2022 Memorial Day Issue

family friend and regular volunteer. “They’ve
been contemplating this for years.”
The Elmers’ journey began in 2005, when
the search for just the right property began.
Jeff and his wife, Connie, befriended the
Elmers at Grace Evangelical Church more
than 25 years ago. Their children attended
the church’s youth group and became
natural playmates. A volunteer to the core,
Young said he and Dennis once traveled to
Honduras together to help build a church.
So, when it came to Rebecca’s Homestead,
the self-proclaimed laborer rolled up his
sleeves and pitched in, painting, planting and
doing large cleanups.
“Dennis has ‘workdays,’ and a core bunch of
guys—his friends from high school, college and
church—show up. He sends out a text a few weeks
in advance,” he said.
Young’s name can be found on the Volunteer
Board, which lists each volunteer who has touched
this project. It’s a list that continues to grow.
Leo McLaughlin, another longtime friend via
Grace Evangelical Church, has known the family
since Rebecca was an infant.
“Over the years we watched each other’s kids grow
up, been on vacation together, buried each other’s
parents, and shared life’s ups and downs,” he wrote
in an email. “My wife and I count them among our
dearest and oldest friends.”
Like Young, McLaughlin could also attest that
Rebecca’s Homestead is no flash in the pan.
“They have literally been talking about this for the
last 20 years, so when I see all the improvements
they have made to the property in just one year, I
am not surprised,” he said. “These ideas have been
percolating inside both of them for a long time.”
McLaughlin was one of the volunteers who helped
install the wooden fence for the future goat pen. He
also erected some chicken wire to enclose the coop
to keep predators out.
McLaughlin has been volunteering for many local
charities for more than 25 years.
“Rebecca’s Homestead is right up my alley,” he
said.
It is also right up the alley of Jennifer Baranowski,
44, of Hopatcong, who will be joining Rebecca as
one of the residents once the property is completed
and open for occupancy, which will hopefully
happen sometime this summer, said Michele.
Jennifer’s mother, Kathy Kasper, learned about
the homestead through a neighbor who has two
adults with developmental disabilities.
“I never wanted to put Jennifer in a traditional
group home,” Kasper said.
She first contacted Katie’s House in Stillwater,
which has four different affiliated group homes.
A conversation with founder Evelyn Dudziek
steered her toward the Elmers.
Kasper met with Michele at the homestead
and “fell in love with the place,” she said. “This
would be perfect for Jennifer. She loves farms
and the whole atmosphere is warm and loving.”
Kasper is in awe of the Elmers’ plans,
particularly the farm and garden work. “That’s
what I pictured for Jennifer for when I am not
here any longer.”
Over the past year, Rebecca and Jennifer
have become fast friends, going to the movies
together and having sleepovers.
In addition to socializing with Rebecca,
Jennifer attends events at The SMILE of
Hopatcong, a residential home in Hopatcong
for those with developmental disabilities. The
residents of SMILE, a similarly family-founded
nonprofit that opened in 2018, were on hand
during the homestead’s chili cook-off social in
April at which Jennifer and her brother Derek
won first place.
Other residential homes, including Katie’s
House were represented at the social. Also
on hand was Peace By Piece NJ, a nonprofit
community center that provides services for the
disabled population when they transition out of
school.
It is this type of community gathering and
lightheartedness that the Elmers consider an
integral part of their vision.
“Integration has to continue,” said Michele.
“When you’re around this population you laugh
more and tend to take things
not so seriously. They love you
for who you are.”
Having just purchased the
property in January of 2021,
the Elmers are still amazed
that the initial net they cast for
volunteers continues to grow.
“When people have a desire
to do something, they want to
help in a different way,” said
Michele. “They saw something
tangible here.”
Jennifer Boyle, for example, traveled all the
way from West Caldwell with her 18-year-old
son, Sean, who has cerebral palsy, to help at a
recent “workday.”
“I’ve been thinking about and planning his
adult life and this gives me hope,” she said.
In addition to the countless volunteers—friends
and strangers alike—the Elmers expressed equal
amounts of gratitude toward the organizations
that have provided pro bono services. This
includes Team Depot, the philanthropic arm
of Home Depot, whose volunteers built raised
garden beds. The materials and supplies for the
gardens totaled $5,000, said Dennis.
“A friend of ours who works for Home Depot
also donated $500 worth of paint,” said Michele.
The Elmers gave additional shoutouts to Allen
Paper Supply of Dover, Storr Tractor Company
of Branchburg, Bob’s Discount Furniture in
Wharton, Pass It Along (a teen leadership
nonprofit in Sparta), Girl Scout Troop 4937
from Jefferson, and Julia Ralicki, a middle
schooler from Wayne who raised $1,000 among
her classmates for the cause.
Michele has documented the progress and
the people behind it in several coffee table-style
photo albums.
Rebecca, too, continues to monitor and
contribute to what was very much her home
from the start.
“When we first came up here, Rebecca took
magnets and put them on the fridge and smiled,”
she said. “I said, ‘she is ready to be here. She’s
home.’”
For more information go to: https://www.
rebeccashomestead.com/
Taste testing at a spring chili
cookoff at the homestead.
Rebecca Elmers at
a social gathering
recently.
Michele Elmers at a recent
social event at the homestead.
Maria Elmers helps her sister, Rebecca,
with lunch at the homestead.
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