Sharing Place
Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?” … And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Matthew 25: 37, 40
The Sharing Place at St. Paul Lutheran Church offers bags of groceries or ready-made meals to needy people on the last two Saturdays of every month, 8 am to noon. We serve nutritious food to over 500 families and individuals per month. This number has grown at a rate of about 15% per year for the past several years.
Clients
Any indigent person who lives in the state of New Jersey, is welcome to receive food at the Sharing Place. We ask for documents proving identity, address if any, identity of persons in the household, and income. (A welfare card fulfills all these requirements.) No referral is necessary.
The Sharing Place is held in the parish hall behind the church building. We have a large indoor waiting area and a system of numbers so that clients are seen in the order in which they arrived. The line begins early. Clients must arrive before noon to be served.
Volunteers
We need 12 to 14 volunteers each Saturday of operation to fully staff the Sharing Place. Many volunteers are members and friends of St. Paul Church, but many come from the neighborhood and from community groups. Some volunteers carry boxes of food, but there are lighter jobs too, including packing bags or making baloney-and-cheese sandwiches. We also need volunteers to unload the food truck on the third Wednesday and fourth Thursday of each month, approximately 8:00 am. If you would like to help our indigent neighbors by serving at the Sharing Place, please contact Paul LaCourtna, site supervisor, at 201-725-7202.
Supporters
On only $15,000 per year, the Sharing Place feeds some 6,000 families and individuals annually. The bulk of the money for food comes from a Community Service Block Grant administered by Let’s Celebrate, a social service agency in Jersey City. In the wake of cuts in our regular grants, Hudson County stepped in with emergency assistance. The NJ State Food Purchase Program and USDA commodities help stretch our food dollars. The Community Food Bank of New Jersey provides one-stop shopping for all our food needs.
Donations from church members and other individuals support non-food costs such as truck rental. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Glen Rock, NJ, has supported the Sharing Place for many years not only through donations but also by sending volunteers. Other gifts have come from First Congregational Church of Park Ridge, NJ; the Mustard Seed School of Hoboken; Provident Bank; and the children of the Learning Community Charter School.
To make a donation or learn more, contact Maureen Cassidy, executive director, at 201.963.5518.