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Winter 2012
Local Businesses and Individuals Join to Support Catholic Charities’ New Veterans’ Counseling Program The Monmouth County Board of Catholic Charities, with the support of local businesses and individuals, raised $21,000 for a new traumafocused counseling program for veterans in Monmouth County. On September 22nd, 2012 “Oktoberfest for Vets” took place at The Parker House in Sea Girt. The event was co-chaired by Sea Girt residents, Valarie DeFelice, a member of the Monmouth County Board of Catholic Charities, and Melissa Marshall. Major event sponsors included Circle BMW, The Allied Group, Advanced Coring and Cutting Corporation, the Guyler family, Manasquan Elks Lodge #2534, McGowan Builders, Inc., Belmar Fishing Club, the Griffin family, Damian Sylvia, From left to right: Board members Tom Coyle, Barbara Willis George A. Miller, in memoriam, The Parker House and the Paul Marino and Oktoberfest for Vets co-chair, Valarie DeFelice, present a Band. check to Robert Hodnett, Associate Director of Children’s and Family Services for Catholic Charities.
The counseling program will be available to those who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as veterans of other wars and conflicts and is scheduled to open in January 2013. Associate Director of Children and Family Services for Catholic Charities, Robert Hodnett, said that there is a growing need to provide trauma-focused counseling to returning veterans in Monmouth County. “Symptoms related to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are common and, nationally, there are reports that the suicide rates among young veterans is double that of the general population,” explained Hodnett. “These funds will help us get started in addressing these issues.” DeFelice added, “It was great to see so many people come out and support those that have sacrificed so much for all of us.” Other patrons and special donors that contributed to the fundraiser’s success were: Barlow’s, Branches, Delicious Orchards, Doolan’s, Eagle Oaks Golf and Country Club, Egan Liquors, Firefly, 4 JG’s Vineyards, Mary Beth Gregg, Hall Construction, Inc., Alane Mahoney, Manasquan Lighting, Manasquan VFW, Ray’s Café, Remington’s, Sweet Tease, The Coast Star, U.S. Beverage, Urban Detail and Wine King.
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Housing Advocate Scott Fairman Leaves Legacy of Hope Page 4 Taste of Burlington County Shatters Fundraising Records Page 6 Meet Beth Sidlow Page 7
Donation Station Emergency and Community Services invites you to participate in our Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive
Annual Toy Drive! Emergency & Community Services
You can make Thanksgiving dinner special for a family in your community by donating individual items or making up a basket/box that includes everything. Drop off November 1st-16th at a location nearest you.
Please donate an unwrapped toy or item from the list below and light up a child’s face this Christmas.
Contact Barbara Clancey, Community Affairs Manager of Emergency & Community Services, at 609-599-1246 or bclancey@cctrenton.org for items needed and drop off locations.
Infants Soft blocks, soft books, soft toys, crib toys, bibs, blankets, onesies, sleepers
From our families to yours, thank you and happy Thanksgiving!
Donations Needed for Providence House Domestic Violence Services Providence House Domestic Violence Services needs donations throughout the year, but the holidays are a particularly tough time for the clients they serve. The holidays will be here before we know it and for many this will be an especially hard time. Countless individuals are struggling to just make ends meet, and the thought of providing a nice holiday for their children is overwhelming. Donations of food items for Thanksgiving and gifts for the holidays are currently being collected as well as monetary donations. Wish lists for Thanksgiving and the holidays are available upon request. Call Marcia Fishkin at (732) 350-2120 in Ocean County or Rachel Johnston at (856) 824–0599 in Burlington County.
Toddlers Stacking toys, books, push toys, musical toys, dolls, action figures, games Tweens (10-12 years) CDs and cases, lap desks, watches, wallets, gift cards, jewelry, sports equipment, movies (G or PG rating only) Boys Trucks/cars, trains, sports toys, learning toys, building blocks, action figures, games Girls Dolls (African American or Caucasian), play appliances, bath and body products, jewelry boxes, kitchen items, games Other Much Needed Items Winter hats, scarves, gloves, socks, slippers, gift cards, wrapping paper Non-violent toys only please! Donations can be dropped off at any location from December 1st - 20th.
Adopt a Family
Catholic Charities’ Emergency & Community Services needs your help! Many less fortunate families in Mercer County would be grateful for help in lighting up a child’s face this Christmas season. Our Adopt a Family program is simple- just call or stop by our office to pick up an application. You can even pick a family size of your choice. You will receive information about your family as it becomes available! Thank you for brightening Christmas morning! Emergency & Community Services 132 N. Warren St. Trenton, NJ 08608 Phone: 609-394-8847 Fax: 609-394-3344 or Fax 609-394-0574
Burlington County 801 Burlington Ave. Delanco, NJ 08075 856-764-6945 ext. 111 Monday-Friday, 9-12 pm & 1-4 pm Monmouth County 4261 Route 33 Tinton Falls, NJ 07753 732-922-0400 Monday-Friday, 9-4 pm Ocean County 200 Monmouth Ave. Lakewood, NJ 08701 732-363-5322 ext. 225 Monday-Thursday, 1-4:30 pm Friday, 9-4 pm
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From the Executive Director Dear Friends, Days are getting shorter, cold night air is creeping into our bones, and soon the hustle and bustle of the holiday cooking, shopping and gatherings will begin. Most of us are blessed, including myself, to be able to curl up under a warm blanket at home to ward off the chill, have the ability to run to the refrigerator for a late night snack, and prepare abundantly for the holidays. I am grateful for my fortunate circumstances. But what if that were not the case? Imagine not being able to buy food for yourself and your family. What would that be like? Who would you turn to? Our employees see the painful faces of those families at our food pantries in Mercer, Burlington and Ocean. When our resources are low, it is almost unbearable for our staff to not be able to assist them to the extent that they need assistance or worse, to have to turn them away. Have you ever been without utilities, heat, or been in a position of losing your home and being homeless? What would you do? Where would you go for help? What if the help wasn’t there? We encounter the frantic calls and pleas of dozens of families in the Diocese of Trenton each day, thousands every year. Your support, in the form of food and monetary donations, enables us to help people meet these challenges. Spread the word and invite your friends, coworkers, and family to support Catholic Charities’ efforts in providing basic services to those in need in our community. Sincerely,
Marlene Laó-Collins Executive Director
Catholic Charities’ El Centro Director to Be Honored By Hispanic American Medical Association Roberto Hernandez (pictured at left), director of El Centro, will be honored at the 15th Anniversary Celebration of the Hispanic American Medical Association on November 17th at the Trenton Country Club in Ewing. He will be honored, along with Diana Larisgoitia, MD, for his demonstrated commitment and service to the Hispanic community in New Jersey. Hernandez started his career at Catholic Charities in 1979 as a family life counselor. Two decades later, he was named the director of El Centro when it was established in 1999. He has received numerous awards for his work, including national recognition from Catholic Charities USA’s Family Strengthening Award in 2010. In addition to his work for Catholic Charities and El Centro, Hernandez serves the community through his involvement in various civic and parish organizations. He was instrumental in the development and creation of Anchor House, a shelter for runaway youth in Trenton. He sat on numerous boards and held leadership positions with the Catholic Youth Organization and Anchor House. Additionally, he was President of the Hispanic Democratic Caucus and was the co-chair of the Latin American Council Conference on Human Rights in the Dominican Republic in 1995. He is member of the Knights of Columbus Council #355 at St. Joachim’s, part of Our Lady of the Angels Parish, in Trenton. Hernandez was born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, and his family migrated to the United States when he was seven years old. He currently resides in Hamilton Square with his wife and sons.
Save the Date!
April 6th, 2013: Catholic Charities’ first 5K run at Mercer County Park. Contact Christa Marzan at cmarzan@cctrenton.org for more information. October 5th, 2013: Family fun day. Location TBD. Contact Nancy Tompkins at ntompkins@cctrenton.org for more information. 3
Agency News Housing Advocate Scott Fairman Leaves Legacy of Hope Catholic Charities lost a beloved member of our extended family in early October with the sudden passing of Scott Fairman, a member of the agency’s consumer advocacy network since 2008 and Client Achievement Award recipient at the Guardian Angel Dinner Dance in 2009.
the opportunity to find my purpose. One of the ways I can give back is helping others find their way back from homelessness and hopelessness.” Most recently, Scott served on the Community Health Improvement Plan for Greater Mercer County and provided input on ways to improve accessibility to primary healthcare and transportation within the county for mental health consumers. He also enjoyed attending the Guardian Angel Dinner Dance this past September, as an invited guest.
When Scott Fairman was appointed to New Jersey’s Interagency Council on Preventing and Reducing Homelessness, it wasn’t just because of his long experience working with the homeless. It was also because of his experience being homeless.
He overcame many obstaHolding an MBA in Finance cles to regain control over didn’t spare Scott from hithis life and wasted no time ting rock bottom. Nearly a in offering a helping hand decade ago, while living in a to others. We will miss his homeless shelter, he made Scott Fairman at Advocacy Day in April 2012 warm greetings and bear a momentous decision to hugs but his life is a shining take his life back. Scott turned to Catholic Charities for a inspiration to all in need of a second chance. helping hand. “I got counseling, support and education at Partners in Recovery, a program geared to individuals with a dual diagnosis,” said Scott during a videotaped interview in 2010. After “graduating” from Partners in Recovery, Scott returned to school and earned a certificate, with honors, as a paralegal. He worked with the Mercer Alliance to End Homelessness and with the New Jersey Advocacy Network to End Homelessness. He said, “Catholic Charities gave me
“Count
your resurrections as well as your falls.” Archbishop Fulton Sheen
Bristol-Myers Squibb Awards $10,000 to Catholic Charities Food Pantry
Meals on Wheels
For the second year in a row, Bristol-Myers Squibb has made a $10,000 grant to fund the food pantry at Catholic Charities’ Emergency & Community Services program at 132 North Warren Street in Trenton. Last year, the pantry provided food to 4,052 households, or a total of 7,649 people, nearly 1,000 of whom were children. “We are extremely grateful for this help from Bristol-Myers Squibb.” said Jackie Edwards, Director of Emergency & Community Services. “This support could not have come at a better time because we are seeing a rise in families needing help.” 4
Student volunteers transfer donated food from buses to our truck for delivery to Emergency & Community Services in Burlington County. Parochial schools held food drives in the weeks prior to Youth Day at the Eucharistic Congress on October 12th.
Charity Chatter Many thanks to Peter Haas, Catholic Charities’ Board of Trustees Chair, coordinated a clothing drive for Emergency & Community Services in Mercer County at Amboy Bank. Thank you, Peter and all of the employees of Amboy Bank!
The Raritan High School girls’ soccer team held a Day of Caring and represented Providence House at Jersey Shore Running Club’s Saturday in the Park 5K Run & 3-mile Walk on September 1st. They handed out water and cold wash cloths to the participants, stuffed goody bags, and cheered all the runners on!
Christine’s Hope For Kids Janssen Pharmaceutica Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton St. Alphonsus Church for donating school supplies for the children at Emergency & Community Services in Mercer County!
Kathryn Cantagallo, a student at Notre Dame High School, collected 300 pairs of jeans over the spring and summer months for Emergency & Community Services in Mercer County. Thank you for your support!
Employees of the newly merged United Way of Greater Philadelphia and South Jersey held a day of service at Emergency & Community Services in Burlington County on September 14th. The staff packed food bags and sorted and stocked clothing room items. Thank you for your much needed support!
Thanks to Roma Bank for donating 40 backpacks and 6 boxes of school supplies for Emergency & Community Services and Providence House!
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Events Guardian Angel Dinner Dance
The 23rd Annual Guardian Angel Dinner Dance was held on September 21st to honor those in Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean counties who help to advance Catholic Charities’ mission. This year’s honorees were Lucy Yeager, Len Berlik, Bob Powderly, St. Mary of the Lake Parish, St. Francis
Medical Center and Jay Scott Rosen. As of October 1 , our net income is a little over $174,100. Approximately 460 guests enjoyed themselves at The Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village. Guests enjoyed a delicious dinner and the fantastic music of Mission Dance! st
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
dresses and adorable sandals.
A very special girls day was held at Emergency & Community Services in Burlington County on August 24th! This was the third girl day event organized by Annette Thomas. Eight girls and their mothers attended and all of the girls came dressed for tea, looking beautiful in sun-
Thank you to our committee chairs, Denis Michel and Wally Loza, our generous sponsors, and dedicated event committee and volunteers for making the Guardian Angel Dinner Dance a success!
Record-Breaking Fundraising at the 2012 Taste of Burlington County
Back to School and Preventative Health Event in Ocean County On August 30th, backpacks and school supplies were handed out to parents in Ocean County for their children’s school needs! The event also had representatives from health care providers. Dr. Jodi Kinney, a chiropractor from Intrinsic Chiropractic in Jackson, checked posture and scoliosis. The Ocean County Health Department distributed literature on immunizations, nutrition, dental care and early cancer detection. The Ocean Health Initiatives van was on site. A doctor, nurses and technicians provided blood pressure and glucose screenings. 6
This year’s 18th annual Taste of Burlington County, held on October 10th, raised over $67,000, surpassing last year’s record breaking fundraising! Over 500 guests enjoyed delicious food from more than 20 participating restaurants. Many thanks to Rachel Johnston, Community Affairs Coordinator of Providence House in Burlington County, along with the Providence House staff, volunteers, participating restaurants, sponsors and attendees for helping to make this year’s event a smashing success!
Who’s Got Spirit? Meet Beth Sidlow
tremendous need with which they have become all too aware.
Beth Sidlow joined the External Affairs department this fall to help advance Catholic Charities’ mission throughout the area, specifically with the parishes in the Diocese of Trenton. Get to know Beth a little bit by reading our interview with her below!
What are some of your influences and inspirations? Among my heroes are Jesus, Dorothy Day and the people who struggle every day to survive. How long have you been at Catholic Charities? I have been with Catholic Charities for almost 11 years and am grateful to all of my supervisors, coworkers and mentors, for the opportunities they have given me over the years. In particular, I thank Liz Luciano, Director of Billing and EHR, who graciously allowed me to be involved in advocacy in addition to my duties. The advocacy work and mentoring by Joyce Campbell has broadened my horizons and given me the opportunity to see the need for policy change and to bring that message to our legislators along with the people who come to us in need.
What is your title? Parish and Community Outreach Coordinator. In this role, I will be working with our Community Awareness Initiative to share the mission, vision and services of the agency throughout the diocese. What are you excited about doing and/or bringing to this position in Parish Social Ministry? What are some of your goals, at least in this first year? I hope to build on the many partnerships we already have with the parishes and encourage social ministers and the people in the pews to raise their voices with legislators to make the policy changes that are needed to meet the
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Donation
What are the benefits of donating my car to Catholic Charities? You benefit by being able to reduce your taxable income when taxes are itemized. Plus, you avoid the costs associated with selling your car. No need to pay for advertising, no loss of privacy and possible security risk, and no need to pay for vehicle registration, insurance, and repairs to keep your car in running condition while you wait for a buyer.
You also benefit from knowing that Catholic Charities uses any funds derived from your donated vehicle to help individuals in local communities achieve self-sufficiency through job training, food and rent assistance, as well as other essential services. You are dealing directly with a human services organization that has been helping families and individuals in Central New Jersey for a century. There are no “middle men.” Does Catholic Charities handle everything for me? Yes. If your car is not in running condition, Catholic Charities will tow it. Catholic Charities will also provide everything you need to qualify for a tax deduction.
What does Catholic Charities do with donated vehicles? The majority of vehicles are sold at wholesale or salvaged. The proceeds are then used by Catholic Charities to fund services. Cars in good running condition are evaluated and donated to a client in Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth or Ocean County.
Will I get a tax receipt for my donation? Yes, we will issue a receipt at the time of vehicle pick-up. This is not your final tax receipt. This initial acknowledgement will indicate your name as well as the year, make, and model of the car you are donating. We issue a tax form to every vehicle donor at any amount as an official legal record of the transaction.
How long will it take to pick up my vehicle? We make donating your car as simple and convenient as possible. A tow company will contact you within two to three business days. Call our business services director at 1-877-383-CCDT.
How is the value determined on the vehicle donated? The value is determined by the gross proceeds raised from the sale of the donated vehicle. You no longer have the burden of determining the value yourself. The amount listed on IRS Form 1098-C, Contributions of Motor Vehicles, Boats, and Airplanes will be the gross proceeds of the deductible donation.
Do I have to be with the vehicle at the time of pick-up? No. Special arrangements can be made by calling our representative. What paperwork do I need? The only paperwork needed is a signed, clear title (pink slip). Have your title with you when you call-in your donation. [Please note: a clear title indicates the title is in the name of the donor without a lien].
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If the vehicle is given to a Catholic Charities client, you will still receive a Form 1098-C noting that it was given to an individual or family in need. You and your tax advisor will determine the fair market value as your deduction because the vehicle was kept in service.
The Spirit Staff:
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Publisher: Marlene Laó-Collins
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Graphic Designer: Christa Marzan cmarzan@cctrenton.org Contributors: Barbara Clancey, Bruno Cellucci, Christa Marzan, Jane Hargraves, Lisa Thibault, Marcia Fishkin, Marlene Laó-Collins, Pam Marshall, Rachel Johnston Printing: Garrison Printing Company Pennsauken, NJ This publication was created at Catholic Charities’ Central Administrative Services. 383 West State Street Trenton, NJ 08607 609-394-5181
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383 West State St. P.O. Box 1423 Trenton, NJ 08607-1423
Editor in Chief: Lisa Thibault lthibault@cctrenton.org