2021 Year In Review

2021 Catholic Charities, Diocese of Paterson Year in Review

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We look back and reflect on 2021. COVID-19 has continued to impact the most vulnerable among us. We have persevered through this pandemic while operating dozens of programs to help those most in need. We have also been there to respond to crises as they have emerged.

Our board of trustees, employees, volunteers and benefactors have been beacons of hope through this challenging year.

It is always difficult to find the words to best express our gratitude for the truly humbling way you have supported Catholic Charities. We cannot thank you enough for your kindness during this unprecedented time. Together, we accomplished some amazing things:

• In 2020, our world changed abruptly as COVID-19 entered our country, state, and communities. Over a year later, this crisis continues to have an impact on the way we live, work, and serve those most in need.
  • We have worked diligently to keep our service recipients and employees safe at our residential programs and inpatient rehabilitation facilities. We have tested regularly, enhanced and increased cleaning protocols, and have set up quarantine areas of several of our programs.  
  • We have hosted outreach and vaccination events at our Fr. English Food Pantry, in Paterson. The City of Paterson, where we have our largest presence, has a vaccination rate of 97%.
  • Over the last year and a half, we have helped more people than ever before in our 80-year history. We have pivoted many of our programs to provide support safely, efficiently and to help more of our sisters and brothers in need. We have never closed our doors.

• In addition to support from individual donors, kindness shown through the Diocesan Ministries Appeal, volunteer hours, corporate partnerships, and our fundraising events, several foundations have awarded us with grants to improve and expand our services. Grant funding we have received in 2021 included:
  • The Raskob Foundation for Catholic Activities awarded the Department for Persons with Disabilities with life-saving funding to purchase defibrillators for all of our programs.
  • The New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund awarded a grant for all of Catholic Charities to address the critical needs of our states most vulnerable residents, whose health and livelihood continue to be threatened by the pandemic.
  • Catholic Charities USA’s Francis Fund, provided us with 2 rounds of funding to help prevent eviction.
  • FEMA/New Jersey Office of Homeland Security pledged funding for terrorism prevention to provide a higher level of security for 3 of our locations in Paterson.
  • The Church of Christ the King, New Vernon, provided 3 grants for each of 3 agencies to purchase new furniture and needed supplies.
  • The Catholic Human Services Foundation provided funding to improve our kitchen and residential facilities at Straight and Narrow.
  • The Bank of America Charitable Foundation provided us with a grant to provide a greater level of support for those impacted by flooding because of Hurricane Ida.
  • The F.M. Kirby Foundation awarded us with funding to purchase a new vehicle for our HIV/AIDS program at Hope House.
  • We also received funding to provide new technology equipment at Hope House and new lifts at our DPD Wiegand Farm Group Homes, from a foundation who wishes to remain anonymous.

• We are proud to be part of the Diocese of Paterson Family. 2021 was the Year of St. Joseph, as proclaimed by Pope Francis. “I hope and pray that we, as individuals, families, parishes, and Diocese will respond to this invitation that our Holy Father is offering to us and that this Year of St. Joseph will truly be a Year of Grace,” Bishop Sweeney said. Service recipients, staff members, and volunteers took part in a Diocesan-wide pilgrimage, visiting seven sites in the Diocese named in honor of St. Joseph or the Holy Family.

• On January 15th, John Elliot and CBS2 New York visited our Father English Food Pantry to share the story of Peyton Triano. 13-year-old Peyton, has donated thousands of pounds of food to our food pantries and early learning programs, through proceeds from her baking business. Peyton was honored at our November Virtual Caritas Gala: www.ccpaterson.org/caritas.

• On January 18th, we celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, with volunteers from St. Joseph's Health and Montclair State University visiting and assisting at our Fr. English Food Pantry.

• We are committed to grow and to build a workplace and society that truly honors and respects the dignity of each human person. In January, our newly formed Justice Committee worked to create our first diversity statement, which you can read here: www.ccpaterson.org/diversity.

• On January 30th we said farewell to Rev. Msgr. Mark Giordani. Msgr. Giordani’s entire time as a priest in active ministry was spent in the city of Paterson. Msgr. Giordani was known for his love of the poor and his tireless work throughout our Diocese.

• In February, we assisted with the Point in Time Homeless Count in Paterson. Each day we provide help and create hope for hundreds of individuals who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The people we reached out to were referred to charitable organizations, such as ours, for support.

• Each day, we are proud to support veterans in need. On March 19th, alongside Bergen County Veterans Services and the NJ SOS Veteran Stakeholders we proudly gave back to the New Jersey National Guard. We visited soldiers at the Vaccination Mega-site at the Meadowlands. We gave out snacks, refreshments and small tokens of our appreciation, all made possible through donations. On March 22nd we were featured on Governor Phil Murphy's press briefing for this act of kindness.

• We are a proud Catholic Charities USA Member Agency.  In March, we nominated Jenn Minervino as our representative for the CCUSA Volunteer of the Year Award. Jenn is a devoted volunteer who is also the Department for Persons with Disabilities Fight for the Right Group leader. Fight for the Right is DPD's community service group which happens to consist of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities

• Throughout the year, we have worked more closely and collaboratively with the New Jersey State Police. Throughout the spring they sent volunteers to our Father English Food Pantry to distribute food, in June participated in the New Jersey Army Tank Pull, and in collaboration with Hope One, together we provided NARCAN training and outreach for residents of Morris County.

• We appreciate the many schools and youth groups who support our cause throughout the year. On May 12th volunteers from Seton Hall Prep weeded, planted, and rejuvenated the Department for Persons with Disabilities’ Fitzpatrick House vegetable garden.

• June marked our return to live, outdoor fundraising events. On June 13th, alongside the Knights of Columbus, we hosted the NJ Army Tank Pull to benefit veterans in need. This event welcomed over 30 teams, and over 1,000 guests. On June 21st, we brought back our Wiegand Farm Golf Classic, welcoming over 300 golfers to Crystal Springs Resort. Sadly, in December the founder of this event and Wiegand chairman for nearly 50 years, Jack Kelly, passed away.  

Michael Coppola, USN, Ret. was honored and given a Tank Pull Committee Rehabed, motorized wheelchair at the 2021 NJ Army Tank Pull.

• Thank you to the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) for awarding us with a grant to host a Social Justice Art Show, on June 29th featuring student artists from our youth programs. We were proud to celebrate our talented youth as well as 50 years of CCHD!

• On July 1st, Bishop Kevin Sweeney celebrated his 1-year anniversary as Bishop of the Diocese of Paterson. We thank our Shepherd for his leadership, selflessness, and dedication to helping those most in need.

• As a nonprofit organization helping the most vulnerable, we are committed to transparency. In August, we earned GuideStar Platinum Seals for Catholic Charities as a whole, the Department for Persons with Disabilities, Straight and Narrow, and Catholic Family and Community Services.

• In August of 2019, we experienced a devastating fire at Straight and Narrow in Paterson. Thanks to the bravery of first responders, all lives were saved and no one was hurt. Last year, Bishop Sweeney presented Catholic Charities with $319,000 check towards rebuilding costs, made possible through the Diocesan Ministries Appeal, in addition to over $200,000 raised in direct donations. While COVID-19 has impacted some of our rebuilding efforts, we now have architect-drawn plans and plan to break ground in 2022 to Rebuild Hope at Straight and Narrow!

• Tropical Storm Ida swept through New Jersey on Wednesday, September 1st and we were there to provide relief efforts. We helped dozens of individuals and families and provided housing assistance, food, and replaced personal items damaged by flooding.

• Through the last several months, we have provided support for Afghan refugees housed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey. There have been 9,500 refugees sheltered there. We worked alongside Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton in sending staff and volunteers to the base. In addition, we provided support for US Veterans impacted by this crisis. In October, alongside the County of Passaic, we offered a Veterans’ Workshop: Crisis to Wholeness.

• In September, Paterson experienced a drinking water shortage. In addition to the thousands of pounds of food we typically give away, we were also able to provided thousands of cases of drinking water to families in need.

• 2021 marked the Golden Anniversary of 2 legacy programs at Catholic Charities. Murray House and Hope House, both celebrated 50 years of providing vital services to our communities. Murray House is a pioneer program, and the longest running group home for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in all of New Jersey.  Hope House, our Morris County social services program, celebrated its 50th anniversary on September 23rd. You may watch the 50th Anniversary video here: www.ccpaterson.org/HH50.

• We are proud of our employees and program leaders who help us assist thousands of people each day. On October 17th, David Pearson, our Assistant Director of Veterans Services, was honored with the highest civilian honor in New Jersey: the New Jersey Civilian Commendation Medal at the New Jersey National Guard Military Review by Governor Phil Murphy and Brigadier General Lisa J. Hou, D.O.

• 2021 marked the 100th birthday of the Jazz Priest, Fr. Norman O’Connor.  Father O’Connor was the Executive Director of Straight and Narrow for over 20 years, until 2002. He led this agency to become the largest nonprofit drug and alcohol treatment center in the United States. Prior to his leadership of Straight and Narrow, Fr. O’Connor was a renowned Jazz musician and personality.  An article written by the Tablet commemorated his birthday here: Jazz Priest Tablet Article. He (posthumously) and his devoted family were honored at our virtual Caritas Gala, which you can watch here: www.ccpaterson.org/caritas.  

• We strive to provide a high level of quality care and support across all of our programs. In November, Catholic Family and Community Services received COA (Council on Accreditation) Accreditation. “COA’s program of quality improvement is designed to identify providers that have met high performance standards and have made a commitment to their stakeholders to deliver the very best quality services.  COA is proud to recognize Catholic Family and Community Services as one of these outstanding providers, and we wish you the very best in your continuing work with the individuals you serve,” said Jody Levison-Johnson President & CEO of COA.  Our Department for Persons with Disabilities is also COA accredited and Straight and Narrow is CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) accredited.

• On November 19th we celebrated Sussex County Day. We proudly rededicated our building on Wyker Road, received a blessing from Bishop Sweeney, and welcomed the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMAVA) to their new office. We are blessed to provide help and create hope for those in Sussex County!

• On November 22nd, we held our second annual Thankful Giving Meal Distribution Event.  This event was made possible through the generous support of Karen Abrams and Kathya Arevalo. Through dozens of donations, we were able to provide 350 hot meals, beautifully catered by the Brownstone, to families in need.

• Prior to Thanksgiving and with the help of the Community Foodbank of New Jersey, numerous parishes, hundreds of donors and dozens of volunteers we were able to give out over 8,000 turkeys and roasters, 1,600 holiday meal kits, and thousands of pounds of food to those most in need.

• Through the Christmas Season we have given out over 5,000 gifts, mostly to children. This generosity was made possible through numerous giving endeavors, including the annual Delbarton Christmas Drive, and over 2 dozen parish, business, and service group gift drives. We are always overwhelmed with kindness around the Christmas Season!

 
A small child's Christmas was made special thanks to the generosity of another!

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Thank you for helping us provide help and create hope for those most in need. We are looking forward to a 2022 filled with love, growth, and impact!

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