By: Joshua Gras, Writer / Follow South Jersey News Reporting Intern
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. — Washington Township Public Schools partnered with Liscio’s Family Bakery from February 1 until February 8 to raise money for local families severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, totaling more than $17,000 in funds raised during that time.
The pandemic is still a cause of concern for many who would have volunteered. Because of this, the owners of Liscio’s, Chad Vilotti and James Liscio, decided to help run the Helping Hands Hoagie sale this year. The donations were done with a promo code that customers could use when buying a hoagie or hoagie tray from one of the three Liscio’s Family Bakery locations. 25% of all purchases using the promo code went to the charitable initiative.
Joe Bollendorf, Washington Township School superintendent, was happy about the success of the fundraiser citing “big dividends” that would go towards helping families in need.The hoagie sales were supplemented by T-shirt sales, which increased the total of money raised by $7,000.
The president of WTEF, Charlie Doud, said that due to the successful fundraiser they would “be able to support some families in dire need.”
In 2020, it was reported that 37% of working families in New Jersey struggled to keep up with their bills before the pandemic had even begun. A third of the state’s small businesses have closed due to the pandemic with many more fearing a similar fate.
The Washington Township Education fund was created in 1997 to help improve Washington Township Schools. The WTEF have raised over $500,000 to date.
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This article was produced by a Follow South Jersey news intern thanks to a grant provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation through the New Jersey Health Initiatives program to create hyper-local news to meet the informational and health needs of the City of Bridgeton, N.J.
