Shopping at New Jersey CCRCs

Residents at Friends Village in Woodstown can purchase vegetables from a local farmers market in the summer and early fall. Two local pharmacies will make deliveries of medicines to residents on their campus. 

There are gift items in the grocery store on the Freehold campus of Applewood Estates that is managed by the Applewood staff. A local market offers same-day delivery for Applewood residents.

The management of the Wiley Christian Retirement Community of Marlton has operated their gift shop for the last 30 years. Profits from the gift shop help to do special things for the health care residents. Once a week the Wiley van takes residents shopping for groceries in the supermarkets of the community.

Residents at the Oaks at Denville can purchase small grocery items at their bistro, which is run by the administration.

At Monroe Village, the proceeds of their gift shop, which amounts to a few hundred dollars a month, are used for a scholarship awarded to a student employed by Monroe Village. In their casual dining room their food service vendor offers a few things for sale such as milk, bread, lunch meat, and ice cream.

The Medford Leas gift shop is managed by two resident volunteers and staffed by about 15 more volunteers. The annual profit of the gift shop, about $7,000, is contributed to the Medford Leas’ Activities Fund. Every November a Holiday Bazaar is sponsored jointly by the gift shop, the thrift shop, the knitting group, the quilters, the workshop, and resident artists.

At Harrogate there is a general store managed and staffed by Harrogate personnel. The store not only carries the items found in a typical gift shop but also sells canned and packaged food. Their refrigerator handles milk, eggs, and ice cream. When the store is closed, the dining room has a list of groceries available for sale.

The gift shop at Laurel Circle Retirement Community in Bridgewater has been renamed the Community Shop because it carries additional home necessities. Also, their thrift shop has been renamed the Heirloom Shop. The shops are staffed by volunteers and the proceeds help support their resident association activities. The dining department is in charge of their café, where residents have access to essential groceries and Grab’n’Go foods. Each December they have a Holiday Sale of miscellaneous household articles and jewelry.

At Meadow Lakes in East Windsor, there is a thrift store staffed by residents under the auspices of the residents association. It takes in about $2,800 each month and proceeds are donated to the Meadow Lakes Resident Assistance Fund, which is operated by the Spring Point Foundation. Meadow Lakes also has a small grocery market managed by Morrison, the contractor that supplies their dining services. 

The Riverwalk Village at House of the Good Shepherd in Hackettstown has a small “country store.” The store includes many items found in a gift shop plus a variety of essential groceries. It is managed by the dining services and held in the cafe. Also, once a year the residents hold a “Jumble Sale” with the sale of furniture and other household articles contributed by residents and staff. The proceeds of the sale are donated to the Shepherds Fund that is used to assist residents whose financial resources have run out. 

At Pines Village there is a gift shop and a thrift store. Both are run by resident volunteers. The money collected from the thrift store is given to the Pines Village Scholarship Fund to be used to assist a wait staff person who is going to College. The dining department sells milk, eggs, and bread.

Cadbury of Cherry Hill has a corner store that carries a few groceries along with items found in a typical gift shop. The proceeds of the store are used for entertainment. They also have a thrift store and both stores are staffed by resident volunteers.

Lions Gate in Voorhees has only a management-run gift store for shopping opportunities on campus but their facility is in an area with supermarkets, drug stores and banks. A bus for residents to shop in the community is provided two times each week at no charge.

The Fellowship Village of Basking Ridge has both a gift shop and a thrift store staffed by residents. Their dining service, operated by an outside company, also has some groceries for sale.

The Crestwood Manor of Whiting has a gift shop that opened in 1991 and has a monthly revenue of about $500, which is given to the Residents Association Fund. They also have a thrift store, which along with the gift shop is staffed by resident volunteers. Their dining is staffed by Morrison personnel, who sell selected groceries. They also have a farmers market during the growing season. 

Thanks to all who contributed to this story. Our final report is about The Evergreens in Moorestown. The facility has a large room where staff and residents can bring unwanted items, except clothing, and take any item they need. This unique form of donating, managed by the staff, illustrates the creative ways our CCRCs respond to the shopping needs of residents in our communities.