Often, the charitable work of small organizations goes unnoticed. A fine example is the Italian American Club of Canal Walk, a senior housing development in Somerset, New Jersey, that first opened in 2003. The Italian American Club was formed shortly thereafter with its mission to preserve, foster and promote Italian American values. Its current membership numbers approximately 410.
In 2017, the Club awarded $16,000 in scholarships to four area high schools, including a $2,000 award to Somerset Vocational and Technical High School. They also initiated a Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund drive, and together with non-member residents, raised over $5,000 to with the devastation help in Texas and Florida. It recently sponsored a winter clothing drive which provided warm winter jackets and sweaters to those in need and during the year, several food and cash collections were sponsored to help replenish local food banks. Each year, the club sponsors a Christmas fund drive and this year four area families were provided with clothing, gifts and approximately $2,000 in gift certificates to Shoprite and Walmart.
The club is blessed with a very philanthropic and charitable membership. Their responses to sponsored drives and charitable activities have been phenomenal, often joined by non-member community residents. It is a senior development with a very big young heart.
