For over half a century, the Sussex County Art Society has nurtured the visual arts within our community since 1966. Their mission is to cultivate a vibrant artistic environment that enriches the lives of Sussex County residents. They champion originality, quality, and aesthetic value across all media, from watercolor and acrylics to pastels, oils, and photography. The Society supports its members and other artists through a variety of educational programs, including workshops, film screenings, and more. They also organize inspiring demonstrations, informative lectures, and enriching visits to museums, art exhibits, and other cultural venues.

As a non-profit organization powered entirely by volunteers, the Sussex County Art Society relies on the dedication of its Board and officers. Membership dues are carefully allocated to support the Society's core activities, such as hosting art shows and covering the expenses (lodging, transportation, and meals) for visiting demonstrators leading workshops. While membership once peaked at 70, the Society is actively working to reach that level once again, eager to expand its reach and impact.

The Society holds monthly meetings at the Hampton Community Center on the second Thursday of each month at noon. These gatherings are central to its mission, providing valuable public demonstrations and workshops encompassing a wide array of artistic media. In addition to traditional art forms, occasional demonstrations in crafts and photography are offered. The Society also promotes "plein air" painting workshops at picturesque locations throughout the county, including horse farms, barns, town centers, and historical landmarks. These demonstrations are open to the public; follow the Sussex County Art Society on Facebook for details.

Each year, the Society sponsors and hosts at least one art show open to all area artists. They also proudly exhibit their work at community events such as Sparta Day, the fairgrounds at the Sussex County Fair, and the Sparta Methodist Art Show.

This June, the Sussex County Art Society is our Giving Tap recipient and $1 from every draft sold on that tap will directly support this long-standing county organization. These proceeds will help the Society continue to provide invaluable cultural enrichment through its demonstrations and art shows, covering essential expenses such as printing, advertising, rent, and cleanup fees.

Supporting the arts is an investment in the very soul of our community. Art inspires dialogue, fosters empathy, and celebrates the diversity of human experience. It connects us to our past, illuminates our present, and helps us envision a brighter future. By supporting the Sussex County Art Society, you are not just supporting art; you are investing in a more vibrant, creative, and connected Sussex County for all.

Chess For Charity, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in Sparta, is May's Giving Tap recipient. Founded by three chess-loving brothers, Akshat (21 yo), Ayush (19 yo), and Aneesh (17 yo), the organization has over 20 years of combined chess experience, including multiple state and national championships. Their younger sister, Vanya (12 yo), supports their efforts as the store manager, creating chess-themed merchandise such as chess sets, keychains, and earrings.

Driven by a passion for chess and a desire to give back, the brothers started offering summer camps in 2017. After witnessing the strain on local food banks during the COVID-19 pandemic, they established Chess For Charity. The organization offers individual and group chess lessons (both virtual and in-person), organizes fundraisers, and hosts USCF-rated chess tournaments to benefit various causes.

To date, these dedicated young men have donated over $17,000 to organizations like the Sparta Food Bank, Alzheimer’s NJ, The Ramapough Lunaape Nation, Ginnie's House, Project Self-Sufficiency, WGirls, Wish Upon a Child, Newton/Morristown Hospital Nurses, and the International Rescue Committee for Ukraine Refugee Relief.

Throughout May, $1.00 from every draft of our Weizen Shine, a light version of a true Weizenbock, will go to Chess For Charity. The proceeds will support their spring fundraiser, a cause that is near and dear to the brothers. They will donate their proceeds to the North Star Theater Company, a non-profit in Ogdensburg, in memory of Mrs. Lori Tomlin.

The recent passing of Mrs. Lori Tomlin on April 22, 2025, has deeply affected the North Star Theater Company, where she was a board member and shared her passion for the arts as a performer, costume designer, costume inventory manager, stage manager, and producer of multiple shows. Her loss is also felt by Sparta High School marching band members.

Chess for Charity is committed to supporting their community and the legacy that Lori Tomlin was so passionate about.

Must be 21 or older to purchase alcohol.

Ginnie’s House in Newton is our non-profit Giving Tap recipient for April!

What they do: They coordinate services for victims of abuse, and they work closely with the prosecutor’s office, law enforcement, and the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P), bringing all of the services under one roof. They provide a home-like location in which a child can explain what happened in a comfortable environment. They can help children through the healing process of many forms of trauma, not just abuse.

How they operate: Ginnie's House operates partially through grant funding so they rely on monetary donations to keep their array of free custom services and child-specific therapies in place. Ginnie's House will receive $1.00 from each draft sold on the Giving Tap during April and all proceeds benefit the children they serve. If you'd like to help out further, there is a monetary donation link and an Amazon wish list on our website, and any donation, no matter how small, is greatly appreciated.

Together we can help make a child's future safer, brighter, and more fun!

The Weekend Bag Program, Inc. is a kid-founded and run 501(c)3 nonprofit created to provide students going home from school over the weekend with food and hygiene they otherwise wouldn’t have. The program runs the full 10-month school year and the students in the program receive a Weekend Bag each week. The program is designed to be anonymous so as not to add any additional stress on the student. A school liaison identifies which students would benefit most from receiving a Weekend Bag and then lets The Weekend Bag Team know how many bags are needed. The bags are left with the school liaison to distribute to the students participating in the program.

The Weekend Bag Program, Inc. is in its 9th year and is currently running in 26 schools throughout Sussex County. They have over 300 students receiving a Weekend Bag each week during the 10-month year. To date, the Weekend Bag Program has supplied over 275,000 meal items to students throughout Sussex County.

The Program has two types of bags:
The Full Weekend Bag consists of 8 meal items (2 breakfast, lunch, dinner, and 2 extra meal items), a canned vegetable, a fruit cup, 2 drinks, 4-6 individual snack items, and 2 full-sized hygiene items that alternate each week.

The Hygiene Weekend Bag consists of 2 full-sized hygiene items. Hygiene Weekend Bags go to the students who are homeless and this year they have around 48 students in need.

This weekly undertaking requires a lot of work and a lot of products! Krogh's will donate $1.00 from every draft sold on the Giving Tap in March to The Weekend Bag Program and 100% of the donation will go towards food and hygiene items that get put into the bags each and every week. Of course, you must be 21 or older to purchase a beer and you must always drink responsibly.

Interested in doing more? The Weekend Bag Team needs full-sized hygiene products!

They need deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, and we have a tote in our front vestibule set up to collect these donations throughout March! Simply drop them off the next time you stop by Krogh's! Every little bit helps!

Interested in doing even more? Consider a monetary donation! Sponsor one bag for $25 and that is for one week only! Sponsor a student for $100. and that will last for one whole month! Please see their website (www.weekendbagprogram.org) for donation options!

The League of Women Voters of Sussex Highlands (LWVSH) is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that works to empower voters and defend democracy. For more than 70 years, the LWVSH has been active in our local community.

LWVSH is open to people of all gender identities who want to help democracy work by protecting voting rights and educating voters here in Sussex County. Join one of our monthly meetings (in person or virtually)—details are available on their social media!

Their activities include:
-Voter outreach and registration drives held at local grocery stores, community events, and the NJ State Fair/Sussex County Farm and Horse Show.

-Their "Energizing Young Voters" program brings the voting process into local high schools. High school seniors learn how to register to vote, practice using the voting machines, and see how their vote is protected, processed, and counted.

-LWVSH hosts and moderates candidate forums and debates. Previous debates have been held for Sussex County township races, Boards of Education, and County Commissioner. The LWVSH does not endorse or promote individual candidates but enables opportunities for candidates to share their positions and speak to the voting public.

-Two scholarships are offered each year to Sussex County high school students. Last year’s recipients were students at Sparta High School and Kittatinny High School. The donations received from the Giving Tap will be used for the Scholarship Fund!

We can all help this organization continue its county efforts and fund scholarships by drinking the designated beer on our Giving Tap (21+, please)! This month we feature our 25th Anniversary Imperial Stout and for each unit sold, Krogh's will donate $1 to the League of Women Voters of Sussex Highlands. So please join us this month and raise a pint to defend our local democracy! Cheers!

We are starting the year off with our cuddly and furry friends at Father John's Animal House! Their overall objective is not only to find homes for otherwise homeless pets, but to provide veterinary care, necessary medication, housing, love, food, and companionship to any animal that enters their shelter. They also make it their mission to promote spaying and neutering to alleviate the problem of homeless animals and overcrowded shelters. They value people's bond with animals and strive to give each homeless animal a family that will love and care for them for a lifetime.

Father John’s Animal House was founded in 1999 by a small and very dedicated group of people who recognized a great need in our community to help animals that have been subjected to homelessness, cruelty, or neglect. The land was originally overseen by Father John, a retired member of the clergy, who took exceedingly good care of his livestock. The shelter was named after him to honor his dedication to the welfare of animals.

Now, the shelter safely and responsibly places over 800 animals each year. Each animal is fully vetted, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped before leaving for their adoptive home. Their personnel works hard to match each adoptive family with the perfect animal to become their lifelong pet. Father John's also offers a low-cost spay/neuter clinic to combat the ongoing pet homelessness issue. They continue to be a resource of information and service for our pet ownership community.

For January, Father John's will receive $1.00 from every draft sold on our Giving Tap so that they may continue to support and service responsible pet ownership. The beer on tap is our 25th Anniversary Imperial Stout. This stout is jet black in color, barrel-aged in ex-bourbon barrels and features hints of molasses and brown sugar.

In addition to the monetary donation they receive from us, we want to help fulfill some items on their donation list (see pdf icon). A box is in our main vestibule throughout January to accept donations, not only pet-related, but paper towels, laundry detergent, and tall kitchen trash bags are also great donation items! Please note, however, that all donated pet food MUST be chicken or turkey-based to prevent stomach upsets; that is their only stipulation! So consider donating an item or two because together, we can give these animals hope for tomorrow! Thank you for your support!