This holiday season, the Unity Square Community Center was overwhelmed with gratitude as we received incredible donations from so many generous groups. Thanks to the Rutgers IDEA program, we received 200 care packages filled with essential items; St. Matthias Church contributed 100 blessing bags, while Maria Hunter and her family donated 75 more. These bags were thoughtfully packed with toiletries, hats, scarves, and gloves to keep our neighbors warm. The United Methodist Church also made a heartfelt contribution, donating clothes, coats, scarves, and gloves. Unity Square is so thankful to be able to share these much-needed care packages with their community. This kind of support means the world to Unity Square and to those in need.
St. Thomas Aquinas High School students and faculty members, Mrs. Diane Fucci and Mrs. Kimberly Hernandez visited Catholic Charities to deliver a van full of gifts and four Christmas trees decorated by each of the four grades. Julio Coto, Executive Director of Catholic Charities was very happy to receive the donations.
The Knights of Columbus from St. Philip and St. James Church/Phillipsburg offered the Social Service Center in Phillipsburg 150 hams to distribute to those in need for Christmas. The Knights of Columbus from St. Catherine/Pittstown also donated 20 new winter coats for children and adults.
Santa made a visit to the YES Early Learning Center at St. Ladislaus! Each child received a gift from Santa which were bought by parishioners at St. Matthias. Special thanks to the Professional Latino Firefighters of New Jersey for bringing Santa to see the children!
Catholic Charities would like to give a huge thank you to the parishioners at St. James Parish in Basking Ridge for their generous donation of gift cards for the children and families of Catholic Charities for Christmas. We would also like to recognize the ladies behind all of the work: Diane Falato, Jo Maffey, and Carol Ann Patetta. These ladies helped organize and deliver the abundance of gift cards to the Bridgewater office. We feel blessed to have such wonderful support in the community!
Santa visited the preschoolers at the YES early Learning Center. He handed out presents to each child and they even got to ring his bell.
The PACT clients and Team staff from all three programs gathered for a special holiday party! The 4-H Log Cabin in East Brunswick was filled with music, dancing, food, fun, prizes and Santa! This annual holiday party has been a tradition for more than 25 years for the PACT program and the clients, and staff members look forward to it!