Project Help honors heroes

What makes someone a hero?
Often the spotlight shines on the big money, grand homes and fancy cars of athletes and movie stars. Blinded by the glitz and glitter children especially look up to and aspire to be like these larger than life figures. However in most cases what you see is only the surface.
Working to show children that the real heroes, the men and women they should be looking up to and honoring, live next door to them or down the street or around the corner - they are the soldiers who fight for and protect them.
To focus attention on the bravery and sacrifice of our soldiers, Project Help sponsors an annual K-12 poster contest. The 2019 theme was “Honoring All Who Served.”
Schools across New Jersey were invited to participate by calling on all budding artists to submit an original 2-dimensional piece of artwork.
Over 85 entries were received and the winners chosen. Their artwork will be used on social media, the Project Help website and displayed at events to help promote the Project Help mission of service to our veterans.
On April 3 the winning students and their families were invited to an awards presentation dinner.
More than 60 people, including students, parents, siblings and teachers participated in the award ceremony held courtesy of Gary Lynch at the Allied Wealth Partners in Parsippany.
“We were delighted to see the great participation in our second annual Poster Contest and truly struck with the talent of the youngsters who participated. Aside from their talent, they were, without a doubt, one of the nicest groups of children and parents we’ve worked with”, said Sandy Mitchell, Executive Director of Project Help.
Deszireh Arocho, a senior at J. Christian Bollage Finance Academy, said as an art major she enjoyed participating in a contest for such a good cause. “It was an eye opener,” she said, “learning about what happens when soldiers come home.”
Olga Brazhnikova agreed. An artist in the 5th - 8th grade category from Deerfield School, Brazhnikova said that working on the art project got her thinking. “I thought about how hard it must be when soldiers have to leave their homes and families and that it’s also hard for them to come back,” she said.