Municipal Alliance Touts Most Successful Event, Plans Kevin's Kids Aid

A steady rain and a few ill members did not stop Manchester Township’s Municipal Alliance from meeting on Tuesday night to discuss the group's recent charitable work.

The group assessed its efforts, the first of which was the organization’s  held in late October at , which brought in $1,010 — the most the Alliance has ever earned from a single night’s activity.

“I think ‘Trick or Trunk’ was fantastic and a lot of fun,” said Alliance coordinator Marianne Borthwick. “It was so hard to pick the winners, and we didn’t run out of candy or hot chocolate.”

Along with the hayride, “Trick or Trunk” featured a contest displaying decorated trunks of Halloween themes in the high school parking lot. A pair of $50 cash prizes would be awarded instead to two winners, from among a total of 39 decorated trunks in the contest.

Having helped with several efforts the past few months, Alliance members looked forward and spoke about how they will aid Kevin’s Kids, a local charity that helps provide toys and goods for children in need during the holidays. Borthwick announced at the meeting that the organization will receive a check in the amount of $200 from the Alliance in the near future.

Also, the Alliance’s recent involvement in assisting Helping Hands for Hunger to for area families in need was a successful, they said. Alliance member John McGuire — who was absent from this meeting — helped to both fill the baskets with supplies and personally deliver them.

It was also discussed that the high school's TV station may prepare a news feature on the Alliance, which members hope will increase their ranks and bring more awareness of their mission to the community.

The Alliance made a mention of a fundraiser next week for the Lakehurst-Manchester Rotary Club, which will be held at the in the Manchester Plaza, located at Colonial Drive and Route 70.

Diners who present a flyer to their servers here from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 8 will have 10 percent of their tab donated to this organization.

Due to the busy nature of the holiday season, Alliance members agreed that the regularly-scheduled meeting set for Dec. 27 is canceled. Therefore, the group's next regular meeting will be held on Jan. 31, 2012, at 7 p.m. in the civic center of the township's Municipal Complex.

Meetings are normally held on the last Tuesday of each month. Those interested in joining the Alliance can contact Borthwick at 732-657-8121, ext. 3901.