Feeding the Hungry

The 2019 Feast of Corpus Christi was on June 20th.  This takes place on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday and celebrates the Real Presence of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.   To commemorate this Feast and help those at Catholic Charities, thousands of Diocesan Faithful participated in the Corpus Christi Food Drive. 
 
The summer months are a critical time for food donations to pantries because it is when the shelves are empty, with fewer donations coming in to Catholic Charities.  We rely on the generosity of others to help stock the shelves to get through these important summer months.  
 
The Corpus Christi Food Drive was created in 2014 to alleviate the food shortage problem that occurred during the summer. In addition to fewer food donations coming in during this season, children, who are off from school for vacation, do not have their regular meals at school.
 
In May, Bishop Serratelli kindly reached out to all parishes in the Diocese of Paterson to participate in this important endeavor. In a letter to pastors in the Diocese, the Bishop wrote, “Catholic Charities here in our Diocese and around the United States continues to be ‘the hands of Christ’ in a world in need of greater compassion and service.”
 
We are happy to say that it was our most successful Corpus Christi Food Drive to date.
 
There were 3 different drop off sites throughout the Diocese, one in Morris, Sussex and Passaic County.  
 
“The generosity of the people of Morris County was overwhelming. The collection was above and beyond what we expected to collect. The response from the parishioners at St. Simon’s was fantastic.  They volunteered their time to check food for expiration dates and the packaging of the food was superb.  Thank you to the Deaconate Office for sending volunteers to assist. Their help was greatly appreciated.  It was great to see all come together with donations of food, time and talent,” said Father Richard Bay, Pastor, Saint Simon, Green Pond; Dean, Northern Morris; Chairman, Priestly Life.
 
Catholic Charities operates 3 food pantries throughout the Diocese of Paterson; in Passaic County the Father English Food Pantry; in Morris County the Hope House Food Pantry; and in Sussex County, Partnership for Social Services Food Pantry.   Combined, all three food pantries serve between 100-125 clients each day; that’s over 25,000 visits per year. 
 
“Our clients are leaving the food pantry with big smiles on their faces, thanking us and blessing us for all the food, cleaning supplies, baby diapers and formula. Without your help it is impossible to help our less fortunate brothers and sisters in need. God bless you!” said Carlos Roldan, Director of Catholic Charities Food Pantries.  
 
Upon being dropped at our food pantries or picked up by our staff, the food was sorted and distributed by volunteers, food pantry staff and Deacons from the Diocese of Paterson.  Over $5,000 was also raised through parish and individual contributions.
 
“We are grateful to Bishop Serratelli, Monsignor Mahoney, the pastors of our parishes, and the Diocesan faithful who participated in this important endeavor.  Catholic Charities is proud of the many parishioners who supported the Corpus Christi Food Drive.  May God Bless you all,” said Scott Milliken, Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Charities.