Media
Release
CONTACT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kevin C. Rabago, Sr.
City of Bridgeton
(856) 451-3407
rabagok@cityofbridgeton.com
VOLUNTEER EFFORTS PAYING
OFF AT BRIDGETON’S JOHNSON REEVES PLAYGROUND
Lowes of Millville, R &
S Construction of Bridgeton, Ranch Hope and Revive South Jersey Team up on
Bridgeton Playground
In what Bridgeton Mayor
Albert Kelly calls “game changing partnerships”; Lowes of Millville, R & S
Construction of Bridgeton, Ranch Hope, and regional non-profit Revive South
Jersey came together last week in a volunteer effort aimed at rehabilitating the
Johnson Reeves Playground in the Milltown section of Bridgeton.
“We are extremely
fortunate to have corporate partners, community groups, and volunteers who are
willing to donate their talents and resources to make our city a better place.
In the life of any community, these are game changing partnerships and for this
playground, it makes all the difference” said Kelly.
The restoration of Johnson
Reeves Playground is a multi-phased effort that will include a new entrance,
playground equipment, basketball hoops, soccer goals and a number of other
improvements with the goal of opening a restored park for the Milltown
neighborhood and providing organized recreation activities for children.
The June 6th
kick-off was made possible by Lowes of Millville, donating $1,500 in roofing
materials, flowers, and mulch; along with nearly a dozen store volunteers to
lend some muscle. “We’ve done several community projects in Vineland and
Millville, so we were delighted to come to Bridgeton” said Millville Lowes Store
Manager Frank Vegliante. “Lowes does a number of projects to give back to our customers,
so we welcome these kinds of opportunities” Vegliante added
To help oversee the roof work,
Bridgeton-based R & S Construction volunteered to provide technical
expertise and equipment for the roof replacement on the playground clubhouse.
“When the City called asking for help on the project, we wanted to participate.
We care about Bridgeton, it’s where we live and work so we did not hesitate to
volunteer” said Sangeeta Scott, President of R & S Construction.
While the volunteers from
Lowes and R & S Construction labored on the roof, Ranch Hope’s Independent
Living Program Coordinator Doug Cooper supervised Charlie Pitts and Reed
Francis as they cut down weeds, removed limbs and trimmed grass throughout the playground.
“Ranch Hopes’ Independent
Living Program is a real opportunity for our youth. T.D Bank provided $10,000
in funding to Ranch Hope to make this program possible and the result is that
we can give them hands-on experience and a resume, while helping communities
with projects like this” said Cooper.
Bringing the whole effort
together and coordinating the volunteers was the work of Revive South Jersey; a
local non-profit group partnering with churches, businesses and other
non-profit organizations to strengthen families and communities throughout the
region.
“We’ve done a lot of work
in Bridgeton over the months including a weekly program of lessons, activities,
crafts, and games with the children at Bridgeton Villas Apartments. The Johnson
Reeves project is right in line with what we do, which is focused on
strengthening individuals, families and communities” said Revive South Jersey Executive
Director Jon Cummings.
In addition to new
facilities and equipment, Kelly and City officials are working with Revive
South Jersey to provide a supervised setting with activities for children when
the Johnson Reeves project is further along. “It may take a season or two to
get there, but we want to provide children with a safe place in their own
neighborhood, which is what this playground can do. I have my own memories of
playing here as a child, so I know its value” Kelly said.
For now though, it comes
down to the volunteers and donors putting in the sweat equity and some money to
help make it all happen. “I want to thank Lowes and R & S Construction for
being fantastic corporate partners and I want to express my gratitude to Ranch
Hope and Revive South Jersey for their volunteer spirit; they all give our
community a big lift” Kelly said.
# # #
To learn
more about the City of Bridgeton please visit www.cityofbridgeton.com
To learn more about Revive South Jersey, visit www.revivesj.org
To learn more about products and services from Lowes, visit www.lowes.com
To learn more about Ranch Hopes’ Independent
Living program call (856) 935-1555
To contact R & S Construction of Bridgeton, call (856) 451-2142
 |
| Lowes of Millville, R & S Construction of Bridgeton, Revive South Jersey, and Ranch Hope work on Johnson Reeves Park |
 |
| Sangeeta Scott, Art Sooy, and Jerry Williams, Jr., of R&S Construction work on Johnson Reeves Park |
 |
| Lowes of Millville donated $1,500 in roofing materials and volunteers to repair the roof at Johnson Reeves playground |
 |
| Jon Cummings, Executive Director of Revive South Jersey strips off old roof shingles at Johnson Reeves Park |
 |
| Ranch Hope Program Coordinator Doug Cooper helps Charlie Pitts off-load at Johnson Reeves Park, |