Clark Township Selects 2023 Volunteer Of The Year

CLARK, NJ - One of Clark’s own was recognized as an esteemed do-gooder in the township.

Joe Arancio was recognized as the township’s 2023 Volunteer of the Year at a Jan. 17 Clark Township Council meeting, the town announced via social media.

Arancio is a recreation department volunteer and the president of the Clark chapter of UNICO National, an Italian American service organization, and has supported the recreation department financially though UNICO without denying any request.

The Clark resident has suggested and bought items for the recreation department over the years, including new electronic Mahjong tables for Clark seniors, as well as 100 new padded chairs and 24 new tables used by “every organization” at the recreation center, officials said. Arancio has also bought tents for the Clark summer concert series, paid for buses and sponsored lunches for local seniors.

“Joe does this from his heart, he is generous and loves this town," said Clark Township Recreation Director Ralph Bernardo in a written statement. "He is an asset to this town, the recreation department and UNICO. He exemplifies the meaning of hard work, dedication, loyalty and giving of himself and never asks for anything in return."

The annual award was established eight years ago to publicly honor those who go “above and beyond” to assist the Clark Recreation Department, Mayor Sal Bonaccorso said in a statement on behalf of Bernardo, who was absent during the meeting.

“Always in the building daily and always offering his services, [Arancio] takes part in every area of set up and cleanup of the tree lighting, Truck R Treat, Easter, Concerts in the Park and, of course, running the UNICO Italian Feast each year,” Bonaccorso said.

A graduate of Columbia High School, Arancio is the owner of JABS Personal Stitch, Inc., an embroidery, screen printing and logo digitizing service, since 2007, according to his LinkedIn profile.

He was previously an installer at Jersey Garage Door from 2009 to 2019 and a firefighter with the Maplewood Fire Department for 25 years, from 1986 to 2011, the profile reads.