News - July 2020

Cadets from Civil Air patrol Squadron led by 1Lt Carol-Faaland-Kronmaier, CAP Deputy Commander for Cadets, and Major Lorrainne Denby team up with Dr. Sarah Shell to provide masks for healthcare workers and hospitals and now to local non-profit organizations.

Left to Right, Aoife Scott and Ciaran Scott with Catholic Charities Case Worker, Jeffry Alfaro. Ciaran Scott wanted to do something for his ministry at St. Joseph High School in Metuchen. His mom called the Ozanam Family Shelter and Catholic Charities Staff member Catherine Jackson provided a short list of items that would benefit those staying at the shelter.  Ciaran took responsibility for collecting the water and his sister, Aoife organized the toiletries. They texted their friends and family about their cause and within a short time were able to collect all of the items on the list.  During the last week of June, Ciaran and Aoife brought their donation of water, diapers, napkins, cleaning supplies and cosmetics to the Ozanam Family Shelter.  The pair told their mom they felt “great” donating to the shelter. 

Left to Right, Catholic Charities Staff Member Cynthia Bagner, Rutgers Students Khushbu Mistry and  Nandini Patel, Staff Members Shahan Gilliam and Diana Mandel

In the media - newspapers, television, and on-line, we hear about heroes in hospitals, EMS, police, supermarkets, food pantries, Amazon and so many others that step up in times of crisis.  We are so grateful for their service and compassion.  Dr. Esther Schlesinger wants you to know about another group of heroes. Dr. Schlesinger works for the Program of Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) team in Middlesex County at Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen, serving those with serious and persistent mental illness.

During this time of uncertainty, shut down and job loss, “The Catholic Spirit” took time to revisit the Catholic Charities food pantry that opened in Phillipsburg five years ago this month. According to Brooke Renkens, Catholic Charities Service Area Director for Hunterdon and Warren Counties, the food pantry on South Main Street was anticipating an increase in numbers but that did not happen. “We tried to analyze why there hasn’t been a huge increase, and we think it is because most of our clientele receive NJ SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program],” she said.