Day of Service Honors Local Men

The lives of longtime friends Richard “Dick” Kowal and Michael “Mickey” Hunt will be honored with a Day of Service at varied locations in Sussex County, New Jersey, and Port Jervis, New York, on Friday, September 27^th, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. The pair died tragically in a boating accident in 2021. Both men lived exemplary lives of service to their community, mentoring students and offering advice to young and old. Hunt was a self-employed mason contractor who became a general contractor and partnered with Kowal on numerous projects for decades. Kowal served as construction supervisor in the building of non-profit organization Project Self-Sufficiency’s four-building Newton campus, eventually taking on the role of Facilities Manager. He oversaw the agency’s building and grounds while mentoring hundreds of teens and young adults through the New Jersey Youth Corps program for high school dropouts.

“We are honored to continue the tradition of an annual Day of Service in honor of Dick Kowal and Mickey Hunt whose legendary work ethic helped so many people,” stated Project Self-Sufficiency Executive Director Deborah Berry-Toon. “Volunteering, mentoring, and helping those in need was second nature to both men. While we grieve their loss, we celebrate their impact on our community, and we are privileged to exemplify their selflessness with this annual event.”

For those who would like to commemorate the pair by giving back to the community, service opportunities will be available in a variety of locations in northern New Jersey and the Port Jervis, New York areas. Projects are available at the Blue Mountain Day Camp, Project Self-Sufficiency, the Ridge & Valley Conservancy, and the Salvation Army Thrift Shop in Port Jervis. The $25 registration fee will fund a scholarship for New Jersey Youth Corps graduates who exemplify the life of service displayed by Kowal and Hunt. Interested volunteers are invited to register online at www.projectselfsufficiency.org.

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