New Providence Launches Reverend Caldwell Charity Day

When Sara Jane Vignali set out to visit every donation location on Saturday in New Providence, New Jersey, she didn't just win a raffle. She became the perfect symbol of what happens when an entire town decides to give back together.

The first annual Reverend Caldwell Day drew hundreds of residents to 12 locations across the borough, collecting donations for 22 charitable organizations. Named after a local Revolutionary War patriot who once collected shoes at his Turkey home to bring to soldiers at Jockey Hollow, the event transformed a historical act of kindness into a modern tradition.

Committee chairs Maria DeLuca, Amy Lepre, and Nick Schultz spent over a year planning the event as part of America 250 celebrations. The idea started two years ago as a simple research note about Reverend Caldwell's wartime generosity.

On Saturday, donation sites popped up everywhere from the police department (collecting coats and blankets) to the fire department (gathering aluminum cans) to the public library (accepting books and eyeglasses). High school students staffed a collection point for St. Hubert's animal shelter, while Women Fighting Hunger gathered feminine hygiene products.

Three people donated their hair at a week-long Cut-A-Thon hosted by New Providence High School's C.O.P.E. club at a local salon. Volunteers wrote 50 letters to deployed troops, and the Community Service Association collected grocery store gift cards for families in need.

Mayor Al Morgan and Council President Nadine Geoffroy visited multiple locations throughout the day. Geoffroy, who also served as a borough liaison for the event, checked off her donation map alongside dozens of other residents who made the rounds.

The Ripple Effect

What started as one reverend's simple act of collecting shoes for freezing soldiers 250 years ago has become something bigger. The planning committee coordinated with organizations serving everyone from veterans to families facing food insecurity to animals needing homes.

The event brought together different generations, too. High school volunteers worked alongside senior citizens, while families made it a day-long outing to teach kids about giving back.

Organizers designed the day so anyone could participate, whether they had an hour or a whole afternoon, a carload of donations or a single item to give. The multiple locations meant no one had to travel far, and the variety of charities meant everyone could support a cause they cared about.

Committee member John Sponauer even offered graveyard tours at New Providence Presbyterian Church, connecting residents to local history while they dropped off donations. The event blended education, community building, and charitable giving into one spring Saturday.

New Providence proved that small towns can create their own meaningful traditions, and sometimes the best way to honor history is by making more of it.