By Christina Leslie, Correspondent

An evening of merriment in St. Justin the Martyr Parish enabled the Toms River faith community to make the lives of local women and children a little brighter as well. Proceeds from the Toms River faith community’s Nov. 4 Autumn Dinner Dance, which raised more than $3,000, were donated to Catholic Charities’ Providence House to provide domestic violence services to women and children in Ocean County.

Father Thomas Barry, parochial vicar, credited committee members Marilyn Ciccone, Lee Ferrara and Patti Tardi with the idea to make Providence House the beneficiary of their funds.

“This cause felt close to their hearts,” Father Barry said of the committee’s decision. “They really rallied to help with this cause.”

Tardi echoed, “There is so much abuse going on all over, we thought this would be a good place to help.”

A division of Catholic Charities Diocese of Trenton, Providence House offers free domestic violence services in the form of a confidential, 24-hour hotline, counseling, education, specialized children’s programs, legal advocacy and a safe house in both Burlington and Ocean Counties to clients and their children. Their motto says the agency will “provide hope and opportunity for renewing lives, through a compassionate approach to individuals and families impacted by trauma and adversity.”

Proceeds from the dance, attended by more than 250 people, totaled about $3,000, Father Barry noted. The Altar Rosary Society added $200 to the total, and other parish groups followed suit.

Parish pastor Father Mark Kreder, committee members and Father Barry presented the check Nov. 13 to Providence House’s community affairs manager, Jennifer Bauer, and toured the facility’s administrative and intake offices in Whiting.

“It’s a really phenomenal place, and they are doing very, very important work there,” Tardi said.