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By: Tina Pappas
Passaic Valley Today
Staff Writer
NorthJersey.com
WOODLAND PARK – The spirit of community was alive and well as Berkeley College held its very first community service day last Friday.
An estimated 500 faculty and staff members volunteered for the entire day at locations throughout New Jersey, including Woodland Park and other areas of Passaic County.
All of the college’s campuses were closed as a result of the community events being held throughout New Jersey and New York. Staffers from the Woodland Park campus primarily focused on trash and litter clean-ups in the borough of Woodland Park, and neighboring areas.
“This the first time we are holding this community service day,” said Linda Terminiello, media relations associate for Berkeley College. “We’re growing in the community so this is a way for the college to give back.”
The idea began with Brian Maher, athletic director for Berkeley College.
“The goal was to service about 40 organizations in the tri-state area,” said Maher. “We’re hoping to make this an annual event. We asked all of our associates where they would like to serve and which locations they thought may be in need of some help.”
Some of the locations Berkeley staffers volunteered at were at Zaccaria Park’s field and playground on Rifle Camp Road.
“This area was in need of some litter removal and we are covering a pretty large area with the field, picnic area and playground,” Maher added.
In addition to Zaccaria Park, other field and park clean-ups for the borough of Woodland Park included Rose Place Park, Memorial Field, Diane Grimes playground and areas of Garret Mountain Reservation.
Staffers also volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club, Habitat for Humanity and Eva’s Village, all in Paterson, and at the Salvation Army in Montclair.
