Millstone community better off because of bargains
MTWO collects more than $2,500 for local projects
BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP
Staff Writer

Although Nov. 17 looked like Black Friday, it wasn't, but people in Millstone Township still shopped 'til they nearly dropped.

Most locals leaving the Millstone Township Women's Organization's (MTWO) vendor night at the township elementary school did so with arms full of packages. With more than 51 tables of handmade goods, crafts, gift certificates, food and gift items at reasonable prices, it seemed hard for patrons to leave empty-handed.

Anita Hahn, president of the MTWO, couldn't believe the success of the second annual Shop 'Til You Drop event. Even though the night was great for local business folk, it was also a benefit to the community.

"We're here raising funds for our community," Hahn said.

Founded in 1982, the MTWO is a nonprofit social organization made up of Millstone Township women of all ages, backgrounds, races and religions who have a strong focus on community service and in cultural and social welfare. Since its inception, the group has raised and donated in excess of $175,000 to Millstone Township residents and community projects.

"Every penny we raise throughout the year we give back to the community," Hahn said.

The MTWO uses the funding to send kids to camp who may not otherwise have the means to go, to purchase items for families in need, to donate money to the township's emergency services, to purchase supplies for the schools and to give to various other projects.

From the vendor night's table fees alone, the MTWO raised $2,500, according to Hahn. The women in the organization also held a bake sale that night, she said, from which all proceeds will go toward its end-of-the-year donations. Members of the MTWO baked the goods, while Delicious Orchards in Colts Neck donated candy apples for the sale.

Besides acting as a means to collect donations for the community, Hahn said the vendor night also serves as a catalyst for new friendships in the community.

"We chose to have it here in the school because it is a focal point of the community that brings everyone out," she said. "It's nice to see and meet new people and to chat and to have something to eat."

PHOTOSBY DENNIS SYMONS JR. Top left, Millstone's Millie Adler, who owns Ornaments by Millie, sets up her display at the Millstone Township Women's Organization's vendor night at the Millstone Township Elementary School on Nov. 17. Top right, Jake Arata shows his mother what he would like for Christmas. Bottom, Rosemarie Balzano (l-r) and Leanne Sacchetti look through gift baskets on display at vendor night.

Jamie Ariano, who has been a member of the MTWO since 2004, chaired the event and said she was very pleased with the outcome.

"I wouldn't have done anything differently," she said. "I worked really hard and did a lot of research to make sure everyone was happy, and all I see now are happy faces."

Ariano said the event is important because "it gets a lot of people out and together."

Jerilyn Winston, who became a member of the organization this year, also saw the event as an opportunity for local business people to get their names out into the community.

The owner of The Studio in Millstone, which offers tanning along with nail and massage services, said, "This is a great opportunity to meet new people in the community and to get my business out there."

Winston said organizations like the MTWO are important for a community.

"They're doing good things in the community," she said, "and when it's a small community like this one, people appreciate that."

Winston said she joined the MTWO because "it's rewarding to give to people in need."

Debbie Malik, a member of the MTWO for nine years, reiterated Winston's sentiment about the organization.

"Being a member makes you feel good," she said. "You're helping the community, but you're also making friends. We're all so close and care so much about each other."

Rona Goldberg, an MTWO member since 2005, said the group provides her with mixed pleasures.

"I enjoy the charity aspect of the group, but I also enjoy working with the women and meeting with them monthly."

The organization meets every fourth Wednesday of the month on the second floor of the Millstone Township Community Center.

While some of the MTWO members were making sure the vendor night went off without a hitch, others were at the community center making baskets out of food and other items it and the township schools collected during a food drive for local families in need. The MTWO will distribute 26 baskets to area residents prior to Thanksgiving, according to Hahn.

"They'll get turkey and all of the trimmings," Hahn said. "We collected an enormous amount of food."

When asked what she thought the success of the collection said about the community, Hahn said, "We have a lot of caring people."

To accentuate her point, Hahn said that a local couple dropped off three huge baskets of goods to the community center during the food drive.

"They got out of the truck and thanked us, but we just wanted to thank them," she said. "We wouldn't be able to do what we do without the people in this community."

Although the MTWO's year just began with a reorganization in September, the group feels it will far surpass the $11,000 it collected through all of last year's fundraisers since this year it has already raised $4,800.

"This year, we will definitely surpass what we collected last year," Malik said. "There will be a lot of happy people."

For more information about the Millstone Township Women's Organization, visit www.mtwo.org.