Rotary Students Help at Winding River Memorial, Donate to Kevin's Kids Charity

Manchester students helped maintain the Children's Memorial Garden in , as part of a project in conjunction with the Rotary club.

Students at Ridgeway Elementary School reported that they held a winter concert at Manchester Manor, aided in the winterization of Children's Memorial Garden in Toms River and are helping with the Manchester Habitat for Humanity house.

They are just one of many local student groups listing local charity projects.

At last week's Lakehurst/Manchester Rotary meeting,  students presented donations of over $1,500 to two local causes that they raised through fundraising. 

Students from the school's Junior Interact Club raised the money for Kevin's Kids and Habitat for Humanity during the Winter Classic fundraiser, according to the organization.

"It's a pleasure to hear how much these kids are giving back to our community and the communities that surround us," said Rotary member and township council vice president Brendan Weiner as he delivered his council report during the governing body's Monday evening meeting. 

Kevin's Kids founder and Manchester schools administrator Kevin Burger was present at the Rotary meeting to receive a check for $500, which will be put toward next year's holiday gift drive. 

This past year, volunteers  in need. Even though it is a holiday drive, the fundraising process is always ongoing.

Suzan Fichtner, executive director for the Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity, was presented with a check for $1,075, which will help  in Manchester's Pine Lake Park section. 

"They're going to be working closely with the build as well and helping with putting that house together, so we should watch, in the upcoming weeks and months, that unfold," Weiner said.

Other student presentations included:

Whiting Elementary School students said that they visited Whiting Health Care to interact with its residents and also held a fundraiser for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and local animal shelter. 

Manchester Township Elementary students collected food for the recently founded food pantry at the high school and held a Pennies for Patients fundraiser.

Middle school students are holding Pasta for Pennies and are planning to hold a Stick it to Cancer fundraiser.

Rotary International, a worldwide volunteer organization providing humanitarian services, has about 1.2 million members in more than 32,000 clubs in 170 countries, according to the organization. 

Those interested in joining or learning more about the local Rotary can attend a meeting, Thursdays at 7:30 a.m. at the , 401 Rte. 70, or call Weiner at 732-232-9542.