Project an annual gift to those in need 4-H teens brighten holidays for many with day of free shopping BY MARY ANNE ROSS Correspondent The Middlesex County 4-H cabin in East Brunswick was transformed into the North Pole last weekend. DANIEL HULSHIZER staff Katie Lepri, of Monroe, sorts merchandise for Project Gift Saturday at the Middlesex County 4-H cabin on Cranbury Road, East Brunswick. Members of the 4-H Teen Council donate many hours each year to collect money and items for Project Gift, which offers a day of free holiday shopping to limited-resource families in the county. Economically disadvantaged parents arriving at the Cranbury Road building on Sunday would find long tables laden with countless gifts to give their children. And the room, decked out for the holidays, was being worked by many of "Santa's helpers," all there to aid in the annual free shopping spree. The Middlesex County 4-H Teen Council presents the opportunity for disadvantaged families each December, going back 10 years. They volunteer their time and energy year-round to make it possible. "Every aspect is planned and managed by the Teen Council and our volunteer youth leaders," said Laurie Bovitz, Middlesex County 4-H agent. This year, the group raised over $6,000 to buy gifts for the children of needy families in the county. "Our biggest fundraisers are the dunking booth at the county fair and the haunted house in October," said Milltown resident Sharon Krizni, youth leader and volunteer. Teen Council members went shopping for the presents with children of different ages to help pick out the most popular toys. "We had a receipt 12 feet long," Bovitz said. "Needy families sometimes get gifts for the holidays, but what makes Project Gift unique is that the parents get to choose the presents for the kids," said Kathy Kolesar, of Milltown. Each family receives colored coupons of different values for each child. Red coupon gifts are on one table, green on another, so they can pick what they want. There is also a table of small or used gifts. Parents choose from a wide selection, from Barbies to Hot Wheels, footballs to electric darts, CD players to art sets, and all kinds of board games. There were also baby dolls and toys for toddlers. Families are referred to the project by a number of agencies that work with the Rutgers Cooperative Extension's Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program. These include such groups as Women Aware, FISH Hospitality, the Piscataway Domestic Violence Intervention Program, Carri, Even Start, Salvation Army, UBHC Supportive Housing, Lazos America Unida and the Puerto Rican Association. Transportation to the 4-H cabin is donated for free to those who need it, and refreshments, gift-wrapping and child care are provided. "We do everything to make sure they have a good day," Bovitz said. Teen leader Krystal Parker, 19, of Old Bridge, was running the wrapping station this year, her sixth working with Project Gift. At the station, she supervised a team of eight. "We are expecting to wrap hundreds of presents," she said Saturday, while preparing for the big event Sunday. "Even though there is a language barrier with some of the families, we get around it." Teen Council member Sara Molinske, 16, of South Brunswick, was running the childcare center, with help from about 30 other volunteers while the parents shop. "It's very hectic, but a lot of fun," Sara said. "We have games, movies, coloring books ... We make sure the kids have a good time." Bob Kolesar, 16, of Milltown, helped set up the tables the night before the event. "We started out with 75 children; now it's up to almost 300," he said. "Every year it gets bigger and better." Parker summed up the feeling in the room. "The families are so happy, and the kids get so excited," she said. "It's really wonderful to work on this every year."