Your Grandmother’s Cupboard Recipient of the McKinley Ave. Elementary School “Making A Difference Day” - 10/26/12
For the 13th consecutive year, the McKinley Ave. Elementary School from Stafford Township New Jersey, displayed their ability to help others while having fun in honor of the national day of “Making A Difference Day”. On Friday, October 26th, six-hundred-fifteen 3rd and 4th graders put on their walking shoes and raised $10,155 dollars for their adopted cause this year, Your Grandmother’s Cupboard. In 2003, Clark & Jean Paradise, a retired couple in their 80′s, decided to reach out and help the homeless with delivering clothes and other items to the needy by opening Your Grandmother’s Cupboard. Clark & Jean were named 2011 New Jersey Heroes for their selfless efforts in helping others. This unique charity not only collects food, clothes, toiletries and other essentials, but delivers them to the hungry and homeless at hotels, churches, food pantries, and soup kitchens throughout New Jersey. Every day their organization makes a difference in the lives of others. Susan Malmstrom, the physical education teacher at McKinley, is the yearly organizer of this school wide “Making A Difference Day” event. After researching Your Grandmother’s Cupboard and finding out what they are all about, she pitched the idea to her co-worker Mitch Migdon. The two of them then visited Your Grandmothers Cupboard and whole heartedly decided to make them their choice for this years cause.
At 1:30 p.m. on Friday, October 26th, in front of six-hundred-fifteen extremely proud third and fourth graders in the McKinley Ave. Elementary School’s Art Center, the check was presented to a very grateful Mr. and Mrs. Paradise. Congratulations to McKinley Ave. Elementary School on their fundraising efforts and thank you for the support of this great New Jersey Hero!
