Renowned Chefs Support Project Self-Sufficiency at A Taste of Talent

Andre de Waal, Kirk Avondoglio Julie Killen are joined by Project Self-Sufficiency Board of Directors and Select Donors

Andre de Waal, Executive Chef at Andre’s Lakeside Dining in Sparta, will serve as Honorary Chairperson at A Taste of Talent, northwestern New Jersey’s premier culinary fundraising event. The large-scale gathering will be held throughout Perona Farms on behalf of Project Self-Sufficiency on Monday, May 6^th, beginning at 6:00 p.m. In addition to feasting on appetizers, entrees and desserts from more than 50 area restaurants, patrons will be invited to bid on a raffle featuring exquisite jewelry and crystal glassware from Tiffany’s, as well as a silent auction curated by Holly George, President of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Association of Interior Designers.

Sponsorships for the event range from $500 - $30,000, and a limited number of individual tickets are available at a cost of $200. Guests will be invited to stroll through the Perona Farms greenhouse, newly renovated rooms and the facility’s cavernous kitchen. De Waal, who has participated in A Taste of Talent for more than 20 years, will give a cooking demonstration during a champagne reception for donors immediately preceding the event. “We like to give back to the community and Project Self-Sufficiency is a wonderful organization,” commented de Waal. “A Taste of Talent gives me an opportunity to get out of the kitchen and be face-to-face with the customer, as well as catch up with chefs from other places.”

This year, participating restaurants will include Perona Farms; Andre’s Lakeside Dining; 403 Broad; Between the Bread; Bistro Leo; Black Forest Inn; Blue Heron Tavern; Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse; Café e Dolci; Café Pierrot; Caffe NaVona; The Carriage House; The Chocolate Goat Gift Shoppe; The Clay Oven; Cliff’s Homemade Ice Cream; Fenwick Catering & Events; Fossil Farms; Front Porch Organics; George’s Wine & Gourmet Gallery; Gourmet Gallery; Hayek’s Market; The Hummingbird House; Hunter’s Lodge; Jesse Jones, Chef to the Stars; Krave Café & Caterers; Lake Mohawk Country Club; L’Amico NYC; Lola Restaurant; Lorraine Cake Shop & Tea Room; Mama’s Café Baci; Mr. Crabby’s Craft Kitchen & Bar; North Shore House; Oldwick General Store; Pattycakes Bake Shop; The Pasta Shop; Pies on Wheels; Portofino Ristorante; Ristorante Il Porto; Ryland Inn; St. Moritz Bar & Grill; Slamwich Scratch Kitchen; South + Pine; Stone Water; Springhouse Creamery; Sussex County Community College Culinary Arts; Tanti Baci Caffe; Texas Smoke Barbecue; Two Teaspoons; Ventana’s Restaurant & Lounge; wheelHouse Kitchen & Bar; White Birch; Windy Brow Farms; Yetter’s Diner; and others.
“A Taste of Talent is our signature fundraising event and the cornerstone of our annual campaign,” noted Deborah Berry-Toon, Executive Director of Project Self-Sufficiency. “We continue to be humbled by the creativity and enthusiastic support we receive from the chefs and restaurateurs in our area, and we are grateful to the community for their on-going support of this exceptional event.”

Sparta realtor and Project Self-Sufficiency Leadership Council member Julie Killen is volunteering as the Honorary Chairperson of the event. “A Taste of Talent is the community working together to make life better,” summed up Killen on the impact of the annual fundraiser.

Perona Farms Executive Chef Kirk Avondoglio adds that Perona Farms enthusiastically embraces A Taste of Talent year after year. “What a wonderful event. I look forward to it every year. It’s nice to see all the chefs come together. There is a lot of camaraderie and it does so much for the people served by Project Self-Sufficiency. It’s their biggest fundraiser of the year.”

Project Self-Sufficiency has been dedicated to improving the lives of low-income families residing in northwestern New Jersey for more than 30 years. The agency’s mission is to provide a broad spectrum of holistic, respectful, and comprehensive services enabling low-income single parents, teen parents, two-parent families, and displaced homemakers to improve their lives and the lives of their children while achieving personal and economic self-sufficiency and family stability.

Perona Farms is located at 350 Andover-Sparta Road in Andover. To make a contribution to Project Self-Sufficiency, to obtain tickets to A Taste of Talent, or to find out more information about the programs and services available at the agency, visit www.projectselfsufficiency.org or call 973-940-3500 or 844-807-3500.

Little Sprouts Recognized for Excellence

The Little Sprouts Early Learning Center was recently awarded a four-star rating from Grow NJ Kids , the state-sponsored initiative to raise the quality of child care and early learning throughout New Jersey. The rating is based on a rigorous process which considers documentation, classroom environment, in-person observations, and other factors. The Little Sprouts Early Learning Center is an expansive childcare and preschool facility which offers space for 83 youngsters, ages 6 weeks to 6 years, and is operated by Project Self-Sufficiency at 127 Mill Street in Newton. Jennifer Blohm is a Technical Assistance Specialist from the Central Jersey Family Health Consortium , one of three agencies assigned to provide technical assistance and support to programs participating in Grow NJ Kids. Blohm was so impressed by the quality of the Little Sprouts Early Learning Center environment, that she decided to enroll her own child in the preschool. “The goal of Grow NJ Kids is t

High School Diploma Program Launches in March

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Volunteers and Paid Instructors Needed for High School Equivalency Program

Paid instructors and volunteers are needed to work with young adults in the New Jersey Youth Corps high school equivalency and employment skills training program at Project Self-Sufficiency. Program coordinators are searching for help with tutoring in science, math, social studies, and English as well as assistance with community service projects. Tutors will also assist with basic reading comprehension and vocabulary. Opportunities are available Monday - Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; a part-time, flexible schedule is offered. "The situation is ideal for college students or educators who might be taking a break from their regular schedule due to the pandemic,” notes Project Self-Sufficiency Executive Director Deborah Berry-Toon. Those with experience in business, construction trades, building maintenance and landscaping are particularly welcome. The New Jersey Youth Corps gives young adults the opportunity to augment their literacy skills, prepare for the hig

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