Flemington Newcomers LaBossiere Family Bring Charity, New Youth Programs
FLEMINGTON, NJ - Dan and Leann LaBossiere, who just recently moved to Flemington to raise their family, have one heck of a story to tell.
Leann LaBossiere, formerly of Chester County, PA, and Dan LaBossiere, originally from New England, met in Boston and, after some time living in Kenya and Japan, moved to Flemington to start a family last summer. The pair work for the Salvation Army, which has provided them with their travel opportunities, and when the Salvation Army offered them a position in Flemington, only a few hours from both their families, they jumped.
“Flemington is a happy place, and we love the different family-oriented activities that happen downtown," said Dan LaBossiere. "We have a 1-year-old son and love getting him involved. Flemington as a social service area, we felt that a lot of the programs work together really well. The Salvation Army helps, but can’t do everything, and here more than everything we’ve seen people reach out and ask what we can do to help.”
LaBossiere said his parents have been involved in the Salvation Army his entire life, and he was drawn to the “help people, in Jesus’ name, without salvation” mindset. According to Leann LaBossiere, she enjoys leaning into the active side of her faith, and the Salvation Army allows her to use that side of religion and put her faith into action.
The LaBossieres moved to New Jersey from Japan, where they were employed to start a youth program, followed by sports programs for youths to follow up the Olympics. Their visas expired last summer, but during the COVID slowdown, and before they left Japan, the LaBossieres welcomed a son, Nolan.
The pair hope Flemington will provide Nolan with a fantastic environment to grow up in, and, so far they said, it has.
According to Leann LaBossiere, Nolan is highly intrigued by Japanese culture, and they even speak some Japanese at home. They fully intend to head back overseas, having spent three years in Japan and a few weeks in Kenya, but would like to ensure their son has had a stable upbringing.
“I feel that’s something that will always stick with me and be a piece in my heart, bringing Nolan into the world in such a culture,” she said.
After their building flooded in Tropical Storm Ida, the family began thinking about what programs are next, so they can fit the needs of the community, and how they can “renovate” local programs. According to the pair, they’re at a “blank slate” to build up programs as the community requires.
They said they hope to bring affordable music and art classes to local youths, stating that many similar programs in the area are expensive. They also want to bring affordable English and Spanish classes, homework help, reading and literacy programs to the area.
The LaBossieres do have a scouting program within the building, and hope their home building will be a hangout spot for kids to enjoy themselves. Every Tuesday night, an after-school program called Troops teaches life lessons to about 30 youths, though a similar program before the pandemic apparently brought in 70.
They hope volunteers will be willing to give their time to keep the program both affordable and successful.
“If we continue to put out what we’re doing, I think there’ll be a lot of people who’ll want to come and volunteer,” Leann LaBossiere said.