Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark collaborated to provide food assistance to struggling families.

Fighting Hunger

According to the Jersey Catholic, on Thursday, March 9, Church of Jesus Christ delivered 40,000 pounds of food to Catholic Charities in Newark.

The group's eight emergency and transitional shelters, which support homeless individuals and families, as well as its six residential programs, which serve seriously and persistently mentally ill clients, will each get food packages that will be made and distributed by the organization. 

John Westervelt, Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Charities, stated that the packages would also be sent to the 75 food pantries that are part of the emergency food and nutrition network. 

The pantries assist people and families going through difficult times around the Archdiocese of Newark.

Chris George, manager of Welfare and Self-Reliance Services for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Boston/New Jersey/New York/Manchester, stated that the church has a national partnership with Catholic Charities and has collaborated to do great work over the country.

As mentioned, 32 farms, ranches, orchards, and processing facilities are run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to assist members of the congregation who are in need and donate to charitable causes in the local community. 

Throughout the past year, the Catholic Charities Emergency Food and Nutrition Network provided 36,738 households with 220,418 pounds of food. 

According to Westervelt, the majority of the traditional clients assisted by food pantries are families receiving public assistance, the working poor, day laborers, immigrants, shut-ins, the elderly on fixed incomes, and families living on the edge of economic crisis when confronted with a period of unemployment, a medical emergency, or a rent increase. 

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The members of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have a "covenant commitment to live the two major commandments: to love God and to love our neighbor." Their commitment stems from the members' status as followers of Jesus Christ.

The church aims to assist all of God's children in coming to a relationship with Jesus Christ by teaching them about His gospel, encouraging them to enter into and uphold covenants with God, and encouraging them to love and serve one another manner that is Christlike.

Catholic Charities of Archdiocese of Newark

More than merely providing food and shelter, Catholic Charities helps people of all faiths and backgrounds in need. 

In addition, it offers services and initiatives in immigration, adult mental health, disability daycare, and childcare for children with special needs. 

Moreover, it contributes to the church's social mission by recognizing the inherent dignity and worth of all people and by reacting with genuine Christian compassion to the material needs of the poor and the disadvantaged. 

Catholic Charities' assistance is motivated by faith in Jesus Christ, the Holy Scripture, and the ongoing proclamation of Catholic social doctrine. 

With those endeavors, Catholic Charities seeks to aid those in need, build families, and present those it serves with a sense of God's mercy.

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