Bishop Ahr Fund grants awarded to 16 service agencies
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
Story by Christina Leslie Correspondent
Sixteen parishes, organizations and agencies that serve the people of the Diocese of Trenton were awarded a total of $10,000 in grants from the 2017 Bishop George W. Ahr Endowment Fund.
The fund, which bears the name of the seventh bishop of the Diocese, was established to present annual grants for special projects. Any entity, apostolate, individual, special ministry or organization that attempts to provide services for the vulnerable and/or poor population within their community is eligible to apply for this grant support.
Awards are determined by the Bishop George W. Ahr Endowment Fund Committee, which selects from the pool of applicants who describe their amount needed with a detailed rationale for their requests. This year, 16 recipients were chosen, and the $10,000 total grant is the endowment fund interest that is accumulated in a year’s time.
On May 23, Msgr. Thomas N. Gervasio, diocesan vicar general and moderator of the curia, announced the recipients for 2017, which include Precious Blood Parish in Monmouth Beach. The faith community was awarded a grant for $750 earmarked for hosting Family Promise of Monmouth County, which provides temporary assistance for homeless families four to five times a year. Precious Blood parishioner volunteers house, feed, transport and give supportive services to three to five families in need of such assistance.
Father Robert F. Kaeding, pastor of Precious Blood Parish, expressed his gratitude for the grant money in a recent email.
“Family Promise offers us as a parish community a wonderful opportunity to live the Gospel,” Father Kaeding wrote. “The families we are able to serve, people who are in such dire need of our love and care, illustrate for us The Christ. The Bishop Ahr grant we received will make it possible to serve them even better. We need to be attentive to their comfort. We are blessed to have this opportunity to serve.”
Another grant recipient, Mercy Center in Asbury Park, was awarded $600 for use in its emergency food pantry. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in Asbury Park, Mercy Center declares its mission to “provide people with the resources necessary to overcome life’s burdens and obstacles in an environment marked by dignity and respect,” and the food pantry is one such resource.
Amy O’Neill, director of development, explained the center serves 5,000 people per year from towns in eastern Monmouth County. After referrals from outside agencies, social services, and the city of Asbury Park, people are encouraged to visit the food pantry, which is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., to receive enough food for three days.
“The pantry tailors the food donations depending upon the size of the family,” said O’Neill, “and whether their living situation enables them to cook with a stove or microwave.” She admitted the grant would quickly go to good use serving the needy in the community, and admitted, “This is awesome.”
The other grant recipients are:
Bread from Heaven Café, Inc., Jackson ($600): To expand meal offerings to additional locations through the Soup Kitchen Program.
Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey, Toms River ($700): To assist the Easing Hunger Ministry Program, composed of volunteers that provide grocery shopping and delivery to shut-in elderly in Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
Center for FaithJustice, Lawrence Township ($700): To assist in sustaining the LeaderworX program, a summer leadership service opportunity for young adults.
Church of Visitation, Brick ($600): To support the church’s Community Lunch Program, which provides fresh homemade lunches on the third Wednesday of every month to people of all ages, cultures and conditions.
Collier Youth Services, Wickatunk ($1,500): To provide assistance for children of low-income families that otherwise would not be able to attend Kateri Day Camp in the summer months.
Catholic Youth Organization of Mercer County ($300): To support CYO’s Ewing preschool and summer camp programs.
Freehold Area Open Door, Inc., Freehold ($600): To provide food and emergency funding to the poor in Freehold and surrounding areas.
HABcore, Red Bank ($700): To assist with the subsidizing of annual rent for its boarding home residents.
Mount Carmel Guild, Trenton ($1,000): To help with providing utility assistance to individuals and families.
Chaplain, N.J. State Prison, Trenton ($500): To purchase materials needed for the enhancement of the religious development of the men incarcerated in the prison.
Our Lady of Good Counsel, Moorestown ($200): To assist with establishing a St. Vincent de Paul Society conference in the parish.
St. Vincent de Paul Society, Diocese of Trenton Council ($250): To assist the council with the purchase of shelving racks to better organize household items to be distributed to families.
St. Vincent de Paul Society, St. Katharine Drexel Parish, Burlington ($500): To assist with the purchase of a computer to maintain electronic documentation.
St. Vincent de Paul Society, Holy Eucharist Conference, Tabernacle ($500): To assist with the purchase of gift cards for seniors to travel to doctor visits and shopping trips by way of Sen Han Transit.
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Story by Christina Leslie Correspondent
Sixteen parishes, organizations and agencies that serve the people of the Diocese of Trenton were awarded a total of $10,000 in grants from the 2017 Bishop George W. Ahr Endowment Fund.
The fund, which bears the name of the seventh bishop of the Diocese, was established to present annual grants for special projects. Any entity, apostolate, individual, special ministry or organization that attempts to provide services for the vulnerable and/or poor population within their community is eligible to apply for this grant support.
Awards are determined by the Bishop George W. Ahr Endowment Fund Committee, which selects from the pool of applicants who describe their amount needed with a detailed rationale for their requests. This year, 16 recipients were chosen, and the $10,000 total grant is the endowment fund interest that is accumulated in a year’s time.
On May 23, Msgr. Thomas N. Gervasio, diocesan vicar general and moderator of the curia, announced the recipients for 2017, which include Precious Blood Parish in Monmouth Beach. The faith community was awarded a grant for $750 earmarked for hosting Family Promise of Monmouth County, which provides temporary assistance for homeless families four to five times a year. Precious Blood parishioner volunteers house, feed, transport and give supportive services to three to five families in need of such assistance.
Father Robert F. Kaeding, pastor of Precious Blood Parish, expressed his gratitude for the grant money in a recent email.
“Family Promise offers us as a parish community a wonderful opportunity to live the Gospel,” Father Kaeding wrote. “The families we are able to serve, people who are in such dire need of our love and care, illustrate for us The Christ. The Bishop Ahr grant we received will make it possible to serve them even better. We need to be attentive to their comfort. We are blessed to have this opportunity to serve.”
Another grant recipient, Mercy Center in Asbury Park, was awarded $600 for use in its emergency food pantry. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in Asbury Park, Mercy Center declares its mission to “provide people with the resources necessary to overcome life’s burdens and obstacles in an environment marked by dignity and respect,” and the food pantry is one such resource.
Amy O’Neill, director of development, explained the center serves 5,000 people per year from towns in eastern Monmouth County. After referrals from outside agencies, social services, and the city of Asbury Park, people are encouraged to visit the food pantry, which is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., to receive enough food for three days.
“The pantry tailors the food donations depending upon the size of the family,” said O’Neill, “and whether their living situation enables them to cook with a stove or microwave.” She admitted the grant would quickly go to good use serving the needy in the community, and admitted, “This is awesome.”
The other grant recipients are:
Bread from Heaven Café, Inc., Jackson ($600): To expand meal offerings to additional locations through the Soup Kitchen Program.
Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey, Toms River ($700): To assist the Easing Hunger Ministry Program, composed of volunteers that provide grocery shopping and delivery to shut-in elderly in Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
Center for FaithJustice, Lawrence Township ($700): To assist in sustaining the LeaderworX program, a summer leadership service opportunity for young adults.
Church of Visitation, Brick ($600): To support the church’s Community Lunch Program, which provides fresh homemade lunches on the third Wednesday of every month to people of all ages, cultures and conditions.
Collier Youth Services, Wickatunk ($1,500): To provide assistance for children of low-income families that otherwise would not be able to attend Kateri Day Camp in the summer months.
Catholic Youth Organization of Mercer County ($300): To support CYO’s Ewing preschool and summer camp programs.
Freehold Area Open Door, Inc., Freehold ($600): To provide food and emergency funding to the poor in Freehold and surrounding areas.
HABcore, Red Bank ($700): To assist with the subsidizing of annual rent for its boarding home residents.
Mount Carmel Guild, Trenton ($1,000): To help with providing utility assistance to individuals and families.
Chaplain, N.J. State Prison, Trenton ($500): To purchase materials needed for the enhancement of the religious development of the men incarcerated in the prison.
Our Lady of Good Counsel, Moorestown ($200): To assist with establishing a St. Vincent de Paul Society conference in the parish.
St. Vincent de Paul Society, Diocese of Trenton Council ($250): To assist the council with the purchase of shelving racks to better organize household items to be distributed to families.
St. Vincent de Paul Society, St. Katharine Drexel Parish, Burlington ($500): To assist with the purchase of a computer to maintain electronic documentation.
St. Vincent de Paul Society, Holy Eucharist Conference, Tabernacle ($500): To assist with the purchase of gift cards for seniors to travel to doctor visits and shopping trips by way of Sen Han Transit.
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