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Middletown honors donors to Veterans Village and expands tuition benefit for volunteer responders
Summary
Middletown recognized Jason's Dreams for Kids and the Middletown Elks Lodge 2179 for large donations to the new Veterans Village and announced a tuition-reimbursement add-on to the Veterans Incentive Program that will allow volunteer fire, EMS and OEM personnel to take Brookdale Community College courses at no cost.
Middletown Township on Oct. 20 publicly thanked two local donors whose gifts will support residents of a new Veterans Village and approved a tuition-reimbursement benefit for volunteer first responders.
The township presented Jason’s Dreams for Kids with a plaque after Jason’s Dreams and its supporters pledged $50,000 to the Veterans Village. Mayor Perry said the gift will be distributed over several years and described a plan to allocate roughly $300 per resident per quarter to help veterans buy household items. Dennis, a representative of the organization, spoke about keeping a promise he made to his nephew and the personal motivation behind the charity’s work.
The committee also recognized Middletown Elks Lodge 2179 for donating multiple televisions and equipment for the building’s community rooms. Bill Nicholson, speaking for the Elks, said the organization ‘‘never forgets a veteran’’ and emphasized that the group provides support without seeking recognition.
Why it matters: The Veterans Village is intended to give formerly homeless or vulnerable veterans a stable place to live and small, recurring supports for everyday needs. The committee framed the gifts as both immediate assistance (electronics and furnishings) and longer-term, recurring assistance for residents’ daily needs.
In a separate action announced during committee comments, the township added a tuition-reimbursement component to the Middletown Veterans Incentive Program. The committee said volunteer firefighters, EMS and OEM members will be able to receive college credits from Brookdale Community College at no cost; the township described the benefit as not costing the municipality money and as intended to increase education and career options for volunteers.
Committee members and residents praised the donors at the meeting. ‘‘Jason will be very proud,’’ Mayor Perry said during the presentation. Dennis thanked the community and framed the work as ‘‘not about me’’ but ‘‘about the cause.’’ The public recognition concluded with applause and a plaque presentation.
The meeting closed with a promise from township staff to provide follow-up information to residents about the Veterans Village and the new tuition benefit.
