(above, l-r) Male Volunteer of the Year Dan Sullivan, Mayor Al Smith, Female Volunteer of the Year Carmela Resnick, and Rotary President Julie Murphy
Scotch Plains Mayor’s Charity Gala 2020
The Scotch Plains Mayor’s Charity Gala Committee honored the recipients of the 30th Annual Mayor’s Charity Gala on Sunday, October 4, 2020. The ceremony was held on Scotch Plains Day on the steps of town hall during the Scotch Plains Weekend celebration. This year’s Gala honored local residents for their selfless service to thecommunity.
The recipients of the Gala include Female Volunteer of the Year: Carmela Resnick;Male Volunteer of the Year: Daniel Sullivan; Volunteer Organizations of the Year: Immaculate Heart of Mary Food Bank, and the Fanwood Scotch Plains Rotary Club.
Sewing instructor and 2020 Female Volunteer of the Year Carmela Resnick, took it upon herself to start sewing masks for first responders, hospital workers and seniors. The Fanwood Scotch Plains Rotary Club is selling her team’s masks at the Farmers Market and to date has raised over $8,000 for local food banks.
Rescue Squad member and President Daniel Sullivan, is the 2020 Male Volunteer of the Year. Dan has dedicated over 50 years of his life to the community through his service to the Scotch Plains First Rescue Squad. Dan has personally assisted many residents and recruited many young people to join the squad, and serves as president on the board of directors.
This year the Volunteer Organization of the Year has been split between two local organizations for their exemplary service: The Immaculate Heart of Mary Food Bank and The Fanwood Scotch Plains Rotary Club.
During the pandemic the Immaculate Heart of Mary Food Bank partnered with the SPF Resource Central to feed families. Together the IHM food bank and SPF Resource Central served over 150 families in need each month. The IHM food bank team is comprised of, Geraldine Keogh, Rich Wagner, Jim Keliher, Denise Rogers, Mary Kate Schiller, John Reilly, Mike Goetz, Billy Duthie and Corrie Rinaldi and has been serving the community for many years.
The other Co-Volunteer Organization of the Year, The Fanwood Scotch Plains Rotary Club, gathered local town resource information for anyone impacted by COVID-19. They are a centralized location to help match those in need with local resources and support local business. The IHM food bank is just one example of the efforts made by the Rotary Club during the pandemic.
(above) Male Volunteer of the Year Daniel Sullivan with members of the Rescue Squad
(above) Members of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Food Bank
(above) Members of the Fanwood – Scotch Plains Rotary Club
(above) Scotch Plains Police Officers in attendance for Scotch Plains Day
