A locally funded and locally focused charitable organization.
Our Purpose
Community Cares of Salem and Gloucester County is a non-profit organization made up of generous members who donate $400 per year to directly support local needs in Salem and Gloucester County, NJ. Our purpose is to provide members of our community a method of directly impacting the lives of children and families in our own community. The goal of 100 members will ultimately produce four (4) $10,000 gifts per year to established organizations in our community who are struggling to meet their existing budgets.
How we got started
Our president, Bill McAllister, was on the Salem Health and Wellness Foundation that supports a local hospital as well as local charities. He noticed that with the hospital needing more and more funding each year, some of the local charities were going unfunded even though their annual budget was under $10,000. At the same time, Bill heard a presentation by a colleague in Iowa that created a non-profit to benefit their town and felt some of the same techniques could work in our locale to raise funds to meet the needs of non-profits who lost their funding. Our vice-president, Sandy Strudwick, combined the insights of our Iowa colleagues, her long-time experience in various roles on the board of trustees of another non-profit, and local professional advice, to bring Bill’s vision to life as Community Cares of Salem and Gloucester County. Our hope is to create a model that is repeatable throughout other counties in New Jersey.
How it works
Members donate $400 per year (or $100 per calendar quarter) plus $25 club dues. Each quarter the full amount of that quarter’s collected donations will go to a local cause that is voted on by the members. Club dues help offset the cost of donation and tax receipt software and online payment fees. This annual donation is our only fundraising request each year. We will not ask for additional donations or sell raffles, 50/50, etc.
To join, click the link below to be taken to our secure online portal where you will process your online payment and provide information for your instant tax receipt.
Why we call ourselves a locally funded and locally focused charitable organization
Our goal is to make an impact in our own communities. Salem and Gloucester Counties are our only focus. We believe we can gather 100 of our like-minded friends and neighbors to generously share their wealth to meet the basic needs of safety, shelter, food and quality of life to children and families in our community. The two counties combined stretch approximately 36 miles tip to tip - roughly an 18 mile radius from a central point in Elmer covers the whole of both counties. The donations we receive will literally aid our own neighbors. 100% of your $400 annual donation will be split among 4 recipient organizations based in our community and all donations collected will distributed in full each year.
What we ask from members.
We look to our members to provide names of existing organizations in Salem and Gloucester Counties that could benefit from our work. Some of the suggestions we have received so far are:
Salem County Women’s Services
Kings Things Food Bank
Meals on Wheels
Challenger League
We ask our members to provide names of their groups, clubs and associations that will allow us to make a presentation to their membership about our mission.
Vote! We will ask potential recipient organizations to send us a summary of their mission, then present them to our members to vote on where our quarterly donations will go.
Our 100 Members
In chronological order
Who we are
Bill McAllister, President
Bill and his wife, Christy, have three children. Originally from Carney's Point, they have lived in Pennsville, NJ, since 1999. Active in the community, Bill has volunteered as a baseball coach, as well as a karate instructor. Bill has been a longtime member of the Exchange Club and has served on the board of the Salem Health and Wellness Foundation.
Sandy Strudwick, Vice President
Sandy and her husband, Bill, have two sons and have lived in the Swedesboro/Woolwich area since 1990. Active in the community, she has been a trustee of the Trinity “Old Swedes” Church Historic Preservation Foundation since 2002, which raises funds to maintain this national historic landmark in Swedesboro. In her free time she enjoys camping, reading and visiting wineries.
Michelle Shaw, Treasurer
Michelle and her husband, Dave, are life-long residents of Carneys Point, NJ. Active in the community, Michelle was a volunteer on the Carneys Point Recreation Commission for multiple years. Of late, Michelle was the first woman elected to Carneys Point Township Committee. Her term begins January, 2023. In addition to Community Cares, Michelle’s civic involvement includes Committee Member of the University of Delaware Cybersecurity Certificate Program, Co-chair of Delaware’s Girls who Code, and Member of Servicemen's Memorial Home.
Tracy Slattery, Co-Treasurer
Tracy and her husband, Ron, have lived in Woodbury since 2007. Tracy has been with Atlantic City Public Schools for 22 years. She began as a Kindergarten teacher, transitioned to a Computer Lab teacher for grades K-8, and now serves as the District Teacher Coordinator for Technology & Assessments. In her free time, she enjoys visiting other cities to watch the Eagles and Phillies, spending time with friends and family, and participating in new experiences.
Contact Us
Please feel free to email or call us with questions.
(856) 241-3883
Email us at CommunityCaresSGC@gmail.com
