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The Adopt a Family program was created over 25 years ago based on the need of low-income families involved in Catholic Charities services to have holiday gifts to provide to their children on Christmas morning.

The Philipsburg Food Pantry is open from 10 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Volunteers unpack donated and purchased food, sort and stack food on our pantry shelves, prepare grocery bags for our clients, and break down empty boxes and carry them to trash bins. Volunteers can also provide basic case management services and should have an awareness of local resources or be willing to learn. Please send resume to MHunter@ccdom.org and indicate Volunteer Work (Food Pantry / Thrift Store) in the subject line.

According to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, more than 650,000 people face hunger in our state, and that number includes over 175,000 children—stats that most New Jersey residents would likely find surprising. Unfortunately, New Jersey has a very big food insecurity issue. The sad part is that most of those suffering, don’t know where to turn to get help.

Life can be very hectic for working parents of school-age children, and for many the most challenging time comes when the school bell signals the close of the day. The time when mothers did not work and were home to greet their youngsters after school are long gone. Today in most families dads and moms work most times beyond the school day or they have other obligations.

When you drive through New Brunswick, you may not notice a building on Remsen Avenue that used to be a firehouse. That building is the Unity Square Community Center, and they are feeding the community with their food distributions three times a week.

Created by Youth Villages in 1999, LifeSet is a pilot program at Catholic Charities that strives to serve young people in the least-restrictive environment and create a smooth transition for young people who age out of foster care settings. Youth Villages has received national recognition for being an innovative organization using effective treatment models to achieve positive outcomes for children and families. In December of 2021 there were 3213 children in foster care in NJ and since LifeSet launched with Catholic Charities in the Fall of 2020, they have served 103 youth, with 26 active Youth at this time.

MEET THE TEAM AND BRING YOUR RESUME!

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen joined with child care providers across the nation to celebrate the Week of the Young Child from April 4th to April 8th. Week of the Young Child is a program run by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. It takes place every year in April and brings focus to young children, their families and the childhood programs that they need.

Catholic Charities’ run food pantry and thrift store are in the business of carrying out the works of mercy, expectedly feeding the hungry and clothing the naked.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month

Mobile Family Success Center, a program run by Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen which provides community-based, family-centered services utilizing neighborhood gathering places in Middlesex County, was honored with a proclamation from North Brunswick Mayor Francis M. Womack III and the Township Council during their March 7 virtual meeting.

A typical day for many village children in the Diocese of Santa Rosa, Guatemala consists of waking up at dawn to accompany a parent to work each morning or being sent to the village plaza to sell items in order to bring home income for their family. At a young age, these children are faced with the reality of the demands of work. The Guatemala Scholarship Program has become a game-changer for these children, providing them with an opportunity to receive an education. As part of a comprehensive partnership between the Diocese of Santa Rosa, Guatemala and the Diocese of Metuchen, the Guatemala Scholarship Program provides school supplies, books, medicines, and other basic necessities, as well as promotes service to the community and the active participation of parents supporting their children’s education.

Recently, graduation celebrations took place in the LifeSet Program as LifeSet Specialists, Krista Merola and Diana Mandel both celebrated earning their master’s degrees in social work. Both graduates completed their degrees at Rutgers University School of Social Work during the Covid-19 pandemic with Krista graduating in May 2020 and Diana graduating in January 2021. Due to safety concerns during the pandemic, Krista and Diana were unable to walk in a formal graduation ceremony. However, their long-awaited graduation ceremony was held at the Rutgers Gardens in October, and the LifeSet Program celebrated the Specialists’ achievements over brunch that followed.

As Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen celebrates those employees who have achieved milestones in their employment at the agency, Catholic Charities’ Child Care says goodbye to Deborah Vitale. Miss Debi (as she was always called) has been with the Child Care program for over 28 years. Debi began her employment on September 7, 1993, at the Triangle Elementary School in Hillsborough School District, Somerset County. As she departs from the agency, she is proud to look back on all the memories she has collected in her scrapbook from her time at Catholic Charities.

On November 08, 2021, the Edison Health Department held a Flu Shot Clinic event at the Ozanam Family Shelter. The vaccines were offered to both clients and staff at the Shelter. A total of 11 clients and 4 staff members received their flu shot.

Bridgewater Fun! Door decorations! Everyone had a great time decorating for the holidays. Click on the link to see all the pictures!