6th Annual Dom’s Pasta Party Collection Set for April 19
BY CLYDE HUGHES | AC JosepH Media
VINELAND — Dominic Mercado, the Vineland student to made national headlines during the COVID-19 pandemic for his philanthropic efforts to feed the hungry, his holding his sixth annual Dom’s Pasta Party collection on Saturday, April 19.
Mercado and his volunteers will be collecting boxed pasta and sauce (canned or jarred) at 942 East Grand Avenue in Vineland from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. People who cannot make the drop off in person can contribute by going to a GoFundMe page that will be made available.
For more information, contact Mercado at Domspastaparty@gmail.com or 856-558-1666.
Now a junior at Cumberland County Technical Education Center focusing on law enforcement, he started Dom’s Pasta Party when he was at Sgt. Dominick Pilla Middle School, bypassing the typical birthday celebration for organizing a fundraising “pasta party” for those in need.
“I have decided to keep Dom’s Pasta Party going and pursue a sixth year because this event has become the highlight of my year and of my volunteer service,” Mercado told Front Runner New Jersey.
“Doing this every year helps me to feel that I am doing good in my community, and that I can help the soup kitchens with weekly Pasta Dinners throughout the Year.”
Mercado said his GoFundMe goal is $3,000 dollars.
“We are hoping to raise more than that,” Mercado said. “I also am very hopeful that we can have a record number of donations this year.”
In 2021, Mercado’s “Pasta Party” caught the attention of New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy who recognized Mercado, the son of Vineland Fire Department Captain Carlos Mercado, during is COVID-19 briefing.
From there, news of the younger Mercado selflessness took on a life of its own, being spotlighted in other new media outlets around the country. The event, which is a family that included his older brother Sebastain, a award-winning college student, has received honors from the Cumberland County Commissioners and Vineland Fire Department, among others.
Note from AC JosepH Media: If you like this story and others posted on Front Runner New Jersey.com, lend us a hand so we can keep producing articles like these for New Jersey and the world to see. Click on SUPPORT FRNJ and make a contribution that will go directly in making more stories like this available. Thank you for reading.
About Author
