Catholic Charities Once Again Finds Itself Giving and Receiving at Annual Dinner

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen once again found itself both giving and receiving at the 15th Annual Harvest of Hope dinner held on October 25th Immaculate Conception 316 Old Allerton Road, Annandale, NJ. The dinner is an annual celebration of the Catholic Charities Solidarity Team (CCST), a volunteer program of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen that works to promote the universality of the Church and to reduce injustice & suffering overseas and locally in the Metuchen Diocesan Counties of Middlesex, Somerset, Hunterdon, and Warren.About 100 people attended the dinner that spotlighted the work in Guatemala of two congregations from the Diocese of Metuchen.

Catholic Charities staff was recognized as a Top-10 Contributor to Operation Rice Bowl, the annual national Lenten program sponsored by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and overseen locally by CCST. Seventy-five percent of the funds raised go directly to development projects sponsored by CRS overseas, and 25% percent stays in the Diocese for local food security use, enabling local participants to understand the plight of the poor overseas through the experience of the poor in their own communities.

While staff members were acknowledged for their fundraising efforts, two Catholic Charities Programs also received food security grants. Community House at St Thomas, a shared in-community residence located in Old Bridge, for low income adults with physical disabilities, was awarded $1500. Additionally, the Catholic Charities Social Service Center in Phillipsburg, NJ, which houses the largest food pantry in Warren County, was awarded a $7500 grant. More than 40,000 in grants were distributed overall.

More information about Community House and the Phillipsburg Social Service Center can be found on the agency website: www.ccdom.org. Last year, Catholic Charities served more than 50,000 people through over 100 programs in Middlesex, Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Counties.