Local chefs dazzle in Allaire Farm to Table fundraiser

WALL TOWNSHIP — Allaire Community Farm’s Farm to Table fundraiser raked in the donations and watered mouths again this past Thursday, Sept. 26, welcoming almost 200 guests keen on supporting the nonprofit’s mission of supporting youth and special needs adults.

Local food moguls — headlined by the Bott family, owners of Merri-Makers, and Joe Introna, owner of Joe Leone’s Italian Specialties — do-si-doed for the second year since the COVID pandemic to make seven courses directly from the farm’s organic produce.

The farm, located on Bailey’s Corner Road, had amenities open to visitors, including  an open bar, cocktail hour and catering done by Merri-Makers staff.

JoAnn Burney, co-owner of the farm, told The Coast Star, “I had a vision 12 years ago, but no money, no property…fast forward and we have…people coming out to support us.”

Burney said that the farm closes to the public for three months, from January to April. Being a nonprofit, she said, the farm relies on the fundraiser, as well as its Christmas light show, for the majority of its operations funding; the estimated monies in donations/sponsors for the event was roughly $100,000.

She explained that, while the farm is closed, it still provides programs for special needs adults to obtain job training and development.

Sponsors for the dinner, some of which pitched in upward of $10,000, according to Burney, included Manasquan Bank, Shire Realty, Triad Wealth Advisors, Fran and Paul Turner, All County Exteriors, Lertch Recycling Center Demolition and Disposal Manasquan, Elks Lodge No. 2534, HFA Certified Public Accounts and Geoffrey Cramer, Clayton and McGirr Funeral Home, Paul and Margo Hooker, IBEW Local 400 and New Jersey Natural Gas.

“People with special needs, they need that consistency,” Burney said. “If we couldn’t have (those programs) for three months, their schedules and progression would be off.”

Bott told The Coast Star that the idea started years ago, when he and his wife Cynthia reached out to the farm and proposed the fundraiser.

“My wife and I wanted to do something, all the local charities are great, but we wanted to make a difference,” he said. “We jumped on board with (the farm), and told them ‘We’re going to do a barbeque at your farm and you’re going to take all the money,’ and from there it’s continued to grow.”

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