Point Boro Schools Collecting Shoes, Food and Hosting Zumba Fundraiser

The Point Borough School District is collecting new and gently worn sneakers for Soles 4 Souls in recognition of America Recycles Day on Tuesday.

Shoes may be dropped off at the administration building at 2100 Panther Path, off Beaver Dam Road, by this Tuesday.

The district is also collecting non-perishable food for the Foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties' Holiday Hunger Food Drive.

Outside donations (from people not affiliated with the school) are being accepted at the borough high school through this Friday.

This is the third year that the district has participated in the Foodbank's food drive. This is the first year, however, that all schools are participating in the same year, said Jacquelyn Goss, district spokesperson. In previous years it had been staggered throughout the district.

Last year, Memorial Middle School and the high school donated over one and a half tons of food collectively, and were subsequently awarded the Foodbank’s Spirit of Giving Award, Goss said.

The Spirit of Giving award recognizes schools that have demonstrated outstanding spirit, commitment and enthusiasm toward the cause of fighting hunger in their local communities.  

There are coordinators and student leaders for each school. Ocean Road Elementary School has already delivered 922 pounds of food.

Their drive was tied into the school's Character Ed Program, the Ocean Road Character Crew. Fifth grade students boxed up food, loaded a bus and delivered the goods to the Foodbank, Route 66, Neptune.

Goss noted how students benefit not only from bringing in donations of food, but in being the ones to package and deliver the food to the food bank.

"I think that is one of the most extraordinary aspects of the food drive," Goss said. "Not only do the schools collect the food, but they box it up according to classification and deliver via school bus.

"The students have the opportunity to participate in each step of the drive and I think that by bringing the food to the Foodbank they derive a better understanding of the concept of hunger in our area," she said.

Nellie Bennett Elementary School's drive is being coordinated by their PTO with Principal Jim Karaba. Last year, they donated about 500 pounds and are hoping to exceed that number this year, Goss said.

The middle school's drive is run by teacher Courtney Kays. The school conducts a competition among the homerooms. The class that collects the most food wins a pizza party courtesy of the school PTO.

The hgh school's food drive is being run by the student council, the Character Ed Program's Student Ambassadors and Math Teacher/Advisor Katrina Salvatoriello, who runs a number of charitable drives throughout the year.

In other school news, on Saturday, the sophomore class will host its first annual Zumbathon to raise money for their Junior Prom, Senior Ball and many other activities.

It will start at noon at the middle school gym.

Admission is $5 for borough staff and students and $10 for the general public.

Throughout the 90-minute workout, there will be a gift raffle with prizes from local vendors such as: Shore Fresh Seafood, Sunshine Daydream, US Subs, Round Dough with a Hole, and many others! Tickets will be sold at the event.

Water bottles and light snacks will also be sold throughout the event.