cookware and first aid items – all of these items are collected and distributed from her home to those in need.  

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New Providence resident Ruth Robina also will be honored. In 1979, after working with other larger cancer organizations, Robina and Lois Courtney saw the need for an organization with a more local scope.  

Along with Dr. Elizabeth Barabash, they founded and chartered the Care and Concern of New Providence organization.   The focus of the organization is to offer assistance regardless of a patient’s financial circumstances. Since its inception, Robina and a small board have given assistance and guidance annually to a number of individuals.

Robina is the mother of six children.  She and her husband have been residents of New Providence for more than 50 years.   

For more information or to RSVP contact McGovern at ellen@homefirstinc.org or at 908-753-4001 x13.


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