By MARY STADNYK
Associate Editor
Updated June 7, 2024
The longtime partnership between Ocean County’s Catholic Charities Community Services and the outreach organization Seeds of Service reached a new milestone, strengthening both groups in their effort to assist people in need.
Catholic Charities purchased the building where Seeds of Service operates. Seeds of Service, which assists and advocates for the sick and those struggling financially, now rents space in the building.
On May 10, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., presided over a blessing and ribbon cutting at the building in Brick.
“It’s a joy to be here with all of you — the people who make it work for those who depend on the services of Catholic Charities and Seeds of Service,” Bishop O’Connell told the staff and supporters of both agencies; priests from area parishes; students from Donovan Catholic High School, Toms River; and town officials.
Community Services’ New Home
Marlene Lao-Collins, Catholic Charities’ executive director, said the process to relocate Community Services to new quarters began about five years ago. The building where Community Services had operated needed extensive repairs that were cost prohibitive. A new site search and fundraising campaign resulted in the purchase of the building from which Seeds of Service operates.
“By the grace of God and the support of our Bishop, we navigated through the processes to get this building purchased,” Lao-Collins said. “Now in this building there are so many things happening to help people in need and where a difference can be made in people’s lives.
“Partnership is important,” Lao-Collins added. “It’s through partnership that we strengthen each other.”
Catholic Charities now collaborates with Seeds of Service to offer such services as distributing clothing and household items and providing seasonal assistance and food pantries. The building also houses the Fix-It program, which provides minor home repairs for Ocean County senior citizens, and the Homeless Prevention Program, which addresses immediate and long-term strategies for reducing homelessness and strengthening self-sufficiency. In addition, the Parish Services program provides support for individuals and families who are referred to Catholic Charities by parishes, and Community Services offers an array of immigration support services.
“We do our best to serve everyone,” said Arnold Valentin, Community Services director. “We are excited to be operating from a larger, more accessible space. We are able to welcome and serve more families and individuals who are struggling with food insecurity. We can also provide them with a wider variety of nutritious food options.”
Seeds of Service Grew
Christie Winters, Seeds of Services director, and Father Edward Blanchett, pastor of Visitation Parish, Brick, told of how Seeds of Service began as Visitation Relief Center, a parish-based ministry to help residents impacted by Superstorm Sandy in 2012. After about six years it grew into an independent charitable organization with a new name, Seeds of Service, whose mission was to assist and advocate for the sick and those struggling financially. It also collaborated with other community partners, including Catholic Charities, St. Vincent de Paul conferences, parishes, schools and other agencies.
Michael Lynch, Seeds of Service business administrator, noted that, before establishing a partnership with Catholic Charities, SOS served approximately 900 families per month. Its Outreach Department worked on readiness skills with youth and young adults struggling with special needs, disabilities or at-risk behaviors. The department also worked to help people find short-term housing and hosted workshops to help families gain employment; it also offered help with resumes and with budgeting. The Sustainability Department oversaw the open-choice pantry; pet pantry; community garden; plant and seed exchange; tool lending library; Kids Lunch Initiative Program; and offered a variety of workshops. The Development Department offered programs on youth and young adult transitional employment; furniture; household goods; and volunteering.
Following the SOS partnership with Catholic Charities, Lynch estimates that the number of families served each month ranges between 1,400 and 1,600. He noted that Catholic Charities moved into its new quarters Oct. 3-4 and were ready for services as of Oct. 4. The two organizations carry out their duties in the building with 10,000 square feet, including varying amounts of shared space.
Visitation Relief Center “was a great example of how good can come out of a bad situation,” said Father Blanchett. Now with Seeds of Services collaborating with Catholic Charities, he said: “I’m sure the good will continue. I’m glad and proud to be part of it.”
Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) has steadfastly supported Catholic Charities and Seeds of Service, helping to secure grants for building projects and facilities upgrades. Rep. Smith, who hails from the Trenton Diocese and is a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Whiting, was represented at the grand opening by Megan Giamo, a constituent caseworker in his congressional office, who reported that Smith had arranged for the American flag to be flown over the U.S. Capitol May 10 to commemorate the new arrangement with the two agencies. The flag will be presented to Catholic Charities at a later date, she said.
Learning the Value of Service
Two Donovan Catholic High School faculty members — Elizabeth Herlihy, Spanish teacher and moderator of the Cultural Diversity Alliance Club, and Ken Oliver, a science teacher and Catholic Athletes for Christ moderator — accompanied a group of students to the grand opening. They said that every week, groups of their students volunteer at Seeds of Service.
Whether it’s stocking shelves with food or doing other tasks, junior Sheryll Tamakloe finds volunteer work to be “really inspiring.”
“I can actually plug into helping others,” she said. “It’s great knowing I’m helping to make an impact.”
Junior Meredith Westfall said her volunteer time at Seeds of Service has been a “fun way to help others,” since she is working with her peers for a good cause.