Moorestown FEP, Singleton Collect Backpacks For The Needy

MOORESTOWN, NJ — On the eve of a busy Labor Day weekend, the Friends Enrichment Program (FEP) received an unexpected phone call. Moorestown Deputy Mayor Nicole Gillespie was on the other end of the line.

She told the organization for financially disadvantaged, underserved Moorestown children that State Sen. Troy Singleton (D-7) had six backpacks with school supplies available for any children FEP might know of who were in need.

The backpacks were stuffed as part of the “Serving with Senator Singleton” program. For FEP, finding six school-age children who still needed backpacks and supplies was a breeze.

It meant going through the list of FEP scholarship recipients and calling six financially struggling families that live from hand to mouth and sometimes run out of money to buy essentials.

Less than 24 hours later, Gillespie fetched the backpacks from Singleton’s office. Shortly after that, FEP delivered those backpacks to the parents of the lucky children who were still in need.

“Ms. Gillespie and Senator Singleton may rest assured that the children who benefited .from their kindness and the parents of these children will remember that there are people in government who care for the people they were elected to serve and give a hand-up to those in need,” FEP Founder and Coordinator Monique Begg said.