Beacon Sharing Fund

The Beacon is the newspaper for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson. We are blessed to be part of this great Diocese and thank the team at the Beacon for their continued support of our important ministry. 

With the Christmas Season upon us, the Beacon will once again be hosting the Christmas Sharing Fund. Over the more than three-decade history of the Christmas Sharing Fund, more than $770,000 in donations and gift cards have come in from individual readers, parishes, community organizations and businesses from the Diocese’s three counties of Morris, Passaic and Sussex. Last year, over $20,000 was given to help those most in need! 

Each Week the Beacon will be publishing a list of stories/scenarios from Catholic Charities' programs and service recipients.  To contribute you may make a donation below or:
Make Check Payable to:
Catholic Charities c/o The Beacon Christmas Sharing Fund
Mail Form with Check to:
Catholic Charities c/o The Beacon Sharing Fund
777 Valley Road
Clifton, NJ 07013

You may donate to all of Catholic Charities or to a particular scenario which will be earmarked and used for an individual program, person or family. 

Along with the screened Catholic Charities scenarios, updated lists of contributions will also be published in the Beacon.  Requests for anonymity will be honored.  

Scroll down to see the list of this weeks scenarios or to make a donation.  You may also view archived scenarios here.  These lists will be updated weekly. 

Merry Christmas! 

This Week's Scenarios:

1. S&N’s substance abuse programs provide help and create hope for individuals struggling with addiction and mental health. The “Mommy and Me” program helps pregnant women and women and children daily by providing counseling and rehabilitation services as well as caring for their small children. A 32-year-old woman in recovery gave birth to her daughter while being a part of the Mommy and Me program. Her daughter is now eight months old, and the mother continues to work on her recovery at S&N, as well as care for her daughter. Catholic Charities is in need of toys, diapers, formula, and toiletries for its clients and small children.

2. Basile Supervised Apartments are three condominiums in Wayne where nine individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities live at DPD. One of the men struggles to maintain a healthy level of physical activity. All three men in the one condo would benefit from a PlayStation to maintain a healthy lifestyle with games that involve dancing, yoga, and other exercise programs. Two of the apartments would benefit from new furniture; one condo needs new living room furniture, and the other condo needs an accent chair to accompany its couch.

3. Walsh House in the Succasunna neighborhood of Roxbury Township is a DPD group home that provides a safe and loving place for five adults with different abilities and environmental challenges. These past few years have been difficult, and many changes have affected the residents’ lives. It has been a challenge to keep everyone’s minds and bodies active. As a way to travel and learn, they would love a virtual reality headset. This would be a great way to see the world and keep their minds curious and their bodies safe.

4. Clients of CFCS, Michael H., and his mother, Helen, live in a small mobile home. Michael does his best to take care of his mother, but with his and her health issues, it sometimes is difficult. They do not get out much and live on a fixed income. Because they do spend a lot of time at home, Michael could use slippers size 13 and a new warm bathrobe — size extra large. Helen could also use a warm bathrobe — size medium.

5. A family of eight has been evicted from their home. They will be living with their maternal grandmother until they can find housing. The mother works nights. The father suffers from severe diabetes and has been hospitalized many times. Two of the six children are currently enrolled at Friendship Corner. They are in need of clothing and coats for the children who often come to school without being properly dressed for the colder temperatures that are coming at this time of year.

6. W is one of the seniors who attends the Paterson Adult Day Center. This senior day center is the only place he and other classmates can meet new friends, eat a hot meal, participate in different activities, and have fun. Most of these seniors struggle with finances and live on their own. W is one of them. Lately, he has been struggling to acquire personal items as they are expensive.

7. Murray House is a DPD group home providing care and support for five individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Clifton. Everyone would appreciate new pots and pans to prepare delicious meals and a cutting board and knife set.

8. Fitzpatrick House is a DPD group home in Pompton Lakes that supports four individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The individuals like to cook with staff. The residents enjoy being creative and trying out new recipes. They would enjoy an ice cream maker to increase their skills in dessert making.

9. Maria, a single mom with four children, became homeless after a divorce. She was placed in a local shelter. Two of her kids are toddlers. Maria started coming to Catholic Family & Community Services for essential needs, like baby food, baby clothes, and baby diapers. She requests toys for her toddlers.

10. Mario is a senior living with his wife in Paterson. He confided that he is concerned about staying warm this winter and the cost of heat. He requests two bathrobes and two pairs of slippers for his wife and him to help them stay warm, sizes large and medium.

11. Finnegan House is a group home of DPD providing care and support for six individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Oak Ridge. The residents like to visit New York City and love the theater, sporting events such as hockey, and the N.Y. Yankees.

12. Columbus House in Jefferson Township, a group home of DPD for six individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, would appreciate a new set of pots and pans.

13. Maria, a single mom with four children, became homeless after a divorce. She was placed in a local shelter. Two of her kids are toddlers. Maria started coming to Catholic Family & Community Services for essential needs, like baby food, baby clothes, and baby diapers. She requests toys for her toddlers.

14. Mario is a senior living with his wife in Paterson. He confided that he is concerned about staying warm this winter and the cost of heat. He requests two bathrobes and two pairs of slippers for his wife and him to help them stay warm, sizes large and medium.

15. Finnegan House is a group home of DPD providing care and support for six individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Oak Ridge. The residents like to visit New York City and love the theater, sporting events such as hockey, and the N.Y. Yankees.

16. Columbus House in Jefferson Township, a group home of DPD for six individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, would appreciate a new set of pots and pans.

17. Catholic Charities helped a family that arrived a year ago with food and with housing. Both parents are now working legally and progressing through the immigration system in the hope of becoming citizens. They no longer need the agency’s help with basic needs but asked for soccer balls for their son.

18. Alexander recently lost his father in a tragic accident in Paterson. The family does not have life insurance, and his mom is struggling to help the family survive. Alexander loves to play soccer and basketball; he could use new sneakers, men’s size eight.

19. Straight & Narrow’s substance abuse programs provide help and create hope for individuals struggling with addiction and mental health. Its residential programs help men and women daily by providing counseling and rehabilitation services as well as helping clients re-integrate into society. B. is a 33-year-old man in recovery who has been clean from all substances for eight months. He now manages a sober living house and will soon be taking the state exam to become a certified nurse assistant. He was a client of Straight & Narrow for about six months. Straight & Narrow is requesting gifts of toiletries, educational books, and art supplies for clients.

20. A family in Morristown is encountering hardship after unexpected, traumatic life challenges led them to be homeless. They request the purchase of any of the following items so they can attend work and school with a better sense of dignity. They are: for the wife, small tops, pants, 4-6, and shoes 6, for the husband, XL, 34, and shoes, 11; for a boy, 9-10/12, and shoes, size 3; for a boy, 7- size 6, and shoes 9.5; and for a girl, 4-5T, and shoes 9.5.