Our "Miracle on 5th Street" campaign was featured on the front page of the Bayonne Journal Sept. 20.

Looking to Make Miracles Happen at Bergen Point

By Lauren Bull
Journal Staff Writer

Big things are happening on Fifth Street and Broadway.

Trinity Parish at Bergen Point launched its "Miracle on 5th Street" campaign this past July with plans to construct a two-story building to house training and industry programs for developmentally disabled and autistic adults. Additionally, there are plans to expand the already existing community hall, thrift shop and food pantry, and to build an entirely new community center.

Click here to view the full story.

Octoberfest

The Windmill Center invites you to come and celebrate with us as part of the "Octoberfest" sponsored by Bayonne Downtown Merchants.

Come to Trinity Parish, 141 Broadway, on Saturday, Oct. 6, and have your picture taken in Bayonne's one and only Pumpkin Patch, with pumpkins, ghosts and goblins. Photos are only $3.

Baked goods, crafts, raffles and candies will also be offered for sale.

Challenge Total

The final tally is in: Highways has exceeded the challenge grant goal from the Linden Foundation by raising nearly $27,700 since Nov. 15! This will bring an additional $5,000 in support of our social service outreach.

Our thanks again to everyone for your generous support.

Fundraising Challenge Update

We have met -- and surpassed -- our fundraising challenge to raise $20,000 by the end of June!

Our sincere thanks to everyone who donated, volunteered or otherwise participated in our challenge events. Thank you for all your efforts.

"Miracle on 5th Street" Carnival June 17

The Windmill Alliance Capital Campaign will host "Miracle on 5th Street," Sunday, June 17, from 1 to 4 p.m., at the Trinity Church parking lot, Broadway and 5th St.

It's Father's Day, so bring dad and enjoy the games, rides, music and food!

Flea Market June 9

Our next flea market -- the last event in our fundraising challenge -- will take place Saturday, June 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Trinity Parish, corner of 5th St., in Bayonne.

Those interested in helping with setup, selling and cleanup, please contact Jane at (201) 858-8646.

Walk-a-Thon 2007

Saturday's Walk-a-thon was a huge success. The weather held up nicely, helping participants raise over $4,000 towards our capital campaign.

Thanks to all our walkers (pictured above), and to everyone who donated. We have one more event -- the flea market on June 9 -- before the campaign ends. For more information on participating, contact us at highways184@yahoo.com.

Miracle on 5th Street

The Windmill Alliance, parent organization of Highways, is holding "Miracle on 5th Street," a kickoff to its capital campaign, on Sunday, June 17, from 1 to 4 p.m.

Bring Dad (it's Father's Day) to Trinity Church, corner of 5th Street and Broadway, Bayonne, and enjoy rides, food, games and music.

We are also looking for a DJ to provide music. Interested DJs should e-mail us or call Blyden Jackson at (201) 339-0868.

HIGHWAYS Walk-a-Thon 2007

HIGHWAYS' Walk-a-Thon is scheduled for Saturday, May 19.

The three-mile walk will start at the HIGHWAYS Thrift Store, 184 Hobart Ave., at 9:45 a.m. Walkers will walk to Hudson County Park, where refreshments will be available, and then back to HIGHWAYS. All walkers will receive a T-shirt, and are asked to get pledges from sponsors.

Interested in walking or sponsoring a walker? Contact: Jane Jackson at (201) 858-8646, (201) 858-8656 or jane@windmillalliance.org by Wednesday, May 16.

All money raised will go towards our fundraising challenge.

Shawl-Knitting Ministry

Knitters and crocheters -- and those who wish to learn -- are invited to join a ministry creating prayer shawls and lap robes for members of our community who are suffering from illness, loss or other challenges.

"This is a great way to do ministry, praying and creating something beautiful for someone while sitting in your own home," said Jane Jackson, one of the organizers. "The shawls bring warmth and comfort and the awareness that someone cares. I know because I am the happy recipient of an exquisite shawl made for me after a serious illness last year. Please consider joining us at our first monthly meeting on Saturday, April 21, at Trinity Church in Bayonne, at 1 p.m. We will meet monthly for mutual support and shared prayers for shawl recipients."

If you are interested, please contact Jane at jane@windmillalliance.org. To see examples of prayer shawls, visit www.adamsnanny.com and click on Prayer Shawl Ministry.

Flea Market Update

Thanks to everyone who attended, volunteered at or otherwise participated in the flea market Saturday. It was a huge success, bringing us one step closer to our fundraising goal.

Check back here for updates on our walk-a-thon, scheduled for May 19, and our next flea market (in June).

Reminder: Flea Market Saturday

Just a reminder that our flea market is taking place this Saturday, April 14, at 9 a.m. at parish hall. Those interested in helping with setup, selling and cleanup, please contact Jane at (201) 858-8646.

Donations Needed for Flea Market

HIGHWAYS currently seeks donations for a benefit flea market, bake sale and silent auction April 14 at Trinity Church parish hall. The proceeds of the flea market will support our social services outreach, including providing food and clothing to those in need.

We especially need baked goods, paper plates, cups, napkins, plastic utensils, coffee, tea, soft drinks and grocery gift cards. All donations will be greatly appreciated.

Contact Jane Jackson, director, at (201) 858-8646 or (201) 858-8656, with any questions.

Volunteer Offers Massage Therapy

One of our volunteers, Gail, is completing her education in massage therapy, and invites people to help her complete the needed number of massages she has to perform prior to graduation.

For only $10, you can receive a relaxing massage (Swedish or deep muscle) from Gail at the Chubb Institute, 40 Journal Square, in Jersey City. Hours are Monday-Friday, 4 to 8 p.m.; and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.

To make an appointment, call Gail at (201) 876-3852.

Fundraising Challenge Update

Our Super 50/50 raffle successfully concluded yesterday at our annual volunteer celebration at the Chandelier Restaurant in Bayonne. With the completion of the raffle and other donations to date, we have now raised $12,445 toward our challenge grant goal of $20,000 by June 30.

In order to keep the momentum going, the following fundraisers are scheduled:

· flea market and silent auction with bake sale, Saturday, April 14, at the Trinity Church Parish Hall, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
· Walk-a-Thon, Saturday, May 19
· flea market, Saturday, June 9, at the Trinity Church Parish Hall

We are now seeking vendors and donations for the April flea market.

For information on any of the upcoming events, to donate or to volunteer, please contact Jane Jackson, director, at (201) 858-8646, (201) 858-8656 or jane@windmillalliance.org.

Super 50/50 Winner

Congratulations to Lisa from Bayonne, the lucky winner in our Super 50/50 raffle!

Lisa, the holder of winning ticket #49, was contacted immediately after the drawing and picked up her winnings.

Congrats, Lisa!

Items Sought for Flea Market

HIGHWAYS is hosting a flea market April 14 to benefit its social outreach programs.

We are seeking donations of new or gently used items to sell at the HIGHWAYS table. Especially welcome are new toys, games, jewelry, handcrafted items, dishware, cookware, linens and other housewares.

The flea market will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Trinity Church Parish Hall, 141 Broadway (corner of 5th St. and Broadway), in Bayonne.

To donate an item, or for more information, contact Jane Jackson at (201) 858-8646 or (201) 858-8656, or at jane@windmillalliance.org.

Join Us at the St. Patrick's Day Parade

HIGHWAYS will be marching in Bayonne's St. Patrick's Day parade, Sunday, March 18, at 1 p.m. Marchers are asked to assemble at 5th Street and Broadway at 12:30 p.m.

Join our giant leprechaun and walk the parade with us, or just wave to us from the sidelines.

If you're interested in walking the parade, contact Jane Jackson at (201) 858-8646 or (201) 858-8656, or at jane@windmillalliance.org for more details.

Don’t Miss Out!

It's not too late to get your Super 50/50 raffle ticket and win up to $10,000!*

Only 200 tickets to be sold, at $100 each. Proceeds will benefit HIGHWAYS' food pantry and social service outreach. Buy a group ticket and share the winnings.

The drawing will be held Saturday, March 24, at 1:30 p.m. You do not need to be in attendance to win.

Call Jane at 201-858-8646 or 201-858-8656, or stop at Highways, 184 Hobart Ave., Bayonne, to get your ticket.

HIGHWAYS is a program of the Windmill Alliance.

* Or 50% of proceeds from tickets sold.

Vendors Welcome

HIGHWAYS is hosting a flea market on April 14 to benefit its social outreach programs.

The flea market will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Trinity Church Parish Hall, 141 Broadway (corner of 5th St. and Broadway), Bayonne.

Vendor tables cost $20 for the day. Vendors can set up the morning of the flea market between 7:30 and 9.

To reserve a space, contact Jane Jackson at (201) 858-8646 or (201) 858-8656, or at jane@windmillalliance.org.

In the News

HIGHWAYS was featured in this week's Bayonne Journal.

To view the article, titled "Mission: It's Possible -- Trinity Parish's outreach program hits the ground running," see page 5 of the Journal or click here.

Save the Dates...

As part of our continuing fundraising drive, we've got several exciting events coming up over the next few months:

Saturday, April 14, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Flea market, held at Trinity Parish Hall. Space will be available for vendors to rent, and lunch and baked goods will be sold.

Saturday, May 19: Inaugural walk-a-thon. Details will be announced soon.

Saturday, June 9, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Flea market, Trinity Parish Hall.

Also, the winning ticket for the Super 50/50 raffle will be drawn at our annual volunteer luncheon, Saturday, March 24, at 1:30 p.m., so there's still time to get your ticket!

More details will be posted as they become available.

Interested in participating in any of these events? Contact us for more information.

Back, By Popular Demand...

Beginning March 2, the HIGHWAYS thrift shop will be open the first Saturday of each month, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Located at 184 Hobart Ave. (corner of Linnet St.), in Bayonne, the thrift shop offers quality, low-cost items such as clothing, furniture and food to those identified as "in need."

In the "New & Almost New" section, clothing and items are priced individually. In the "Thrift Shop" section, clothing is offered at $6 per large bag. Other items such as furniture, appliances, and odds & ends are priced per item.

Interested in volunteering or donating items? Feel free to stop by, or e-mail us or call 201-858-8646 for more information.

Super 50/50 Raffle Tickets Now Available

The Super 50/50 raffle tickets are in. Get your chance to win $10,000 and help support HIGHWAYS's fundraising challenge.

Only 200 tickets will be sold, at $100 each. You can buy one on your own or with a friend. (If you buy your ticket with another person, you each put in $50, and can each win $5,000; between four people, it's only $25 each and you can each win $2,500!)

And remember, your donation is fully tax-deductible.

Don't delay -- with only 200 tickets available, they're sure to be sold out soon!

To get your ticket, stop by the HIGHWAYS thrift shop, 184 Hobart Ave., in Bayonne, or contact us to make other arrangements.

The winning ticket will be drawn Saturday, March 24. The winner need not be present at the drawing.

Thanks to Espress Printing (201-823-4262) for generously donating the raffle tickets.

Volunteering at HIGHWAYS

"To share often and much ... to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Do you have time to share? Consider volunteering at HIGHWAYS, where even a couple of hours a month can make a difference. There are several ways in which you can help:

• Work in the thrift shop, helping to sort, organize, and price donations of clothing, furniture, and food, or running the cash register and performing general customer service;
• Collecting non-perishable food for the food pantry, and clothing and other household items that can be given away or sold in the thrift shop;
• Help organize upcoming fundraisers;
• If you're a knitter or crocheter, make items for children in need.
  

Also, for the second year in a row, we will be establishing a community garden to grow fresh produce to distribute in the summer. If you have a green thumb, you can help with planting, weeding and watering.

Of course, you can also help by shopping at HIGHWAYS and telling your friends about it. Shopping and helping someone at the same time -- you can't beat that!

Super 50/50 Raffle Tickets Available Soon

In support of our fundraising challenge, HIGHWAYS will be holding a Super 50/50 raffle. Only 200 tickets will be sold, at $100 apiece -- meaning one lucky ticket holder can take home up to $10,000!

Tickets will be available Feb. 12, and can be purchased at Highways, 184 Hobart Ave., in Bayonne. Can't make it there? Contact us to make other arrangements.

We will contact the winner after the drawing, which will be held Saturday, March 24, at HIGHWAYS' annual volunteer lunch/celebration.

Good luck!

HIGHWAYS Challenge Grant

Earlier this month, HIGHWAYS received an exiciting new challenge from the Linden Foundation, a Boston-based organization that helps disadvantaged families achieve a better quality of life.

The foundation was gracious enough to give HIGHWAYS a $5,000 grant, with a challenge to raise $20,000 by June 30, 2007. If -- no, when -- we meet the goal, the foundation will give us another grant of $5,000.

We are ready to rise to the challenge! We've got some exciting events planned for the next few months, including an International Dessert Buffet and Silent Auction, a Walk-a-Thon and a Super 50/50 (with a top prize of $10,000!). We'll provide all the details here as they become available.

Of course, all donations -- however large or small -- would bring us one step closer to our goal. Your gift may be in memory or celebration of a loved one. All donations are tax deductible. For information on donating, e-mail information@windmillalliance.org.

Thank you!