JACKSON – They weren’t baskets of chocolate bunnies or crème filled eggs but many attendees of this year’s Adopt-A-Senior fundraiser left with gift baskets, a great meal and some wonderful memories.
Adopt-A-Senior Board members Bob Tretter, Marisa Marino, Margaret Morris, Jill O’Toole, Annye Cohen and Sharyn Cohen were among those buzzing about during a recent Saturday afternoon at the Jackson/Howell Columbian Club.
They were busy preparing for the organization’s biggest fundraiser of the year, placing the numerous gift baskets and directing the caterer to position the hot trays of food. There was excitement in the air as they recreated some of the same kind of fun that they provide to seniors at various nursing homes and assisted living facilities throughout the year.
While it was the eighth year of the fundraiser, the occasion also marked the 11th year for Adopt-A-Senior, President and Jackson resident Annye Cohen remarked.
The event not only raised funds, it also raised awareness about Adopt-a-Senior and the opportunities that exist for people within the community to help make sure that area seniors are never forgotten.
The organization formed in 2014 as an extension of the very successful Adopt-A-Senior Holiday Program that started over 20 years ago at a facility in Manhattan, under the leadership of Annye Cohen and Bill Cowen. The mission for this non-profit is to provide gifts to as many seniors living in long-term care facilities as possible.
An abundance of gift baskets was part of the fun at this year’s Adopt A Senior fundraiser held recently at the Jackson/Howell Columbian Club. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)
The organization grew with The Orchards in Jackson, Sunrise of Jackson, Sunrise Brighton Gardens of Middletown, The Grand in Whitestone, Queens, CareOne of Jackson, Bartley Healthcare, CareOne of East Brunswick and Applewood Estates, Cohen said.
Debbie Conroy of Lacey Township, who works as the campus director at Lawrence Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Lawrenceville which is part of the Marquee Health Care System, was among those helping out for the day. “I’ve known Annye for over 10 years and she used to volunteer for the Adopt-A-Senior program at a company I used to work with.”
“I’ve been with Lawrence for a little over a year so I know the organization and they are very wonderful people. Wherever I am they have always adopted our senior clients and I have over 300 residents. It has a very large campus,” Conroy said.
“No matter how many patients we had, Annie and her team always make sure that everyone is always taken care of. It is absolutely amazing. I have over 13,000 pictures,” she added. “Adopt-A-Senior does a great job and I believe in their mission. The residents love them and they bring such a smile and joy to them during the holidays and during their birthdays. They are always there for me. It is a wonderful organization.”
Annye’s mother, Sharyn Cohen explained the special fundraiser cake which was actually a decoration. For $5, you pick a candle, which reveals a color. Then, you go to one of the gift tables and you pick out a gift based on the color. “We’ve done this a number of years. One year we did it with Easter eggs. I made the cake with paper and ribbon and no matter what, you walk away with a gift.”
Family members gather with their winning gift basket prize at this year’s 11th annual Adopt-A-Senior Fundraiser held at the Jackson/Howell Columbian Club in Jackson Township. (Photo courtesy Adopt-A-Senior)
The organization has seven board members. The number of volunteers varies but they serve 13 facilities, she added.
Annye Cohen noted after the event that “it was a very successful event with over 60 people in attendance including some from three of the facilities we work with (Sunrise Jackson, The Orchards and Lawrence Rehab and Healthcare Facility), over 125 raffle baskets and food from Bella Italia of Jackson.”
“We also honored Avamarie Marino, who received the 2025 Frank Mesto Volunteer of the Year, and Jennifer Crowell who received the 2025 Frank Mesto Spirit Award,” she added.
For more information on how to join the organization visit adopt-a-senior.org, e-mail info@adopt-a-senior.org or call 347-365-0633. You can also write to Adopt-A-Senior, 86 Brookfield Drive, Jackson, NJ 08527.
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