N.J. O Scale Show Benefits Food Pantry
At the Mania home in historic Freehold, New Jersey, the separate passions of husband and wife recently combined for the benefit of many. Joe Mania, 43, has been operating and collecting model trains, specifically complete boxed train sets, for 35 years. JoAnn Mania, also 43, volunteers at the Freehold Area Open Door Food Pantry, located in central Jersey. This past holiday season while working at the pantry, JoAnn lamented the long waits for the dwindling supplies clients had to endure, especially the elderly. The pantry needed money and food. Both Manias are members of the local Sunrise Optimist Club, as is JoAnn’s co-worker at Allstate Insurance, Carmen Rivello. Rather than “just give cash”, Mania had the idea to use his trains to raise money. Some people might be interested, he thought. He had plenty of model railroading friends who would be willing to display their own trains and layouts. What he needed was a free venue, which Mr. Rivello supplied; an otherwise empty clubhouse at the Knob Hill Golf Club in Manalapan. Winter is a slow time for golf in New Jersey.
One of Joe’s friends, Bob Gassaway of nearby Colts Neck, is an avid modeler and retired antique auto restorer who works at The Hobby Shop in Aberdeen, which carries Atlas products. Two Atlas employees also reside in Colts Neck, and read about the upcoming show in their local newspaper. A perfect storm of model railroading, a winter weekend and a worthy cause erupted and at the 11th hour, Atlas was able to provide free catalogs, signs and literature for the brisk and constant flow of hundreds of attendees, as well as an Industrial Rail™ Train Set for the event’s Silent Auction. Beginning at 10 a.m., model train lovers of all ages, including those irresistible little ones in their engineers’ hats, came through doors held open by local high school volunteers, some carrying food to donate, others bringing needed cash. The Open Door Food Pantry serves over 800 area residents, many of them families. Donations tend to dip between the winter and spring holidays, officials said. The timing of the train show aimed to pick up the slack, and succeeded.
Joe Mania was busy all day discussing his vast collection of some 200 train sets, most preserved in their original boxes. He acquired them in various ways, including through collectors or just happily happening upon them. His acquisitions date from 1897 to the 1970s. In all, some 10 different displays were set up at the show, including trolleys, antique pieces and a large walk-around layout that attracted everyone to the center of the room. Tom Martin of Freehold discussed the 11’ x 22’ layout in his home, which features an engine yard with four sidings, a freight yard, dual reversing loops and a second level with two loops. “I use all Atlas track on my layout,” Mr. Martin said. “I like it for its value and quality. My trains run very smoothly and there are lots of options with the switches.” Bob Gassaway, self-proclaimed “biggest collector” of Atlas O Steam Era Classics™, who is also a member of the Atlas Golden Spike™ Club, donated a set he’s been re-creating for the past seven years, based on an O-27 set he owned in 1950 as a youngster. Estimated to be worth over $600, it was the centerpiece of the Silent Auction, and brought in $300. Admission to the show was free. The auction and cash donations raised $1,400, and 60 grocery bags of food were collected, JoAnn Mania said.
“It was a great feeling and I want to thank everyone who volunteered as they were a big part of our success,” JoAnn Mania said afterward. “All our friends who participated said they had a great time and we will absolutely be repeating the show next year.” Carmen Rivello presented the check to Open Door the following Friday and thanked the contributors for helping raise the needed funds. “Donating a train set is better than donating cash because it’s something people can see and get excited about.” |
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