January 4, 2022 – Our Christmas blessings have been many this year! Thank you to our donors and friends for their outpouring of support. Our staff and volunteers worked diligently to ensure Christmas gifts were delivered to our clients throughout the agency. As always, the generosity of the community members is overwhelming and appreciated! Below are photos from some of our sites.
St. Rocco’s Emergency Family Shelter – Emergency Shelter for Homeless Families with Children (Men, Women, or Couples with Children)
St. Rocco’s Emergency Family Shelter helps families become self-sufficient by giving them an opportunity for decision making and for assuming responsibility for improving their situation under the supervision, support, and guidance of shelter staff. Housing up to 15 families, the program offers short-term supervised emergency shelter, including three meals a day, assessment/planning, case management, housing, education, food, and clothing, supportive individual counseling, educational workshops, instruction in parenting skills, referral to community resources, assistance with job and housing placement, and referrals for mental health and substance abuse services.
The Do Good Auto Coalition in coordination with our Board Member, Christina McAleer, donated urgently needed items to St. Rocco’s Emergency Family Shelter.
Hope House
Hope House helps families become self-sufficient by giving them an opportunity for decision making and for assuming responsibility for improving their situation under the supervision, support, and guidance of shelter staff.
Housing up to 20 mothers and their children, the program offers short-term supervised residence, including three meals a day, assessment/planning, case management, housing, education, food, and clothing, supportive individual counseling, educational workshops, instruction in parenting skills, referral to community resources, assistance with job and housing placement, and referrals for mental health and substance abuse services.
A BIG THANK YOU to our friends at Goya Foods for their generous gifts to the families at St. Rocco’s Emergency Family Shelter in Newark and Hope House Emergency Family Shelter in Jersey City. Below are photos of our clients at the Hope House.
Parish Access Centers
The Essex-Union PAC and the Hudson-Bergen PAC build strong partnerships among Catholic Charities, the parish communities, and the community by connecting people with the services they need. The programs help people to identify and access community services and provide emergency assistance to families in economic crisis.
St. Bridget’s Residence
St. Bridget’s Residence in Newark is an 18-month transitional residence and emergency shelter that provides housing and supportive services to Essex County men who are homeless and living with HIV/AIDS. Housing up to 30 men, clients have access to educational workshops on nutrition, health and wellness, stress reduction and other life skills areas.
The men were so appreciative and send their heartfelt thanks and gratitude to Mr. Henry’s kindness and continued support. The client who requested the helicopter was surprised he actually got it. He’s always wanted a toy helicopter to be able to fly and land it successfully.
We ate, listened to Christmas carols, while practicing social distancing of course. It was a beautiful Christmas and the clients were very content. Special thank you to Mr. Henry and his team, and much success for the upcoming year.
