By Judy O’Gorman Alvarez | Photos by Nancy Ostrander
FAIR HAVEN – They arrive on foot, on bike and in their parents’ cars descending on the quiet fairgrounds at 8 a.m. Each morning up to 40 children of all ages and sizes come to pitch in to make the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair, the oldest firemen’s fair in New Jersey, a culinary success.
When the rescue truck pulls up with the morning’s vegetables, the kids stand ready to shuck the corn, peel the eggplant, restock the condiments and bread the fish – whatever tasks are needed. The eager volunteers are rewarded with ride or meal tickets.
What’s become somewhat of a rite-of-passage for many, children as young as 2 will join in the community project. Parents accompany the littlest ones and often kids come every summer until they leave for college.
The help is invaluable, according to Nancy Ostrander, who coordinates the effort, keeping the young volunteers safe and equipped with tools.
“It’s summertime so we’re competing with beach clubs, friends and, well, summer!”
“I wanted to show them that volunteering and service to others is part of life,” said Meg Chrisner-Keefe, who volunteers and brings her four children, ages 7 and younger, to help.
Some tips for prepping food from the kids: If you’re breading fish, it helps if you like to eat fish. And for peeling the sometimes slippery eggplants, “get a good peeler.”
The Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair, the annual fund drive for the fire department, runs through Saturday, Aug. 31.
