The Belmar Optimist Club held the first of several NOW (New Optimist Wanted) lunch meetings on April 27 at the Lucky Strike Lanes in the Belmar District of Lakewood. The Belmar Optimist Club has a very good reason to be optimistic and to be looking for a few new members. In support of its mission of helping local youth, the Optimists, working in association with Whole Foods Market of Belmar, The Belmar Shopping Center and Alameda High School staffand students will be sponsoring a pancake breakfast every Sunday morning this summer during the Belmar Farmer's Markets.

The Belmar Optimists which has already teamed with the Alameda Gateway Community Association to help Alameda High acquire high tech "Smart Boards" is looking forward to working with the school and its student groups to provide a tasty breakfast for the Framers Market shoppers.

The food will be provided by Whole Foods, and the space will be provided by Belmar. The Belmar Optimists, a civic club, will manage the concession and will assist Alameda High School student groups in its operation with the proceeds benefiting the schools. Optimist club president, Peter Shlagor, stated that he expects that at least fifty percent of the proceeds, and most likely far more will go directly to student activities programs.

The Belmar Optimist Club which already has a number of other successful programs such as supporting the Bridgeway Home for Pregnant Teens, a Christmas toy drive, sponsoring a Christmas party for needy children at Stein Elementary School, conducting food drives and recognizing outstanding Explorer Scouts is currently ramping up to meet this new opportunity and is looking for caring adults who are motivated to help local youth. The next club NOW meeting will be held at the Lucky Strike Lanes, at noon on May 11.

Anyone who is interested may attend, for information call Pete at 720-231-0807 or 720-922-3514 and we hope to see you there or at breakfast.