34 / matters magazine / hearth & home 2019 that clearly has many dimensions. In a single day, she says, her duties might take her from writ- ing thank-you letters and making calls to donors, to contacting potential funders, call- ing food pantry man- agers to check on their needs, doing follow- up reports and coor- dinating deliveries. Or she might be covered in mud, out in the field with volun- teers, harvesting vegetables for MEND at America’s Grow-a-Row, the farm in Pittstown that is a major fresh produce supplier. “I enjoy it more than anything I’ve ever done before,” she declares. The cherry on top is the fellowship. “The people who run the pantries are just the kindest, most warm-hearted people.” As it was from the start, a crucial part of MEND’s mission is to help those in need in a way that respects their sensitivities and preferences. There is also a con- certed effort to iden- tify what products are wanted in each area. For some it might be baby food; in another fresh produce might be in high demand. Some might want rice and beans where others prefer pasta. And all of this needs to be sorted, packed, loaded into the Green Bean and deliv- ered. Toni Furtunato’s story, cited on MEND’s website, exemplifies what so many people face. The 56-year-old West Orange resident, injured and un- able to work, had gotten by with dis- ability and worker’s compensation, and – as she said – living frugally and clip- ping coupons. But with medical bills mounting, she found herself without enough money for groceries. She made the very tough decision to visit the food pantry at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in West Orange. “I still get very choked up,” she said. “It took a lot to be able to walk through the doors the first time. I’m the one who used to say, ‘They’re hav- ing a rough time. How can I help?’ Now I need it.” As MEND stresses, part of its mission is to help clients with health is- sues have access to the fresh foods they need. Fortu- nato, who needs a low so- dium diet, was able to get the vegetables and fruits her doctor recommends but that she couldn’t afford on her own. Asked what she values most about MEND, Mar- tha Curry, MEND Ad- visory Board member from the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Food Pantry, says, “The camaraderie of the people, and the genuine concern for the individuals receiv- ing the food.” As Yahaira Ro- driguez, MEND Advisory Board member from the United Com- munity Corpora- tion Food Pantry in Newark, adds, “MEND is more The MEND board attending to the business of assisting area food pantries. Yahaira Rodriguez says "MEND is more than a program; it's a family." Photo by Naki Studios Volunteers from New Hope Baptist Church Food Pantry in East Orange. festival begins with three themed shows at 8 p.m. at The Woodland. An intensive guitar camp for five days for all ages and levels of play will also be offered there. The main Django A Gogo Concert will take place April 27 at The Town Hall in Manhattan and the festival concludes with a free “All- Star” jam at Barbes in Brooklyn on April 28. For details and tickets, visit djangoagogo.com/concerts/. The Achieve Foundation’s 5th an- nual Maker Madness returns April 27 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. in the Co- lumbia High School cafeteria. This free event reveals the exciting world of STEAM (science, technology, engi- neering, the arts and math) education to students and their families with 30 hands-on maker stations that are fun and educational for kids of all ages. By trying woodworking, electronics tear- down, computer coding and crafts, students discover that learning by do- ing is intuitive, engaging and gratify- ing. To learn about volunteering or sponsoring a maker station please visit achievefoundation.org/maker-madness. The Friends of the Maplewood Library will hold its annual Spring Book Sale April 27 and 28 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. at Ma- p l e w o o d Memorial Library (en- try on Sun- day is via the parking lot only). A wide selec- tion of books will be available, plus DVDs, CDs, audiobooks – all at great prices. On Sunday, shoppers can fill a whole bag for a single price. For details, call 973-762-4136. The College of Communication and the Arts at Seton Hall University will screen two silent films: Ghosts Be- fore Breakfast and Speedy March 19 at 7 p.m., part of the SOMA film festi- val; there will be an Alumni Jazz per- formance at SOPAC March 26 at 7:30 p.m.; The Women and Gender Stud- ies Program will hold a conference on Women and Gender March 29 from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., with author Danielle McGuire as keynote speaker; the 15th Annual Undergraduate Student Art exhibition will be in the Walsh Gallery April 2 through May 10; the Faculty Jazz Ensemble will perform at SOPAC April 9 at 7:30 p.m.; The Seton Uni- versity Choral Program will hold a Lenten Meditation concert April 15 at 3 p.m. in the university chapel; Seton Hall Theatre’s The Spitfire Grill will be performed at SOPAC from May 2 to May 5; the annual spring choral celebration will be at SOPAC May 6 at 7:30 p.m.; and the annual spring concert at SOPAC will be May 7 at 7:30 p.m. For details, visit shu. edu/ArtsClassical, shu.edu/ArtsJazz, or shu.edu/ArtsChoral. The Luna Stage Theater Compa- ny will present the regional premiere of Heartland by Gabriel Jason Dean, a magical new play about family, grace and the consequences of defending an American Empire, April 4 - 9. Luna presents StudioLuna classes for kids, teens and adults, with various classes available March through May. For de- tails and tickets, call 973-395-5551 or visit lunastage.org. The Maplewood Green Team will have a meeting April 25, 7:30 p.m. at the Maplewood Memorial Library, followed by an EV Car event at the Maplewood pool parking lot April 27; the Maplewood Environmental Advi- sory Committee will host the Rahway The Achieve Foundation’s annual Maker Madness returns to Columbia High School April 27. Friends of the Maple- wood Library will hold a spring book sale April 27 and 28 at Maplewood Memorial Library. The Seton University Choral Program will present a Lenten Meditation in the uni- versity chapel April 15. continued from page 8 continued following page, right