Waterford Pointe 5K brings community together for a cause

Every Tuesday, Waterford Pointe’s Cathy Novokowsky goes to West Orange High School to work with 70 students as a volunteer for Eight Waves. 

After working with these students week after week, Novokowsky said she and the other volunteers are seeing improvements in the students. 

“This (past) summer, I drove several students back and forth every day so they could attend summer school,” Novokowsky said. “The year prior, none of the students in the program attended summer school. This year, we got 12 students through, and they started school on grade level again. The success has been phenomenal.”

Knowing first-hand the impact Eight Waves makes on youth in the community, Novokowsky was thrilled to hear the Waterford Pointe’s social committee chose the West Orange non-profit organization as the beneficiary of the community’s annual 5K, held Saturday, March 8. 

For the past four years, the Waterford Pointe community has come together for a fun 5K walk/run as a form of community service, raising money for someone in the community or a community organization. 

“The response (from the neighborhood) has been incredible,” Novokowsky said. “I’m so grateful. A lot of times more affluent neighborhoods kind of get a sense of entitlement, but the fact that our neighbors are so generous in their giving and really care about being connected to each other and the community and are so incredibly generous and helpful just warms my heart. I’m just really grateful to be part of it.”

At the walk/run, Novokowsky said not only brought their families but their furry friends as well, whether they walked beside them or rode along in a wagon. 

“I’m a firm believer that when people are vested in their community, they treat it and the people in it better, and it’s more important now than ever because with social media and everything, especially for the young people, there’s a lot of trends in our country where people just aren’t participating in social activities and organizations as much,” Novokowsky said. “This is a great way to get people interfacing in person and building relationships. It makes a really big difference. I see it all the time in our neighborhood.”

There’s friendly competition among the participants, Novokowsky said. Medals were given to adults and children who won, and there were participation medals as well. 

But the moment of pride for Novokowsky doesn’t come when awards are given but actually at the start of the race. 

“When they first take off running, you just see the collective group, and how these people continue to turn up and give generously every time and their dedication is inspiring,” Novokowsky said. “It makes me continue to want to do more of these type events because they do care, and it’s beautiful.”

After the walk/run, a mobile blood bank was available for anyone who wished to donate blood, which Novokowsky said was another way for neighbors to give back to the community.

Novokowsky said supporting local organizations is “important” as people don’t always know the needs of children in the community. Volunteering for Eight Waves, she said she knows students who are “living in vehicles covered head-to-toe with bed bug bites.” 

Besides raising money for Eight Waves, Novokowsky said neighbors are helping in other ways. One neighbor interviewed one of the Eight Waves students for a job. Others are donating sweatshirts, blankets and food.

“More than anything, people love knowing that we’re genuinely helping specific individuals right here in the community that have a need, and they’re just grateful for the connection because a lot of people want to help but they’re not exactly sure how,” Novokowsky said. 

The walk/run benefited not only Eight Waves but also students who need volunteer hours. 

“It brings our community together,” Novokowsky said.

Novokowksy said the annual walk/run only is going to get bigger. Next year, the Waterford Pointe community is extending an invitation to surrounding neighborhoods to participate in the walk/run. She said the more people who participate, the more impact the neighborhoods will be able to make on the community at large. 

Seeing how much the Waterfront Pointe annual 5K has grown over the four years gives Novokowsky “so much to look forward to, be grateful for and just a little bit of pride and a lot of humility,” she said. 

“It just blows me away to see how much people really do care, and they’re ready to step up for great causes,” she said. “It’s also nice too because we’re contributing to fitness. It’s a healthy way to do it.”