A Day to Help and a Day For Community

Even a simple activity, maybe a bowling trip with some friends, can make a world of difference to someone with a disability.

Thanks to the township’s Daisy Recreation Program, activities for young people with special needs–including games, parties, fitness and exercise classes and a summer camp program--are common place, and they’ve been making a world of difference for close to 50 years right here in East Brunswick.

“We provide these folks the chance to participate in programs and opportunities they may not obviously get a chance to participate in,” said Michael Reissner, manager of the township’s Division of Recreation and Community Services.

On Sunday, April 10, the Annual Ralph Lamo Memorial Breakfast will be held from 8 a.m. to noon at the Brunswick Hilton. The breakfast is a fundraiser for the program, but also has become a community event in which friends and neighbors get together for a good time. All money raised through the breakfast goes to support the Daisy Program.

“He started the breakfast many years ago and he was able to develop it into a great community event where a lot people stop by and support the program,” said Reissner.

For 47 years, the Daisy Program has been providing activities for people with special needs, giving them the same opportunities for recreational opportunities as others. The program has been supported and given financial assistance through a parents group, the Daisy Association, and grown from being staffed by volunteers to a year round program with a paid staff.

The Daisy Association helps advise programming, and provides funding for evening programs, activity admission fees, scholarships and more.

 Breakfast will include eggs, home fries, pancakes, doughnuts, juice, coffee, tea and milk, as well as games, activities for the kids, a DJ, and a Tricky Tray raffle. Tickets are $10 for adults and $2 for kids under 10. Tickets can be bought at the recreation office or at the door. Make checks payable to the Daisy Association. Parking is free at the Hilton. For more information, call 732-390-6797.