Creating Hope - Carlos Roldan and Sr. Maureen Sullivan Honored

Congratulations to Carlos Roldan, Catholic Charities Food Pantry Director and Sister Maureen Sullivan, Dir. of Pastoral Ministry, Community Programs & Volunteers, Catholic Family & Community Services, on being honored with the Community Connection Award for Outstanding Partnership at Connect for Community's Annual Night Under the Stars on May 2nd. 

Connect for Community, based out of Sparta, provides food and toiletries to food pantries, soup kitchens, and social service agencies.  They have been serving those in need in our local communities since 2009.  Throughout the year, they support numerous causes including Catholic Charities' Father English Center, Hope House, and Partnership for Social Services Family Center.

Executive Director, Suzanne Stigers was the Master of Ceremonies and had these beautiful words to say about Carlos and Sister Maureen:

Our next award is the 2018 Connect for Community Award for Outstanding Partnership.  This award is given to the person associated with a food pantry, social service agency, soup kitchen or domestic abuse facility who is working tirelessly to help those in need, but one who is also partnering with our organization so that "together", we can do more than we ever could on our own.  This year's recipients, Carlos Roldan and Sister Maureen Sullivan, from the Father English Food Pantry and Catholic Family and Community Services in Paterson, do in fact make us better than we could ever ben on our own.
 
About 6 years ago The Father English Food Pantry was brought to our attention.  One of our volunteers Rose Mary, a pharmaceutical rep and a mother of two young boys would load up her car and on her way to work would make regular deliveries to Paterson.  None of us had ever actually met anyone from the Food Pantry and this went on for about a year until one day we got word that 60,000 heater meals were about to be thrown away.  I thought, who could possibly use such a large volume of meals and the bonus was that they didn't require a kitchen to prepare.  Insert Carlos Roldan.  Carlos immediately jumped into action and sent a truck out to Morristown to pick up the meals.  It was the spark of an incredible partnership that has truly opened our eyes to the need in our state.  Having been born in Paterson, Father English always held a special place in my heart.  My mother and father went to high school there and I thought to myself, how can we give back to this community?  We were fortunate to spend time with Carlos at the food pantry, assisting with food distribution, meeting the families and learning a bit about their stories.  Many work multiple jobs, still not being able to make ends meet.  People lined up on a weekly basis outside a local laundromat that allows them to wash their clothes for free and they are given just a small amount of laundry detergent.  Sadly laundry detergent is another so-called luxury item that cannot be purchased with food stamps.  Over the years we continue to learn what it really means to confront the reality of poverty and hunger in our own communities.  Carlos's compassion and unlimited love has been extended to literally thousands of people who are served in the food pantry each month.  We are so proud to partner with this facility as well as their food pantries in Dover as well as in Franklin who serves so many of our elderly population.  Carlos shares our mission that all people should have access to food and personal hygiene products in an atmosphere of dignity and self-respect.
 
Carlos has been the Director and the life force of the food pantry for the last 26 years!
 
A year and a half ago there was a serious fire in the Fr. English Center.  Everyone got out safely, but the food pantry, thrift shop, veteran's closet and the stage area where heavily damaged from fire, smoke, water and actions of the fire department needed to put out the fire.  Carlos did not miss a beat.  The Bingo Hall was converted to a food pantry where it still lives today.  I think they could do their work out of a cardboard box.
 
Carlos, we have learned to much from you.  From the minute we met, your level of commitment to your work was contagious.  We have all been so inspired by your faith.  You never give up hope that the needs of your community will be met.  It is our honor to help you fulfill those needs.

It is with great pride, gratitude and deep appreciation that I present the 2018 Connect for Community Award for Outstanding Partnership to Carlos Roldan.  Carlos, congratulations on your award. 
 
Over the years as we got to know Carlos, we explored other ways of how we could work with the food pantry.   Sister Maureen is such a powerful force.  For those of you who don't know Sister, she is the Director of Volunteers and Pastoral Care for Catholic Family and Community Services.  The work she does is vast and the need for services is great.  Not only has she dedicated her life to the Catholic Church, but she has also dedicated her life to give the voiceless a voice and empowers others to do the same.  Her work is meant to preach to others by example and that is exactly what she has done for our volunteers.  She provides help and creates hope to thousands of people each day.  I have to say that personally after the recent loss of my mother and brother, loving and encouraging letters, emails and calls from Sister Maureen meant more than she will ever know.  I guess that's where the Pastoral Care comes in!
 
Three years ago we started working with Sister on our Backpacks for Community program.  Like Connect for Community, Sister is always on the hunt for new ways to help, serve and improve the lives of those in need.  We were a perfect match from the beginning.  On average each August we provide nearly 2,000 fully-stocked backpacks to children in need.  500 of those are brought to Paterson.
 
I read something a few years ago that said, "What you do in this life will still be here when you're gone, so make it something good".  All that Sister does is good.  Her letters, emails and never ending words of encouragement sustain us.  Many times you can volunteer and not really know the impact of your work.  Sister always makes sure we know:
 
She recently told us:
 
"I am always amazed by the precision with which you organize and carry out the day.  It is like watching a well-organized drill team put everything in place and then take it down again.
 
The gifts that our families receive are extraordinary.  It would be enough to receive a brand new back pack that can be selected by color and style.  It is a double surprise when the families find out what the contents include as well as more great supplies!!!
 
This is a true treat for those who often have to use hand-me-downs or last year's warn out back packs.  These brand new items truly help to give children confidence as they start the New Year on a more even footing with other children.  It also eases the tensions of the parents by knowing that their children are ready to start to learn".
 
Sister, what can I say?  If ever one needed words of encouragement, look no further but to you.  Thank you for being a beacon of light in the church, in your community and in our lives.
 
It is with great pride, gratitude and deep appreciation that I present the 2018 Connect for Community Award for Outstanding Partnership to Sister Maureen Sullivan.  Sister, congratulations on your award.

Thank you, Suzanne for sharing these powerful words and for all you do for Catholic Charities and those in need!

We are proud of Carlos Roldan and Sister Maureen Sullivan for their well-deserved awards!