FEATURED PHOTO: Franki DeSaro & April Martines | CREDIT: Abby Devey

The divine and destiny are constants throughout their story and led them to cofound a sanctuary for single mothers, children, and animals, firmly based in faith and positivity. The Sanctuary is already helping families, and the vision is to expand to a residential program.

CM: What is the mission of Light to Earth Sanctuary?

Our daily mission is to lovingly awaken each person towards their God-given purpose, by supporting their inner healing journey- physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally. Our organization also helps animals and is Christian based, although we joyfully serve single mothers, children, families, and welcome volunteers, from all faith backgrounds. All feel welcome and at peace on the land; we are family.

CM: What types of events/services are held at the Sanctuary?

Many families at our farm have endured domestic violence, addiction, poverty, homelessness, loss of a loved one and much more. Presently, we offer one day workshops on art, cooking, and fellowship, and host retreats of various kinds on the farm for single mothers and their children. This year we created an organic community garden and all of the harvest will be donated to local families. Annual Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners at the farm are magical experiences full of so much joy, gratitude, and love. Fellowship gatherings are personally one of our favorites. Believers of all denominations join to sing, make music, and pray for one another. Afterwards we all feast, laugh, rest, and enjoy life together over a shared meal.

CM: Describe the farm, and how it became the location.

The farm is surrounded by breathtaking views of rolling hills, a true oasis of God’s creation on earth. Although we do not yet own the farm, the owner, Avram Schmied, a 72-year-old Jewish man, has lovingly allowed us to serve families here since 2018. He told us, “This is a very special piece of heaven right here on earth” and is grateful that his vision for the land’s “destiny and greatness” will continue. We are presently seeking to raise three million dollars to purchase the farm and call it our home! There is a custom built 6,500 sq. ft. three story home with apartment quarters, an 18, 000 sq. ft. barn/meeting space, two cottages, two working windmills, spring fed pond site and two fenced in pastures for horses, a shed with a root cellar, organic herb and vegetable garden, one acre poplar forest, and an underground fresh spring.

CM: What is most rewarding?

We love seeing people from all walks of life: diversity in ethnicities, faith beliefs, and experiences coming together to serve and support alongside one another. We did not realize we would also touch the lives of many of our team members and volunteers, who also have shared the varied struggles of our families. Some special memories include a young boy’s declaration that this had been the best day of his life and the other children begging their moms to stay or return soon. Some children had never seen the stars, the moon, or horses before! One mother shared she had not seen her daughter this happy in a long time. Another was hosting a fellowship gathering for women in recovery and seeing their hope. There is no greater reward than knowing and seeing love, joy and healing on the faces and hearts of those we serve.

CM: What is the biggest challenge?

Raising the funds to purchase our farm, and gathering the needed people-a grant writer, non-profit accountant, and a professional fundraiser-in order to reach the next level of our mission to create a 1-5-year residential program. Please visit our website to read our full miracle story and for ways to donate, join our team, attend our gala and more: lighttoearthsanctuary.org, or email us to schedule a farm visit or learn more here.

CM: Favorite Quote

“Faith doesn’t make sense, it makes miracles.”

 

The spread of COVID-19 has challenged each of us, reshaping our daily lives in an instant. But, it’s also highlighted the strength of our community and our ability to support each other – and few exemplify that strength better than our medical workers and emergency responders. That’s why Bell Works is excited to announce the “Not All Heroes Wear Capes” campaign to help support those at the front lines, including the COVID-19 testing facility workers at PNC Bank Arts Center and Bayshore Medical Hospital, as well as the Holmdel Police Department, The National Guard, and emergency responders from Holmdel’s Fire Rescue, OEM, and EMS Departments/Teams.

Since Monday, March 30th – Richard Corbo and the chefs of Bell Market have been preparing freshly made meals to support our local heroes. Through this campaign, the Bell Market team will provide roughly 500 hearty, nutrient-rich meals a day to those on the frontline.

Feeding our first responders and healthcare workers is one of the most important ways we can give back during these unprecedented times. To kickstart this initiative, Bell Works donated $10,000 to fund the first five days of meal prep and delivery.

The goal is to reach $100,000 — this would allow Bell Market to provide 500 meals daily for the next 30 days; you can join Bell Works in this opportunity to support those on the frontline.

To support the relief program and make a donation, Bell Works has set up a GoFundMe page where anyone in the community can contribute directly to the cause.

This program would not be possible without the following partners, Holmdel Township Mayor Buontempo and RBC’s Bell Market. Bell Works would also like to thank its campaign organizers, led by Bell Work’s Creative Director, Paola Zamudio.

Now more than ever, the strength as a community can make a difference. With every donation, no matter how large or small, Bell Works will be able to send another welcome meal to those on the frontlines of this battle against COVID-19.

 

The Giving Back Forum will host its inaugural event at Bell Works on Tuesday, July 9th from 12:00 to 6:00 pm, serving as a one-stop-shop for people to learn more about upcoming events and initiatives that are happening nearby and how to get involved. The event will feature over fifty 501(c)3 organizations looking to share their mission. The variety of represented causes in attendance will allow attendees to hear from well known groups like the American Cancer Society, Habitat for Humanity, and Big Brothers Big Sisters as well as locally founded organizations like Move for Hunger, Kortney Rose Foundation, and the  Zzak G Foundation. The goal of The Giving Back Forum is to connect people with opportunities to give back in ways that work best for them whether that means donating time, making a financial contribution, or helping spread awareness. The event will also feature the chance to save lives by donating blood via the New York Center blood drive. Each person that donates will also be gifted a $10 Target gift card as an added bonus for supporting those in critical need. “The Giving Back Forum” is a way to bring the community together to highlight how many ways individuals can get involved and contribute to making the world a better place, right here, right now,” says Jeanne Moir, Founder of The Giving Back Forum. “We can all play an important role in changing things for the better and this event makes it easy for people to pick what matters most to them.” The Giving Back Forum will be held July 9th from 12:00 to 6:00 pm and made possible by the sponsorship of Guardian, OceanFirst Bank, and Henderson Promos. Featuring fun for the whole family, kids can get their face painted and participate in art projects with Camp Jinka. The crew from Thunder 106 and 107.1 the Boss will be in the house giving out prizes and concert tickets from 12:00 to 4:00 pm as well. The event will be free and open to the public. To learn more about The Giving Back Forum, please visit: http://www.givingbackforum.com/

Father Panagiotis Lekkas of the Greek Orthodox Church of Kimisis Tis Theotokou in Holmdel would like to welcome (Kalosorisate) the community to the “Taste of Greece” 2019 to be held on June 6, 7, 8, and 9. The Church has been working for months to prepare the largest party, “Yiorti”, given by a Greek host in the area. From banners and flags to billboard ads, the entire town will be turned into a festival of Greek culture and heritage during these four days! According to Father Panagiotis Lekkas, in Ancient Greece “Festival” meant “Yiorti,” a celebration in which Greeks would gather to celebrate either a feast day of the Gods or a remarkable event for their town or state-nation.  Whether festivals occurred in the different suburban areas of Athens or on a remote Greek Island, the Greeks gathered to socialize, celebrate and enjoy themselves, not at home but in their favorite cafes, restaurants or tavernas where the festival would be held.  Family and friends would be seen during the festival enjoying the variety of food, wine, coffee and different kinds of honey-soaked desserts.  He noted that food and entertainment hold a very significant role in the Greek culture, so it is no surprise that the ancient Greeks discovered “gastronomy” or the art of elite eating. “For one weekend each year, Holmdel is transformed into a traditional Greek Festival. Our community becomes the center of the authentic Greek Spirit and offers the epicurean pleasure to all its neighbors and guests. We offer an authentic variety of Greek wine, food, and desserts prepared by our parishioners; who inherited the high standard of cooking from past generations of family and the extended family of Kimisis Tis Theotokou parishioners.  Whatever your dining pleasure may be, we hope you will agree that the Ancient Greeks made cooking an art, but the modern Greeks perfected it!  Greeks are zealous about good food and the desire to share it with all,” explained Father Panagiotis Lekkas. This year, the Greek Orthodox Church of Kimisis Tis Theotokou in Holmdel will be proudly celebrating their 43rd anniversary of providing a real Greek cultural experience.  Father Panagiotis Lekkas shared, “We invite you to Feast with us at our ‘family table’, celebrating our Greek culture, traditions, history and faith.  The delightful atmosphere of the Bayshore Greek Fest will be filled by the unique sounds of ‘bouzouki’ music and the sight of our talented dance groups entertaining you with their traditional award-winning performances that will take you back in time. It will not be necessary to travel thousands of miles to experience the Greek culture. It will be offered to you right here in Holmdel! Take the time to enjoy the unique cuisine, visit the shops, listen to the music, join in the dancing, enjoy the various carnival rides/games and explore the religious and cultural exhibits. We promise that we will offer you and your family the opportunity to experience the true Greek spirit here in Holmdel at our festival.” Free parking will be available on the church grounds, at Growing Tree Academy and St. Benedict’s Church, with free shuttle service. “We welcome you and send thanks to all our friends – new and old! The success of our festival is due in part to the most generous donations from parishioners and local businesses of food, paper goods and monetary donations, whom we extend our sincerest gratitude. We also thank our festival committee and the hundreds of volunteers, who are not just working this weekend, but have been helping continuously during the past few months to prepare for this great event!” noted Father Panagiotis Lekkas. He added, “It’s all Greek to us”…and the festival will be Greek to you as well!  OPA! OPA! OPA!

The Monmouth County Park System invites residents to enjoy Historic Longstreet Farm’s Harvest Home Festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, September 30. Held at 44 Longstreet Road, Holmdel, this old-fashioned country fair is reminiscent of the 1890s and features wagon rides, old-fashioned games, live entertainment and more.

The schedule for the event is as follows:

Ongoing Entertainment:

“Wahoo” Medicine Show and “Phydeauz” Flea Circus

Jugtown Mountain Band

Banjo Music – Chuck Winch

Accordion Melodies – Theresa Rehberg

Entertainment:

Mind Games – Magician Denny More: 1 p.m. & 2 p.m.

Chorus of the Atlantic:  1-1:45 p.m. & 2:15-3 p.m.

Vintage Baseball – Russ McIver – 12:30 p.m. & 3 p.m.

Craft Demonstrations:

Rug Hooking, Lace-making, Smocking, Quilting, Penny Rugs, Weaving, Knitting, Embroidery, Spinning, Felting, & Chair Caning & Rushing

Demonstrations:

Beekeeping, Blacksmithing, Woodworking, Cider Making (12-4 p.m.), Corn Shelling (12-4 p.m.), & Two-Man Saw (12-4:30 p.m.)

Corn Husking Competition:

12 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. & 4 p.m.

Pie-Eating Contest:

Ages 8 and under: 1 p.m. & 3:30 p.m.

Ages 9-14: 2 p.m. & 3 p.m.

Adults: 1:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.

Big Pumpkin Weight Announced:

4:30 p.m.

To learn more about Historic Longstreet Farm’s Harvest Home Festival and other Park System activities, please visit www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or call the Park System at 732-842-4000, ext. 4312. For persons with hearing impairment, the TTY/TDD number is 711. The Monmouth County Park System, created in 1960 by the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, is Monmouth County’s Open Space, Parks and Recreation Agency