Livingston's Horseneck Motorcycle Riding Club made 1,639 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on Oct. 11 for Newark food kitchens, topping last year's count by 89.
The club held its sixth annual "Sticky Fingers" event at the Masonic Lodge, as first reported by the West Essex Tribune. Volunteers used more than 188 loaves of bread to assemble the sandwiches, which were donated to food kitchens partnered with Livingston Neighbors Helping Neighbors in Essex County.
The 2025 event produced 1,550 sandwiches. This year set a new high.
Bikers were joined by Livingston Deputy Mayor Ketan Bhuptani, Councilman Ed Meinhardt, and residents Michael Vieira and Al Anthony. Nick Santinelli delivered the finished sandwiches to St. John's and St. Ann's food kitchens in Newark.
Livingston Neighbors Helping Neighbors provides short-term financial assistance and in-kind support to township residents facing unexpected hardship, according to the organization's website. The nonprofit works in partnership with the township social worker, who screens families and assesses requests to direct resources where they are needed. Santinelli has also worked with the group on other drives. During a past holiday toy collection organized through the Livingston PBA Local 263, he delivered carloads of toys to Saint Michael's in Newark.
Bhuptani, a 23-year Livingston resident, was sworn in as the township's first Indian American deputy mayor in January, according to American Bazaar. He is also the first Asian American to hold the office in a municipality where 29% of the population is of Asian descent, the outlet reported. Bhuptani has served on the Livingston Zoning Board and the July 4th Celebration Committee, among other civic groups.
The Sticky Fingers event is one of several community activities in the area this fall. Explore Millburn-Short Hills will host a trick-or-treat afternoon on Oct. 30 at 2:30 p.m. with a costume contest, face painting, pumpkin painting, games, giveaways and DJ music, according to NJ Family.
