Sparta Woman's Club kicks off charity sale
SPARTA — The Sparta Woman’s Club of the NJ State Federation of Women’s Clubs kicked off a chocolate bar sale in their Highlands District of 30 federated clubs to benefit National Alliance on Mental Illness.
A specially-designed bar wrapper reads, “Buy the Bar! Support our American Heroes!” Bars are sold by local NJSFWC members for their Special State Project 2014-2016, supporting NAMI NJ and their Veterans’ programs.
Every two years, club members nominate charities for the next special state project. A committee selects three top charities from those submitted, then puts the vote to clubs.
NJSFWC President Jill Passaretti said, “This year 75 percent of all members selected National Alliance on Mental Illness as their Special State Project. There has never been such a significant majority voting for one charity.”
Highlands’ members held special dining experiences, wine pairings, Rita’s Ice, Applebee’s and Tony’s Pizza events, rummage sales, served at Clergy Outreaches, the NJ State/Sussex County Fair NAMI booth, supported legislation, endorsed programs and advocated for the mentally ill.
State-wide, club women promote NAMI’s free educational programs including Family-to-Family courses for mentally ill loved ones, BASICS for parents/guardians, and Law Enforcement Education Programs.
NAMI offers Every Mind Matters and Educate-the-Educators, for teachers, counselors, and students, and has free Family Support, NAMI Connection for those in recovery, and Veterans Support Groups.
“Each chocolate bar being sold with its special wrapper is like a little emissary going out to bust the stigma of mental illness," Highlands SSP Chairman Marjorie Strohsahl said.
Edwina Kirkowski, Sparta Woman’s Club Chairman, announced the Gertrude Hawk bar flavors of milk chocolate, milk/caramel, milk/peanut butter, or dark chocolate, dark/raspberry, or dark/mint.
All businesses, organizations or individuals interested in assisting in the project may call Marjorie at 973-729-5153 or Edwina at 973-729-5812, or any local federated woman’s club.