Local Nonprofits Bring Holiday Cheer to Historic Battleship New Jersey
In a festive display of community spirit, local nonprofits gathered aboard the historic Battleship New Jersey to decorate Christmas trees, kick off a new holiday tradition. The event brought together leaders and volunteers from organizations such as Larc Norcross School, Inspira Health Foundation, Hopeworks, Bestwork Industries for the Blind, KB Foundation, Ronald McDonald House, CASA, and the Food Bank of South Jersey.
Children from Larc School took center stage in the decorating process, their excitement palpable as they adorned the trees with ornaments and lights. The partnership between the battleship and local nonprofits marks a significant expansion of its mission to engage with the community, with Egan Jones noting that hosting school groups has become an essential part of the ship's programming.
"This is special," said Jones. "Visitors will learn more about our wonderful facility and the extraordinary people and families." By hosting schools, the battleship aims to educate young minds about the country's history and the sacrifices made by those who paved the way for their education.
Representatives from various nonprofits shared stories of their work, highlighting the importance of organizations like Shoes for Your Soul, which provides free shoes and socks to children in need. Dawn Lewis, president and CEO, described the experience as "once-in-a-lifetime," saying that being part of the event alongside other nonprofits and her grandchildren felt especially meaningful.
The event not only brings people together but also highlights the critical work being done by local organizations like the Food Bank of South Jersey, which serves approximately 200,000 food-insecure residents across four counties. Janet Kotsakis, Chief People Officer, praised the partnership, stating that it's a "proud moment" for Camden.
As the decorated trees remain on display throughout the holiday season, visitors will have an opportunity to learn more about the nonprofits represented and the work they do in South Jersey. The battleship's holiday programming continues to draw people from across the region, offering a unique blend of history, community engagement, and festive cheer.
In a festive display of community spirit, local nonprofits gathered aboard the historic Battleship New Jersey to decorate Christmas trees, kick off a new holiday tradition. The event brought together leaders and volunteers from organizations such as Larc Norcross School, Inspira Health Foundation, Hopeworks, Bestwork Industries for the Blind, KB Foundation, Ronald McDonald House, CASA, and the Food Bank of South Jersey.
Children from Larc School took center stage in the decorating process, their excitement palpable as they adorned the trees with ornaments and lights. The partnership between the battleship and local nonprofits marks a significant expansion of its mission to engage with the community, with Egan Jones noting that hosting school groups has become an essential part of the ship's programming.
"This is special," said Jones. "Visitors will learn more about our wonderful facility and the extraordinary people and families." By hosting schools, the battleship aims to educate young minds about the country's history and the sacrifices made by those who paved the way for their education.
Representatives from various nonprofits shared stories of their work, highlighting the importance of organizations like Shoes for Your Soul, which provides free shoes and socks to children in need. Dawn Lewis, president and CEO, described the experience as "once-in-a-lifetime," saying that being part of the event alongside other nonprofits and her grandchildren felt especially meaningful.
The event not only brings people together but also highlights the critical work being done by local organizations like the Food Bank of South Jersey, which serves approximately 200,000 food-insecure residents across four counties. Janet Kotsakis, Chief People Officer, praised the partnership, stating that it's a "proud moment" for Camden.
As the decorated trees remain on display throughout the holiday season, visitors will have an opportunity to learn more about the nonprofits represented and the work they do in South Jersey. The battleship's holiday programming continues to draw people from across the region, offering a unique blend of history, community engagement, and festive cheer.
i mean, who wouldn't wanna decorate a historic battleship for christmas? 
it's like the ultimate team-building event for nonprofits and schools alike! 
and can u imagine being part of an org that gets to share its mission with young minds? 
shoes for ur soul is giving me all the feels too - providing free shoes & socks 2 kids in need? that's pure heart 
and let's not forget about the food bank of south jersey, serving over 200k people who r struggling 2 make ends meet. this partnership between the battleship & nonprofits is a total win-win 
stats are in! 35,000+ volunteers have donated their time since 2010, resulting in over $1M raised for local nonprofits 
. The Food Bank of South Jersey serves an average of 550,000 people/month, that's like feeding a whole school every day 
. 1 in 5 families in NJ struggle with food insecurity, the battleship is doing its part to make a difference 
maybe we can get inspired to start a charity project at school ourselves 
! It's amazing to see how these organizations are making a difference in the lives of children and families in South Jersey 
. And who doesn't love seeing kids' faces light up when they decorate Christmas trees? 
It's heartwarming to know that events like these are being organized, especially considering the important work done by organizations like Shoes for Your Soul 
. I'm sure it feels special for the nonprofits to be part of this event alongside their grandchildren and other like-minded individuals 
!
, what's up with these nonprofits trying to buy their way into people's hearts? It's all just a PR stunt to get more donations and attention. I mean, decorating trees on a historic battleship is cute and all, but it's also super cheesy. And don't even get me started on the whole "educating young minds about our wonderful facility" thing... sounds like they're trying to suck the kid out of them with some boring history lesson 
. The real heroes are the ones working behind the scenes, not just collecting a paycheck for showing up at events. And what's with the emphasis on kids from Larc School? Are we supposed to feel bad that their parents can't afford shoes and socks?! It's just more of the same old systemic issues being swept under the rug 
.
That's what it's all about! And can't help but feel good 4 the partnerships like this one in Camden, spreading love & kindness throughout the community 
- Friedrich Nietzsche (thinking about how amazing it is for local nonprofits to bring joy & hope to those who need it most)
also whats with all the nonprofits bringing their stuff on board? its nice that they did but i feel like there was some room for more variety 
.