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December 30, 2020Catholic Charities, Diocese of Paterson is proud to provide help and create hope for thousands of people in need throughout the year, especially during the Christmas Season.
This Christmas Season was the most unusual in recent memory, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact us all.
Despite many challenges, over 5,000 presents were handed out to children, families and individuals in need. This is in addition to hundreds of hours of volunteer service and thousands of pounds of food contributed to Catholic Charities.
Individuals, service groups, parishes from throughout the Diocese of Paterson and beyond, local businesses and many others gave back to Catholic Charities during this special time of year.
“I am very blessed and was happy to give back through donations of food and toys this Christmas Season. The individuals who come to my business were uplifted to help those at Catholic Charities and responded generously to our outreach,” said Giorgio Biancamano, owner of Blue 42 in Elmwood Park.
While some groups were able to support the organization as they normally do, others had to pivot to follow COVID-19 safety measures. “Christmas during the Covid-19 pandemic has been anything but ordinary. Extraordinary times call for creative thinking and planning. This year the Delbarton family compiled toys into individual, bright red Santa sacks, tied up in white ribbon with the name of each child, family and program for our preschools. It was an amazing act of kindness and ingenuity,” said Sr. Maureen Sullivan Pastoral Care Director for Catholic Family and Community Services.
“We continue to work diligently to keep the individuals who live in our group homes and supervised apartments safe. This Christmas Season, the residents of the Department for Persons with Disabilities had many celebrations within their group homes with their fellow housemates and staff, in place of any large scale gatherings. We continue to find unique ways to engage the people we serve and during the Christmas Season we held several celebrations via video conference and even welcomed Santa via a drive-through visit!” said Joanna Miller, Executive Director of the Department for Persons with Disabilities.
Only in 2020, Santa getting his temperature checked at the Department for Persons with Disabilities Wiegand Farm.
Here are some of the acts of kindness that were offered to Catholic Charities during this Christmas Season:
- Just in time for Christmas, Catholic Charities USA awarded Catholic Charities, Diocese of Paterson with a $10,000 grant through their CCUSA Francis Cares Eviction Prevention Fund. This fund, jointly created by CCUSA and the Felician Sisters of North America will help those in extreme danger of becoming homeless this winter.
- For decades, each of Catholic Charities 3 agencies held separate employee Christmas celebrations. This year, the executive team planned to have their first unified celebration, but COVID-19 threw a wrench into those plans. Led by the Human Resource department, & the executive leadership of Catholic Charities of Paterson, they kicked off the first ever Virtual Christmas party on 12/11, welcoming staff across the entire organization.
- Each November, Catholic Charities Trustee, Katherine M. (Karen) Lordi hosts a Christmas Concert to benefit Catholic Family & Community Services at-risk youth programs. Over the past four and a half decades, the Lordi Christmas Concert has raised approximately $500,000 to support various youth programs at Catholic Charities. This year, in lieu of an in-person concert, an appeal was held, with CDs sent to longtime supporters.
- Catholic Family and Community Services’ Christmas Blessings Project is a massive undertaking that begins in October with over 20 parishes and 7 community schools/agencies. Kind donors contributed over 1,600 gifts to children, adults and seniors participating in CFCS’ programs. This year, Catholic Charities provided gifts with some changes. Most of the gifts in 2020 were gift cards due to safety, limited space and limited volunteers. Members of the Christmas Blessings committee sorted the presents/gift cards and assured there were enough for the many we serve.
- DPD Barnet House in Pompton Lakes was visited by a group of Christmas angels on December 21st, including students from the DePaul High School Football program, Immaculate Heart Academy, Don Bosco Prep, and the College of Holy Cross. The angels, led by longtime DPD volunteer, Diane Macchia-Hanson brought gifts, treats, and sang carols outside of the home.
- The massive Delbarton High School Christmas giving endeavor was held to benefit children in Catholic Charities Early Learning programs. Volunteers and service recipients remained socially distant to spread joy while staying safe.
- The Department for Persons with Disabilities Fight for the Right Community Service Group continues to help those in need while apart. The group led by volunteers Jenn Minervino and Anna Philhower held a gift drive for individuals in nursing homes and also provided gifts for the DPD group members.
- The Parish Family of St. John Vianney, Stockholm; and St. Thomas the Apostle, Oak Ridge, led by Pastor Fr. Ben Williams, purchased and gift wrapped presents for all of the individuals served by the Department for Persons with Disabilities (DPD).
- Knights of Columbus Councils, #5563, Vernon; #6320, Succasunna; #7784 Newton; and #5510 Oak Ridge, purchased presents or gift cards for the Department for Persons with Disabilities Group Homes.
- Knights of Columbus Council #6320, Succasunna also collected an 11th load of donations (since the start of the pandemic) of 225 pounds of non-perishable food, personal care and cleaning items for Catholic Charities Food Pantries.
- Each year, the Bishop of the Diocese of Paterson hosts a Christmas Eve Mass at Straight and Narrow for those receiving inpatient rehabilitation services. Bishop Kevin Sweeney looked to continue that tradition, but instead recorded a Christmas blessing that was broadcast across the agency.
- Santa Claus visited the Department for Persons with Disabilities Wiegand Farm in Oak Ridge. Santa typically visits the residents of DPD’s group homes at the agency’s annual Christmas party, but this year welcomed the programs in a drive-through setting.
- The Daly, Norz, and Bohn families of Jefferson Township purchased gifts/gift cards for all of the individuals served at the Department for Persons with Disabilities. The gifts were dropped off and distributed directly to DPD group homes.
- For the second year, Holiday Hope NYC, a grass roots nonprofit organization purchased large scale gift items for DPD’s residential programs including furniture, exercise equipment and televisions.
- Our 3 Food Pantries were able to provide over 2,000 individuals or families with food, including turkeys and chickens for Christmas dinner. This food is made possible through donations by individuals, service groups, and businesses. In November, Catholic Charities gve out more food than ever before in our 80 year history serving over 26,000 people. We have continued to feed the hungry at a rapid pace through December.
- Officer Steve Beneventine with help from the Passaic County Sheriffs Department and from the staff and Recruits from the Passaic County Police Academy donated brand new toys for children assisted at our Fr. English Food Pantry, just in time for Christmas.
- Local businesses gave back to those most in need, including Blue 42 Restaurant in Elmwood Park, led by owner Giorgio Biancamano. The restaurant held a Christmas toy and food drive for children served by the Father English Center in Paterson.
- Several individuals and community groups held fund drives to support Catholic Charities including the DePaul Alumni Class of 1999 and the Rockaway River Country Club Women’s Golf Association.
- Giuliana Hushon and her Girl Scout Troop from St. Vincent Martyr Parish donated art supplies and snacks for the students in our Early Learning Programs. The snack bags come with heartwarming, hand drawn Christmas cards for the children.
- Knights of Columbus, Wyckoff #13678 dropped off over 375 winter coats to be given out at our Fr. English Center in Paterson. They and other Knights Councils will help keep individuals in need warm this winter through their annual Coats for Kids Drives.
- The Palmer and Scheid Families along with several kind individuals helped purchased Christmas gifts for several families helped by Catholic Charities who have fallen on challenging times.
- Karen Abrams and her family purchased and handed out 60 hot, 4 course meals, catered by Corrado's Family Affair and cookies donated by Lisa's Treats for Pups & Peeps. Catholic Charities’ volunteers and Karen’s family placed boxes of meals in cars as they drove up. Meals were also delivered those who don’t have a vehicle or couldn’t make it to Paterson. These meals benefited families in our Youth at Risk Programs.
- The Beacon Sharing Fund, the Catholic Charities Happiness Tree Appeal and other year-end Christmas giving endeavors have helped raise over $75,000 to date for Catholic Charities this Christmas Season.
