Juneteenth: HELP Inc.’s Celebration Helps Kick Off 3 Weekends of Activities in South Jersey
The Universal African Dance and Drum group performs at the HELP Inc. Juneteenth celebration at Kingsway Middle School at Woolwich Township on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Photo by Meredith Winner/Mer-Made Photography
BY CLYDE HUGHES | AC JosepH Media
WOOLWICH TOWNSHIP — The Universal African Dance and Drum group gave a rousing performance to highlight the fifth annual Juneteenth Festival and Gospel Jam sponsored by H.E.L.P. Inc. to kickoff the first of three weekends full of holiday celebrations and events on Saturday, June 14.
The performance at Kingsway Regional Middle School, gave the audience the dramatic view of traditional African music and dance along with the now national celebration that recognizes the end of racial slavery in the United States.
The Juneteenth celebration near Swedesboro was one of several that dotted South Jersey on Saturday. Celebrations will continue over the next two weeks as the state and country recognizes the holiday, kept alive by former slaves and their supporters after learning of their freedom in 1865.
READ: Juneteenth, Where They Are Celebrating
While the Universal African Dance and Drum group performed on a stage inside the school’s gymnasium to an appreciative audience, vendors sold goods inside and outside the facility.
Vendors Stella and Thomas Dawkins, of Del-A-Vue Designs, said they attended the H.E.L.P.’s Juneteenth event for the first time. They said it was the network and the meaning of Juneteenth that drew them to the festival.
“We’re involved in the church community, so through the grapevine, we found out about this,” Thomas Dawkins said. “We’ve been in this area our whole lives. We’re part of this community and we love this area.
“We decided to take part of this event because of the community. It’s diverse and very deep-rooted in the movement. I’m going to call it the movement. We’re here to share the meaning of Juneteenth with everyone.”
Bishop Freddy Washington, who pastors the Worldwide Outreach Restoration Deliverance (WORD) Church, of Penns Grove, brought his church choir to participate in the Gospel Jam.
“I was with them last year and I’m back again,” Washington said about his return to the Juneteenth event. “Gospel is part of our heritage, so we’re here to fulfill our part on this celebration. Juneteenth allows us to celebrate our heritage and what we’ve accomplished in the world and our country.
“We’ve had a lot to do in making this country what it is, even if they don’t recognize it. We have a history that is significant to this country, so why not set aside time for us to celebrate our culture and heritage.”
The CompleteCare Health Network Mobile Medical Center conducted medical screenings while food trucks like Tutti Fruity Water Ice providing desserts for the old and young alike.
The day also included a tour of Mount Zion, which was a stop on the Underground Railroad; a
Civil War Colored Troop Soldier Salute; health screening by CompleteCare Health Network’s Mobile Medical Center; Ebony Sonshine Puppets; Hailey Blair, Performing Arts Contest Winner; The Trumpet Chics; Performing Arts Contest awards; Dardyn Fauntleroy, Performing Arts Contest Winner; Line Dancing; the telling of the Mount Zion’s Story, “Mrs. Jubilee Sharper,” by Rev. Sherry Hall; before the Gospel Jam.
The Gospel Jan included performances from Rev. Derrick Gaitling, First Baptist Jericho Pastor; Bishop Freddy Washington and Choir; a Spoken Word Artist; Rev. Langston Washing, Mount Zion AME Pastor; the Third Sunday Choir; Rev. Wayne Young, St. Paul UAME Pastor; and the Wilmington Chester-Mass.
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