Oh I Wish I Were...

Young Volunteer Donates Half His Prize Money to TASK

From the Somerset Reporter
By MICHAEL DEAK
Staff Writer

SOMERVILLE -- How can a package of hot dogs change the world?

For 15-year-old Steven Woltornist, a sophomore at Immaculata High School, the answer is simple.

Steven, a resident of the Neshanic Station section of Branchburg, was reading the back label of a package of Oscar Mayer hot dogs when he saw the company was holding its first "Oh I Wish" contest.

To win the contest, entrants had to write in 50 words or less what they would do with the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile™ for a day and up to $5,000 to make their dream come true.

It was a simple essay for Steven to write.

Last June, after the school year was over, Steven spent a week as a volunteer at the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) as part of Immaculata's Campus Ministry program. The experience changed Steven and next Monday Steven will have a chance to change both TASK and SHIP (Samaritan Homeless Interim Program), which is based in Somerville.

Because Steven was one of the 50 nationwide winners of the contest, the Wienermobile will be coming to Somerville on Monday.

Steven will also be donating half of the $5,000 prize to SHIP and the other half to TASK. But he also plans to use a portion of the money to buy candy and balloons for the children who visit the Weinermobile on Monday.

"I want to make the kids' lives a little happier," he said. "I'm looking forward to Monday."

The Weinermobile traveled to Trenton where Steve presented a check for $2,250 to TASK. Then the Weinermobile, driven by a crew known as the Hotdoggers, went to Somerset Estates in Franklin where SHIP's mobile soup kitchen serves meals.

He sees the Weinermobile as a unique way to help out the less fortunate and to call attention to their needs.

"Every time I do service, I feel I get closer to other people," Steven said. "A bond is made with some of the most extraordinary people you will ever meet. By doing volunteer work, the world is made a better place."

Steve, the son of Greg and Marie Woltornist, is a graduate of St. Ann's School in Raritan, He doesn't know what he's going to do after high school, though it may involve music or science. He is a member of the Immaculata High School Marching Band and sometimes plays the violin during Mass at Immaculate Conception Church.

Photos of Steve's visit to TASK >>>