Clinton Township Newsletter

2 2 j a n u a r y 2 0 2 4 W W W . C L I N T O N T W P N E W S L E T T E R . C O M t e n G r e a t r e a s o n s t o s h o p l o c a l l y : • Shopping locally creates jobs. Shops in our town create local employment and self-employment. These people, in turn, spend in the local community. • Local independent shops invest more in our communities. Local businesses are proportionately more generous in their support of local charities, schools and community events. Supporting local shops means a financial impact on our community. • Local shops sell a wide range of great products at affordable prices. Many people fall out of the habit of shopping locally and are then surprised by the range of products and gifts available. • Shopping locally saves you money. Out-of-County shops have done a good job of convincing us that local business equals expensive. If you add travel, fees to transfer items and your time, the overall cost is often much higher. • Shopping locally retains our communities. People don't like losing shops and services in small towns, but don't equate this to how they spend their money. • Shopping locally retains our distinctiveness. Independent shops create distinctive shopping experiences and stock different products. Local businesses respond quickly to the needs of local customers, stocking products to meet the changing population needs. Shopping locally saves the environment. Local shops often stock a high percentage of local sourced goods which do not require long car and bus journeys, helping to reduce our global footprint. • Local shops are for everyone. Most people can get to their local shops easily and this is especially important for the elderly and young generations and those without transportation. • Local shops value you more. Evidence from numerous surveys show people receive better customer care and service locally. These businesses survive by their reputation and repeat business, which means you get a higher standard of service. • Shopping locally saves services. Private and public sector services tend to cluster around shops. As shops disappear so do hairdressers, banks, restaurants, etc. s o s h o p s M a r t . s h o p l o c a l l y ! Look for the Guild of Clinton stickers in windows throughout downtown Clinton – these are the people (merchants and professionals) who make Clinton the amazing downtown that it is. Please support them so we can keep it that way! h u n t e r d o n M e d i c a l c e n t e r s e e k s v o l u n t e e r s Looking to help others and feel better about yourself? Consider becoming a volunteer at Hunterdon Medical Center! Volunteering your time to help others will not only make a difference in someone's life, but it can help you learn and develop new skills, give you an opportunity to meet new people, gain work experience and can even build self-esteem and self-confidence. Hunterdon Medical Center is currently looking for volunteers to help in the hospital gift shop (Lobby Shop), Patient Ambassadors which support a patient's experience and assistance in the Transport department. Gerri Crofts has been an active volunteer at the Lobby Shop at Hunterdon Medical Center for the past eleven years. "I decided to become a volunteer because I had just retired and was looking to give back to the community. Volunteering in a hospital is great because you're helping people. Everyone I work with is very nice." Sam Rosenthal recently started volunteering at Hunterdon Medical Center and said, "Volunteering at Hunterdon Medical Center has provided me many opportunities to help the hospital and develop new skills. It's a great learning experience." Each year, over 500 individuals from Hunterdon, Somerset, Warren Counties and beyond devote their time serving Hunterdon Medical Center and our many satellite locations. "Our volunteers touch people's lives and make a difference seven days a week. They carry in their heart a level of compassion that is truly astounding," says Karen DiPaola, Director of Volunteer Resources, Hunterdon Health. If you are not able to volunteer your time at the hospital, but would like to contribute, Hunterdon Medical Center is always in need of donations to bring joy to our patients. Examples of things needed; knitted or no-sew blankets, themed pillowcases for children and small brand new stuffed animals, reader glasses and word search packets with pencils/pens, personal care items such as toothpaste, tooth brush, hand cream, chapstick for our home bound patients. In addition, our patients enjoy receiving get well wishes on their food trays. Get well cards are always welcome from children and teens. Don't you want to be part of a team that makes a difference? If so, call the Volunteer Resources Department at Hunterdon Medical Center at: 908.788.6140. c a s a s h a W s e e k s a d v o c a t e s Every year there are more than 100,000 reports of child abuse or neglect in NJ and more than 10,000 children are removed from their homes because the Court has found it to be too dangerous for them to remain there. Court Appointed Special Advocates of Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Counties (CASA SHaW) recruit, screen, train and supervise community volunteers to act as advocates in court for children living in foster care. CASA volunteers are appointed by a family court judge to discover the best possible outcome for an abused or neglected child's future as well as make recommendations that support the child's current needs. Volunteers receive support and supervision from a trained social worker throughout the duration of their cases. To find out more, visit: www.CASASHaW.org, call: 908.689.5515, or email: info@casashaw.org. v o l u n t e e r s n e e d e d a t t h e u n i o n F o r G e h e r i t a G e a s s o c i a t i o n Preserving and Protecting the Rich History and Natural Environment of Hunterdon County and New Jersey since 2002. 1760 Joseph Turner House | Solitude Heritage Museum Are you interested in preserving local history? The Union Forge Heritage Association needs your help! The Union Forge Heritage Association, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, has been diligently preserving Hunterdon history for over twenty years and is actively seeking new volunteers! Our new home at the historic 1760 Joseph Turner House provides the perfect opportunity for new volunteers to give museum tours, develop new history related programs, join in with our restoration projects or work with our Master Gardener to beautify our three acres of property. Find out more at: www.UnionForgeHeritage.org. Contact: UFHAevents@ hotmail.com for details. "Leadership is about taking responsibility, not making excuses." ~ Mi Romney

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