The Franklin Reporter & Advocate Eight Villages, One Community
Two township women who volunteer to teach cooking and nutrition skills to special needs adults have been named “Cabot Community Celebrities” by the Cabot Creamery Cooperative.
The women, Becky Bongiovi of Somerset and Karen Bryant, of Franklin Park, will join 57 other “community celebrities” in November on a Eastern Caribbean cruise provided by the cooperative.
In conjunction with the Jersey Cares program, Bogiovi and Bryant hold twice-a-month seminars at Midland Adult Services, a community housing facility for adults with special needs. They conduct one-on-one cooking demonstrations, and teach the residents about proper nutrition.
Bongiovi said in an email that she volunteers because she believes in “moving the ball forward in this world. Local involvement in my community is important to me and working with Jersey Cares allows me that ability to give back locally. Being able to combine volunteering work with my food related passion is ‘icing on the cake’.”
“Being named a Cabot Community Celebrity is something that I never would have expected in a million years,” she said. “It is wonderful that Cabot Creamery farmers have this passion to recognize those of us who give our time so willingly to help others. I think that is rare and honorable. And for me to be the recipient of such an award is simply beyond anything which I can put into words.”
Bryant said working with Jersey Cares and Midland Adult Services “is not a community service for me but a unique opportunity to spread ‘sunshine’ with a smile and have the spirit of fellowship with others. I feel like this is what I was designed to do. I can be a blessing by sharing a little bit of myself and making a significant contribution to my community by making healthy meals.”
“Being named as a Cabot Community Celebrity for 2015 is a fantastic recognition,” she said. “I was overwhelmed with so much surprise to be nominated along with my friend, Becky. I never thought that our simple acts of serving our community would have an impact like this. I am happy and honored to know that Cabot Creamery Cooperative, Points of Light and Jersey Cares appreciate our dedication and service with such a prestigious honor.”
The 1,200 farm families who comprise the Cabot cooperative often volunteer in their communities in New England and upstate New York, and wanted to honor others who volunteer in their communities, according to a press release about the award. The cruise, now in its fifth year, has honored more than 160 volunteers, according to the release.
The cruise will run from Nov. 14-21, starting from Miami, Fl., and will make stops in Puerto Rico, St. Thomas and St. Maarten, according to the release.
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