Dear Volunteers,

Spring has sprung and with it renewed hope for the future and our organization in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the promise of vaccines, we are gearing up to welcome back our vaccinated volunteers to begin weekly meal deliveries. For the past year, we have operated under emergency settings, delivering meals on an emergency pandemic schedule. We are eager to return to weekly meal deliveries and to welcome back more of you while continuing to keep the health and safety of our staff, clients, and volunteers as our top priority.

We are tremendously proud of the work you have all done to help our organization and our clients through this difficult time. We couldn’t have gotten to this point without you. Please read our Spring 2021 Newsletter to learn more about our organization’s recent news and updates.

---

Welcoming Back Our Vaccinated Volunteers

On Friday, July 16th, we will return to delivering meals every Friday. We are excited to invite vaccinated volunteers to deliver.

Please contact Executive Director Shareka Fitz at mowgnb@aol.com or by phone at 732-877-7557 if you are interested in returning to delivering meals.

---

Launch of New Website and Social Media Pages!

We are excited to unveil our redesigned website at our old address at mowgnb.org! Give us a visit. You can learn how to volunteer, donate supplies, and read our recent news and updates.

We have also launched several new social media pages and encourage you to follow us at our official MOWGNB accounts below if you do not already:
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Instagram

---

A Special Thanks to Our Volunteers

We would like to extend a special thank you to the following volunteers who have been a great help to our organization throughout the pandemic:

Youthcorps

Modivcare (formerly Logisticare)

Stephen Yeung

Superior Office Systems

---

Call for Selfies and Volunteer Pictures!

Do you enjoy taking selfies, videos, and group photographs while out on delivery? MOWGNB wants to see your snaps, even if your smiles are hidden behind your masks for now! Next time you are out on a run, make sure to take photos and email them to mowgnb@aol.com.

If you haven’t done so already, please also sign MOWGNB’s volunteer photo release form (email Executive Director Shareka Fitz to obtain a release form).

---

Honoring MOW Volunteer Ed Firgau

Edward John Firgau, 90 years old, passed away peacefully on March 20, 2021 in his home, with his family at his side. Ed was born and raised in Rahway, New Jersey, the fourth of five children born to Venezuelan immigrant parents.

He graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy, King’s Point, NY earning a degree in Marine Transportation, a Merchant Marine officer’s license, and a commission in the United States Navy Reserve. He served during the Cold War in both capacities.

He believed in giving back to his community, serving on several ministries in his church, St. Paul the Apostle. He volunteered for 22 years with Meals on Wheels, delivering meals to the elderly, and served, for a time, on their Board of Directors. He also served as Chair of the Highland Park Zoning Board of Adjustment, Chairman of the Highland Park Republican Organization, and on the Board of the then, Cerebral Palsy Organization of Middlesex County. Ed was also a founding member of the Knights of Columbus Council 6306.

Here are a few words from his long time Meals on Wheels partner Bill Volpe:

“Ed and I teamed up to deliver MOW in November of 2003, five months after his wife Bea passed. We were casual acquaintances prior to that. Together, I estimate we delivered  over 15,000 meals and traveled approximately 7,700 miles, Although we volunteered to help others, we received the greatest benefit, a close friendship.”

---

Read the Newsletter on Mailchimp.