The Christmas Food Drive conducted by Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark collected enough groceries to provide almost 4,000 meals for the needy in the area. An entire van for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark was recently filled as staff members from both organizations resisted the bitter cold and transferred hundreds of bags brought in by eight cemeteries from Bergen, Hudson, Union and Essex counties. The generous food collection was made possible by families who dropped off food donations while visiting their loved ones at the cemeteries and mausoleums.
The eight locations that participated included Holy Cross Cemetery & Mausoleum, North Arlington; Gate of Heaven Cemetery & Mausoleum, East Hanover; Saint Gertrude Cemetery & Mausoleum, Colonia; Maryrest Cemetery and Mausoleum, Mahwah; Holy Name Cemetery & Mausoleum, Jersey City; Christ the King Cemetery, Franklin Lakes; Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, East Orange and Mount Carmel Cemetery, Tenafly.
In addition to donations of food and toiletries, Andrew Schaefer, Executive Director of Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark, delivered a check to John Westervelt, CEO of Catholic Charities, for $1,000 from monetary donations collected.
According to Cardinal Joseph Tobin, Archbishop of Newark, Catholic Charities makes it possible for the Church to exercise charity – to be a Church that reaches out and lives the mission of service to the poor and vulnerable – providing help and creating hope.
Catholic Cemeteries have been providing food, clothing and monetary donations to Catholic Charities for over 20 years. Most of the cemeteries feature a Catholic Charities clothing donation drop box.
