CAPE MAY — A Somers Point-based group recently brought some holiday cheer to the crew of a U.S. Coast Guard cutter.
On Dec. 22, volunteers with Lawson’s Pride assembled and delivered a family meal to crewmembers of the 154-foot Lawrence Lawson, which had just made port after a short cruise when the group arrived.
Janice Johnston, owner of Philly Pretzel Factory and president of Somers Point City Council, said she, Councilman Mike Owen and local businessman Greg Sykora drove to Cape May with the meals after they were sorted and assembled by Pat Pierson, Marian McVeigh, Anne Marie Lucchessi, Erin and Kari Cutugno, Maureen Helbig and Mike Kezadora.
The volunteer organization was formed to assist the officers, crew and the families of the cutter, which was commissioned March 18, 2017, and is based in Cape May Harbor. The vessel provides aid to search-and-rescue missions as well as law enforcement tasks related to drug interdiction and immigration laws.
Lawson’s Pride is comprised of a mix of military veterans and residents who are committed to helping the 24 officers and crewmembers and their families while they are stationed in Cape May.
It provides funds for Family Readiness programs, a key component of morale, with particular attention to health and welfare during emergency situations and tragedies.
Johnston said the group bought 22 hams with sides to go with it, then delivered it to the base. The group got help from Republic Bank, which provided shopping bags for the delivery.
“Their families are here and most are from somewhere else, living in barracks with children,” Johnston said. “A lot of them are away from home and their spouses are out to sea sometimes for weeks at a time.”
The group works with the Cape May Coast Guard Community Foundation on different ways to benefit the crew, such as holding a food drive during a government workers furlough.
“We are always looking for ideas of ways we can help and thought at Christmastime we wanted to do something nice for the crew,” Johnston said, adding that they were very welcoming and invited them aboard for a tour.
“We met with the entire crew in the mess hall and got to talk to them a little bit,” Johnston said.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff