January 22, 2026 • 46 mins
Morris County is among the wealthiest counties in New Jersey, but food insecurity is very real for many families living there. For this episode, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and Communications Director Jai Agnish visit the Interfaith Food Pantry in Morris Plains to learn more. After touring the facility and meeting clients and volunteers, they sat down for this remote episode with Carolyn Lake, executive director of the Interfaith Food Pantry Network, and Board President Helen Hallberg.
Show Notes:
Interfaith Food Pantry Network
"The Practice of the Presence of God,” by Carmelite Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection
Email questions and topic ideas to Bishop Kevin at beyond@patersondiocese.org.
Produced by Jai Agnish and Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney for the Diocese of Paterson. Engineered by Joe Ginexi. Edited and theme song by Jai Agnish. Illustrations by Dennis Dalelio.
Beyond The Beacon on Instagram and Facebook. Bishop Kevin on Instagram. The Diocese of Paterson on Instagram, Facebook (English) / Facebook (Spanish).
Every three years, each Diocese in the USA has the graced opportunity to make a scheduled pilgrimage as one Diocesan family with their Bishop to the National Shrine in the nation's capital. 2026 is once again "our year!" Please note the two-day and one-day options: Oct. 16, Friday, and Oct. 17, Saturday. Visit the Diocese of Paterson website here to learn more!
On Coffee with Kupke, we have a cup of coffee and sit down with diocesan archivist, Monsignor Raymond Kupke Ph.D., to delve into the history of Catholicism in the Diocese of Paterson, N.J. Hosted by Father Paul Manning and Msgr. Kupke. Listen to Coffee with Kupke wherever you get your podcasts, or watch it on the St. Paul Inside the Walls YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@stpaulinsidethewalls.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_00 (00:08):
Welcome to Beyond the Weekend with Bishop Kevin
Sweeney, a podcast of theDiocese of Patterson, Jersey.
Join us for conversations aboutour Catholic faith.
And together, let's strive tolive a life of faith, hope, and
love.
We're so glad you can join us.
I'm Jay Agnish.
With me is Bishop Kevin Sweeney.
Bishop Kevin, how are you?
SPEAKER_01 (00:25):
I'm good, Jay.
How are you doing?
SPEAKER_00 (00:26):
Doing well, thank you.
SPEAKER_01 (00:27):
We have a new studio.
No, we're just uh location.
SPEAKER_00 (00:30):
Yeah, remote episode.
Uh you stay you stay in warm oruh what's it?
SPEAKER_01 (00:35):
So far so good, thank god.
SPEAKER_00 (00:36):
And dry, a lot of snow out there.
Some in the horizon, apparently.
So um yeah, so we uh made alittle trek out to Morris
Plains, and we are on locationat the Interfaith Food Pantry
Network in Morris Plains, and wehave with us uh Carolyn Lake to
your right there, who is theexecutive director of the
(00:56):
Interfaith Food Pantry Network,and Helen Hallberg, who is the
board president.
And uh we're happy that youinvited us and thanks for having
us.
SPEAKER_01 (01:07):
We're thrilled to have you.
SPEAKER_00 (01:08):
Thank you for coming.
Thanks for being on.
SPEAKER_01 (01:10):
It's my second trip I was able to get here finally
after a long time.
Uh just uh I guess it was rightbefore after Thanksgiving.
I guess uh right afterThanksgiving, I think maybe.
And uh I'm sure that was yourbusy time, and uh but it sounds
like uh it hasn't exactly sloweddown even within the year, huh?
SPEAKER_04 (01:29):
Uh no.
Uh it remains busy.
Thanksgiving was very busy forus.
It is our busiest season.
SPEAKER_01 (01:36):
Um Christmas as well, I guess.
Not as much Christmas.
SPEAKER_04 (01:40):
Um we guarantee that the people and agencies that
rely on us for Thanksgiving foodwill get a Thanksgiving basket.
And then for Christmas, anythingthat's left over, and there
usually is, um, goes out forChristmas where people can have
their ham or turkey or whateverthey want.
Uh but we did serve about 2,600people through um through our
(02:04):
two pantries and through otheragencies who received a turkey.
They got all the things, big bagof produce, um, you know, all of
the things uh for Thanksgiving.
SPEAKER_01 (02:16):
Well, um again, we're so happy to uh have the
chance to come down is uhbecause uh uh just even walking
in, and you can I think Jay'shas some pictures that he'll
show in some video.
Uh uh it's quite an operation.
And uh see, I've heard about it,uh, and we've had some contact
over the years.
Uh um uh God's work is God'swork uh in terms of especially
(02:39):
um uh offering uh food to thosewho are hungry.
Uh that's uh Jesus said uh inMatthew 25, I was hungry and you
gave me something to eat.
So we know for those of us umwho are Christians, it's a big
part of uh who we are and whatwe're called to do.
Um and so you I know you havemany Christian denominations in
uh part of the interfaith, andwe'll talk more about some of
(03:01):
the origin, but uh but uh uh uhit's great to see people of
faith coming together, right,and putting their faith in
action.
Yes, absolutely.
SPEAKER_04 (03:09):
Um I and as he had mentioned, I I believe all
faiths, whether it's Christian,Judaism, Hinduism, there's an
underlying text in all of thedifferent religions that allude
to feeding hungry.
SPEAKER_01 (03:24):
Right, right, right, right.
Right, right.
SPEAKER_04 (03:26):
And even people who don't practice religion still
have a moral compass to helptheir neighbors.
SPEAKER_01 (03:30):
That's right.
And and we would believe, wewould say that's that's because
we're all children of God, andyou know, that the way God made
us, um, there's there'ssomething in us that we want to,
that we have a sense of rightand wrong, good and bad, and uh,
and someone in need uh is uh weuh we we f feel even those who
may not you know profess a faithin God or a particular religion,
uh there's something about us ashuman beings.
(03:50):
We believe that um uh especiallywhen we're open to uh trying to
do the right thing, uh, that wewould we would help someone
who's in need.
But we'll talk more about it andhear your but maybe we'll just
uh uh get started with a prayer,huh?
Yeah, sounds good.
Great.
Um we'll place ourselves inGod's presence in the name of
the Father, Son, and HolySpirit, and giving thanks to God
(04:11):
in a special way for um Carolyn,for Helen, uh and for all those
who um make this uh interfaithfood pantry possible.
Um people of generosity, peopleof goodness, um donors,
volunteers, um and realizingthat uh we're all in need of
(04:32):
God's love and God's mercy andand that we're privileged to uh
be able to help our sisters andbrothers who may find themselves
in need uh in Thanksgiving forall the good work that's done
here in the Interfaith FoodPantry and throughout our
diocese and so many places bythose who uh especially um reach
(04:55):
out to those in need.
We join our prayers together asone as we pray, as Jesus Himself
has taught us.
Our Father, who art in heaven,hallowed be thy name, thy
kingdom come, thy will be done,on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily breadand forgive us our trespasses as
we forgive those who trespassagainst us and lead us not into
(05:17):
temptation, but deliver us fromevil.
Amen.
In the name of the Father andthe Son and of the Holy Spirit,
amen.
Helen, uh sorry it went out ofmy head for a second there.
Uh uh, you're the boardpresident.
SPEAKER_02 (05:31):
That's right.
SPEAKER_01 (05:32):
Um maybe tell us how that came about or um how the
Lord led you to be the head ofthe board.
SPEAKER_02 (05:40):
Um it's really such a privilege to be part of the
organization.
Um and it's it's also wonderful.
My husband and son had some timevolunteering, and so um it was
it was really wonderful to uhjoin the board.
We have an a reallyhigh-performing board, very
(06:02):
compassionate.
Many of them are volunteersfirst and foremost.
Um I was able to do a lot ofdifferent volunteer activities
as an early on as a board memberto learn the operation.
I continue to do home deliveryto homebound seniors, which is
really important part of our ofwhat we do, in addition to the
(06:23):
clients that come here and areable to shop for their families.
So for me, it's about um beingable to give back.
I'm really grateful for where Iam in in life.
Um it's important to live withpurpose, and so for me, this is
part of giving back and beinggrateful for all the you know
(06:44):
benefits, and it provides a lotof joy and happiness to be part
of such a wonderfulorganization.
SPEAKER_01 (06:50):
And I know you said you live in Morris County,
right?
SPEAKER_02 (06:53):
Yeah, right here in Morristown, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (06:55):
And Carolyn?
SPEAKER_04 (06:57):
I live in Morris Township.
SPEAKER_01 (06:58):
Okay, right.
And uh sometimes people mightthink of place here, place like
Morris County or evenMorristown, and say, well, well
there's not there's not any needthere.
But uh uh Carolyn, you see uh onboth, I'm sure, uh, that that
there is some need right here inthe local community, right?
SPEAKER_04 (07:16):
Yes.
Well, people are shocked tolearn that, you know, we right
here in Morris County, which isconsistently ranked one of the
wealthiest in the nation, haveuh 10,000 SNAP households
through our two locations andall of the partners that we work
with that expand our reach.
We have 38 external partners.
We distributed 2.4 millionpounds of food during 40,000
(07:40):
household visits.
So you think about that.
Um so you know, that does breakdown in a certain number of
individual households, but everytime they come, if you counted
them with a clicker, it's 40,000visits.
Um the problem is real, it oftengoes unrecognized.
People who are relying on a foodpantry for their meals do not
(08:02):
walk around and tell people, ohyeah, we set the food pantry
last night and I got all thisfood.
And we don't realize who theyare, but they're um, you know,
they're not just people who arerelying on SNEP and government
benefits.
They're workers.
SPEAKER_01 (08:17):
Right.
They work in a And you have thislocation here in um, is it
called Central Park inMorristown, I think, uh uh uh
Yes.
Where there's a few governcounty government buildings,
right?
And uh how did you end up here?
SPEAKER_04 (08:30):
Um so our origins came back in 1994 when we took
over the county food clauses.
SPEAKER_01 (08:38):
Okay, I think right.
SPEAKER_04 (08:39):
And the county didn't want to be in this
business because we were doing avery good job out of the out of
the basement of the firstBaptist Church, and they said,
all right, well, why don't youcan you do this for this?
And they gave us some space thatwas a good thing.
SPEAKER_01 (08:50):
The basement of the first Baptist Church um was the
beginning, huh?
SPEAKER_04 (08:53):
That was the beginning.
SPEAKER_01 (08:55):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (08:55):
Um there were a group of volunteers from Notre
Dame Church.
Cedar Knowles that were umvolunteering with the drop-in
center for homeless families.
And what they were finding therewere a lot more families that
needed food that had housing,but there were no programs, you
know, aside from the smallpantries that were operated in
(09:17):
St.
Margaret's Church and AssumptionChurch.
There was no coordinated effort.
So they would bring the foodfrom Notre Dame, collect it from
the other houses of worship, andbring it down to the First
Baptist Church.
That was the origins ofinterfaith.
Okay, right?
Um so they like I mentioned,they they had this coordinated
effort, and the County of Morrisworked with us.
(09:38):
We took over their food closetsin exchange, they gave us some
space in um county-ownedproperty on Hanover Avenue right
up the road.
And it was the basement of anursing home that was built in
1922 that was operating as ahome shelter.
Uh, as we grew out of thatspace, um John Murphy, who was
(09:59):
the commissioner at the time,was also a firefighter, and he
said, you know what, let'snegotiate something for you
because you don't fit hereanymore, and this is untenable.
SPEAKER_01 (10:10):
Were you around at that time in terms of being
involved?
SPEAKER_04 (10:15):
I was a volunteer at that time.
SPEAKER_01 (10:16):
Right, right.
SPEAKER_04 (10:17):
Um and so that was when we then were able to
acquire this property from thecounty.
Um and there, you know, theysaid you can have property, you
just need to build raise themoney to build the building.
SPEAKER_01 (10:31):
Did you give Jay the tour?
Oh, yeah.
I got the tour.
It's great.
You have a like a warehouse,right?
And and a shopping place.
And uh so um so you said uh itit it was the built- this was
built from the ground up to bethe center of the It was built
from the ground up and blessedby Father Duffy from uh St.
SPEAKER_04 (10:49):
Virgil's Church when we when we cut the ribbon.
SPEAKER_03 (10:52):
Wow.
SPEAKER_04 (10:53):
No, it was in 2011.
SPEAKER_01 (10:54):
Amazing.
SPEAKER_04 (10:55):
And so we've been here since.
We underwent some majorrenovations outside of COVID in
2021 to accommodate the massiveincrease in demand.
SPEAKER_01 (11:05):
And then you said there's a location in Morristown
itself as well.
Yes.
And uh we have to get in theplug for Christ the King, right?
In uh New Vernon.
They certainly do.
They just gave a donation tohelp uh uh uh make that uh uh uh
site more accessible.
SPEAKER_04 (11:22):
Yes, our original food distribution site.
It's on Speedwell Avenue inMorristown.
It's it's unmarked.
It was uh a home, it was abarbershop at one time.
We converted it into adistribution center back before
we had this one.
SPEAKER_05 (11:35):
Okay.
SPEAKER_04 (11:35):
Uh but maintaining a presence in Morristown is very
important to us.
Now, because it's an old home,um, it really needed to be
rehabbed to make it moreaccessible.
We wanted to put a ramp up forpeople who have to wheel carts
or if they're disabled andthey're using walkers.
Um so Christ the King recentlygave us a grant of$9,000 to help
(11:56):
us renovate that property.
SPEAKER_00 (11:59):
So, Carolyn, do you want to tell the story of there
was a deacon at church thatencouraged you to get going with
the what was the It was MerleSizzler.
SPEAKER_04 (12:10):
Um and I'll try to keep the story brief because I
make it very long.
Um this was shortly after 9-11,and I had left my job because I
had a very young child at thetime, and my job and the child
did not mix well.
And I was kind of at a pointwhere I wanted to do something
(12:34):
more than work for corporations,and um, you know, I had actually
prayed on this, and I waspraying for purpose.
And I was at church, and Mo wastelling the story about what was
happening with the food thatthey were giving out at the
church and this family that camein.
(12:55):
He was trying to help her, buthe was hurried.
He was trying to get her thefood and have her leave.
And she kept taking the food outof the bag.
And he's saying, I'm trying tohelp you.
I don't understand what you'redoing.
And he was getting short.
And she said, You don'tunderstand.
I I don't have a can opener.
And it halted him in his tracks.
(13:18):
And it kind of in hearing thisstory halted me for a moment.
And to think that he's tellingthe story about somebody who
lived locally and then startedtalking about all of the people
that it were food insecure herein our community, was
eye-opening to the world.
SPEAKER_01 (13:35):
God works in mysterious ways, speaks in
mysterious ways, was answeringyour prayer.
SPEAKER_04 (13:38):
And I do think he did, and I think he put me in
the right place at the righttime.
Because um, a few years later,when I was going to go back into
the workforce, um RosemaryGilmartin, who was the director
at the time, asked me if I wouldcome on staff, and she said, uh
Nadine, who is the outreachcoordinator, has cancer.
(14:02):
She's fine, she can do her job,she just needs some wheels, she
needs help.
And so I agreed to take on theposition of assisting Nadine.
Um, and Nadine passed away a fewdays before I would start.
So I came in and I took overNadine's position, and that was
what brought me on staff.
(14:24):
And then over the years I hadlearned more, took on additional
responsibilities, took over forthe assistant director when she
was having health problems andshe left, and eventually brought
me to 2019 when I took over asexecutive director.
SPEAKER_01 (14:43):
Um God really does work in mysterious ways.
As Helen was saying, I think uhyour son and your husband were
involved first, is that right?
That's right, yes.
Uh and and they through them,but you I think you also said
were you involved with someother organizations that are
connected with um Absolutelywith the board and the and and
the the work of the of the foodpantry?
SPEAKER_02 (15:05):
Yeah.
The wonderful thing that we do,in addition to having the
locations that Carolyndescribed, is we also provide um
emergency food to otherorganizations throughout the
community.
We also have um over 35 pantrypartners.
So for senior housing units andother locations, we're making
(15:29):
sure they have nutritious food,vegetables, fruit, dairy, eggs,
things that they might nototherwise have available at
smaller local pantries.
So it's really an important partof as we've grown, being able to
make sure that the whole countyis also thriving and getting
(15:50):
nutritious food.
It's not just the canned foodand the non-perishables are
wonderful, but a lot of ourfocus is on nutrition and making
sure that our our guests andclients are going to be healthy
going forward.
SPEAKER_01 (16:03):
And those partnerships and relationships
with other groups are soimportant, right?
SPEAKER_02 (16:07):
Absolutely.
And then then the relationshipsthat we have with the
faith-based organizations, theschools, the community just
really makes what we're able todo um happen.
SPEAKER_01 (16:19):
Um Yeah, I I guess I uh um hearing, you know, uh
assumption, St.
Margaret's, uh, St.
Virgil's, um, Notre Dame, uh,you know, um uh as Bishop
hearing about the good workthose parishes do, but uh over
time hearing how many of themwere connected here and uh and
you know I uh uh having a placelike this um uh it gives people
(16:43):
of faith in a a a place rightwhere they can go and and put
their faith in into action uhand to see that collaboration
between the parishes, thepastors, uh youth groups, um
confirmation classes surelyvolunteers, right, that would
lead from parishes to here, andand then the relationship goes
back and forth.
SPEAKER_04 (17:03):
A lot of our volunteer base um come from the
local churches.
Right.
And it's because uh, you know,we're always welcomed in to do
pulpit talks, and people arejust inspired.
Right, parishes do food drivesas well, I guess.
Do food drives, they um, youknow, are always and many of
them will publish our food needsin their bulletins, so they'll
(17:26):
say, all right, here's ourcollection for interfaith this
month, these are the things weneed.
And it goes even beyond theparishes that you had mentioned,
St.
Thomas More is another St.
SPEAKER_01 (17:36):
Pat's King, we're right, right.
Um St.
Pat's right.
SPEAKER_04 (17:39):
Even as we move, you know, more west, St.
Teresa and Sakasana, and a lot alot of them are regularly
involved and will help usevangelize when we really need
following the church.
SPEAKER_00 (17:49):
So that's Baptist Church, some temples involved.
SPEAKER_04 (17:52):
Yes.
Um, a lot of the local temples,Temple of Binay or um uh what's
there's another one inMorristown.
There's there's several AdatShalam that are very involved,
and the Hindu temples are veryactive.
SPEAKER_05 (18:07):
Oh, interesting.
SPEAKER_04 (18:08):
So there are uh we are technically in Parsipony,
and there's a very large Hindupopulation in Parsippony, and
they've got some wonderful umcivic organizations, Siwad
Diwali and others that also getvery involved and with food
drives and and volunteer work aswell.
SPEAKER_00 (18:28):
It's good to hear I'm half Indian.
I I get to Parsippany quite abit to the Indian restaurants,
but I I um you know you Helen,you mentioned about the food,
and and as you were touring mearound earlier, I was so
fascinated by the uh what do youcall it?
It's like food recycling andgleaning.
That's right.
SPEAKER_04 (18:48):
Yes, our food rescue program.
Uh so you know, greenhouseemissions are harmful.
And there's really no of thescience is behind it, and we
know that.
Um so in an effort to reducegreenhouse gases, a lot of
supermarkets have gone toward azero waste policy.
(19:11):
They really don't want to bepurchasing or producing more
than they can sell for obviousreasons, for business reasons.
Um but they've also embarked onan need to marry this reduction
of food waste to foodinsecurity.
So we have now, I think, 11supermarket partners that we're
(19:34):
working with.
We are out every morning.
SPEAKER_01 (19:36):
Instead of throwing food out when it comes up to its
expiration date, there should bewe bring it back here, we give
it out that day.
SPEAKER_04 (19:43):
And that program has grown dramatically.
Uh last year we rescued 600,000pounds of food from the
landfills and were able to giveit to people who were able to
enjoy it at home.
SPEAKER_01 (19:55):
Wow, wow, wow.
Uh and that takes volunteers andcoordination as well, right?
SPEAKER_04 (20:00):
Uh it certainly does.
SPEAKER_01 (20:01):
And I think uh you mentioned um corporate partners,
um, certainly those umsupermarkets, um, but some
others as well, I think, and andyou say they sometimes come with
their um uh teams to tovolunteer and and and be part of
the uh the work that happenshere as well, right?
(20:21):
Uh those who might work inoffices or white-collar
positions, but the the becausethere's a relationship with the
corporation, the employees willcome here and Yes.
SPEAKER_04 (20:30):
Yeah.
Yes.
And I like a lot of companies, Ithink, especially over the
years, have realized the benefitto offering their employees an
opportunity to give back to thecommunity because the employees
then have a greater sense ofpurpose, they have a lot more
respect, there's less turnover,and the corporation then gets
their logo on our Facebook page,which makes it right there's so
(20:53):
there's really good PR thatcomes out of that.
Um one of the programs that theyreally love is our Free Farmers
Market.
SPEAKER_03 (21:00):
Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (21:01):
Uh it's a produce-only distribution
session that we offer people inbetween their regular visits.
SPEAKER_05 (21:06):
Okay.
SPEAKER_04 (21:07):
So we're ensuring they're having proper nutrition
all month long.
And that's the interaction thatthey get with their neighbors.
SPEAKER_01 (21:15):
And where does the fresh produce come from?
SPEAKER_04 (21:17):
We purchase it.
SPEAKER_01 (21:18):
Okay, right, right.
Thanks to the donate.
With donated funds.
SPEAKER_04 (21:21):
That's right.
SPEAKER_01 (21:22):
Right.
Um something else about that.
Um uh uh well, I think try toremember that.
Uh uh delivering meals to um uhshut ins, that you say that's uh
there's the mentioningvolunteers, that's um w one of
the things that you look for,right?
In terms of those who can't.
(21:43):
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_04 (21:44):
Uh it's very rewarding and all that hell, and
speak to the experience.
Uh, but it is an area that we'realways looking for, volunteers.
SPEAKER_02 (21:52):
Right.
And it a lot of time it itinvolves people who can't get to
the store, either they're shutin or they're
SPEAKER_01 (22:00):
They not have family who could or to shop for them,
huh?
SPEAKER_02 (22:02):
Exactly.
They don't have people that canget to the store.
And so we're able to havevolunteers that we're all vetted
pretty much partner and shop forthem here and know what they are
looking what they like, whatthey like to cook at home, what
they don't like.
And so then we're able todeliver it to their doorstep.
(22:25):
And it's really wonderfulbecause you get to know them.
You're able to do a check-in andsee how they're doing.
For me, I have uh, you know, anelderly couple and it's nice to
hear about their grand howthey're able to then take care
of their grandkids and help getum backpacks and things for the
kids when it's back to schooltime and one of them had a
(22:47):
birthday today.
So it's really w rewarding and agreat part of what we do.
And um most of the board membersare home delivery volunteers,
and it's a it continues to be agrowing part of our of of the
way we're serving the community.
SPEAKER_01 (23:02):
How many would home deliveries would you do, maybe
in a month or in a week?
SPEAKER_04 (23:06):
We have about 140 households that we service with
home delivery.
I had and I I know I said I talka lot, but I do have a home
delivery story I would like tokeep it right.
It was one of the firstvolunteers jobs that I had when
I started volunteering.
One of the families that I wasdelivering to, he was an Iraq
war vet that was injured.
(23:28):
And they were living in landingin this very small apartment.
There were a set of twins and anuh an older child all living in
this apartment.
And I was doing these homedeliveries with my daughter.
And she was about, I don't know,maybe five or six at the time.
But we were delivering to themfor quite some time, so she got
to know the boy that we werewe're delivering to that was the
(23:51):
same age.
And she always talked about howexcited he got when he got the
goldfish.
They loved those goldfishcrackers.
And this experience of doingthese deliveries stuck with her.
And she, upon graduation fromhigh school, started looking at
(24:13):
colleges and was initially drawnto all the Northeast colleges.
For whatever reason, Xaviercalled her.
And she wrote her college essayon her experiences doing home
deliveries, and she called thisessay the goldfish rule, and
talked about her and Petergrowing up together and finding
(24:34):
the things that we shared incommon was our love for these
goldfish.
And then ended up writing thisentire college essay in um
Xavier in Xavier University inCincinnati.
SPEAKER_01 (24:47):
And that's where she ended up going.
SPEAKER_04 (24:49):
That's where she ended up.
I keep her very look at that.
SPEAKER_01 (24:54):
And started with goldfish.
Started with goldfish.
Right, right, right.
SPEAKER_00 (24:58):
What um what have you noticed are any trends as
far as has there been anincrease in in need in in recent
years?
I mean, obviously COVID, youknow, kind of blew things up for
every everyone.
But what's been going on lately?
Where's the the need been, orhow have you adjusted in any
ways to meet that need?
SPEAKER_04 (25:57):
Um I think that uh in general, uh the cost of
living here in Morris County hasskyrocketed.
And we see a significant numberof families who come in, and we
ask them where their income is,that are just listing prime
(26:17):
salary as their primary sourceof income.
Um about half of everybody thatcomes in here has two income
families.
That are working.
SPEAKER_01 (26:30):
They often say rent eats first.
SPEAKER_04 (26:33):
Rent does eat first.
People have to pay their rent,they have to pay their
utilities.
You need a car in order tomaintain a job in Morris County
because transit doesn't exist.
And food is the last thingpeople will spend money on.
SPEAKER_01 (26:47):
Right.
Working poor, it's not just aphrase, right?
The real people that are tryingto survive, uh, that have jobs
and um even decent jobs.
But when, especially if there'schildren, the the and and and
recent inflation uh, you know,uh um uh there are real
challenges, right?
Yeah.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (27:05):
The United Way has a term for this.
They coined it Alice.
SPEAKER_01 (27:08):
Alice.
SPEAKER_04 (27:09):
The Alice population, asset limited,
income constrained, andemployed.
SPEAKER_01 (27:14):
Wow.
SPEAKER_04 (27:14):
And these are the families that are working um but
are not meaning the level ofself-sufficiency and your
self-sufficiency index for afamily of four, if you had two
children that need child care toafford your basics, rent, child
care, transportation, insurance,clothing, food, et cetera, you
(27:36):
know, forget the vacations.
In Morris County is about$100,000 a year.
And so when you look at thenumber of people that are
between the poverty level andthe self-sufficiency level, it
is it's a significant percentageof our population.
SPEAKER_01 (27:53):
Those working in service industries aren't making
$100,000, right?
They certainly are not.
And other other jobs that areimportant and um, yes, bringing
a salary, but not to to be ableto reach that level, yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (28:06):
And to be able to qualify for federal programs,
you know, when you look at, youknow, um like synop assistance
and things like that, etc.
One of the things that's you'remaking too much.
SPEAKER_01 (28:17):
Right.
Right, right.
Um, Helen, did you say you cameon the board during the in 2020?
SPEAKER_02 (28:23):
Exactly, during the pandemic.
So we've really seen the growthof operations probably doubled
from where we were before thepandemic in terms of the number
of people we're serving.
And then I think it's importantto note we're really not a
government-fundednon-for-profit.
Um our support comes from thecommunity, it comes from
(28:45):
individuals, it comes from allthe different churches we talked
about, and um grants, and youknow, it really is an important
that we got no subsidy, huh?
No, no.
So we're really able to run anoperation as we do, and as
Carolyn said, you know, over 2.5million pounds of food last year
(29:09):
alone.
Um, so it's important to havethe community support support
and that rally around what wedo.
SPEAKER_01 (29:16):
And while there may not be direct support, it sounds
like you do have a goodrelationship with the county and
the county uh administration.
SPEAKER_04 (29:23):
Yes.
See, we have an excellentrelationship with the county,
and I should clarify that we doum get one grant from the county
that supports our home deliveryprogram.
Um take whatever we can get,right?
Yes, right, right, right.
Oh, yes, division of aging,yeah, sure.
Um you know, most of it comesfrom um private individuals, um,
(29:46):
houses of worship, fundraising,grantors, capacumen services.
SPEAKER_00 (29:51):
Is there any major fundraising events you want to
plug or tell us about?
Yeah.
Well you have to.
SPEAKER_02 (29:58):
How didn't take it over?
So we just had our kickoff lastnight um for our spring gala.
Okay.
Um so we're very excited for forthat.
Um, April 24th at theMeadowwood.
We're gonna have the Save theDate cards sent out next week,
and it'll be on our website.
And it's a really a night ofcelebration, um, honoring what
(30:23):
we do, several really importantorganizations that have
contributed um to our work thisyear, and um appreciating our
staff and volunteers and all ofour different community
partners.
So it's it's a fun evening, andI hope we get the support this
year as we always do.
SPEAKER_01 (30:41):
You reminded me of uh something I wanted to ask
earlier.
Um you're big on social media,right?
Is that um uh the the foodpantry itself?
SPEAKER_04 (30:48):
Um we have our Instagram, our uh Facebook, and
our LinkedIn presence.
SPEAKER_01 (30:55):
And a lot of followers, I guess, and that's
one of the ways that you canattract volunteers and uh
donations, huh?
Yes, yes.
Yeah, we've been doing that fora while.
SPEAKER_04 (31:03):
And communicate sort of what's happening and where we
need people to, if there's youknow, specific levels of support
that we need, support forevents, and just to advise
people what's going on, youknow.
In November, as you know, we hadSNAP benefits halted.
SPEAKER_03 (31:21):
Oh, right.
SPEAKER_04 (31:22):
And people wanted to know, okay, well, what next?
What do we do?
And so of course we use oursocial media channels to explain
what our response is, what wewant people to do, how they can
contact us for help, and how tokind of help us spread the word.
SPEAKER_01 (31:37):
Right, right.
And food programs really had atry everything possible to get
ready to who know who knew howlong it was gonna last, right?
Um yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (31:46):
Yeah, we we were fortunate.
We did have some emergencyresponse, and we again worked
with the county and the Officeof Emergency Management to set
up a response plan for uh a lotn of new families.
And we managed to sort of handlea few hundred uh new households
(32:08):
in the week that the benefitswere delayed and we were very
fortunate that we were able touh as a state get them
reinstated quickly.
SPEAKER_00 (32:17):
I wonder if I maybe should have asked you this
sooner, but if you could justwalk us through the the the the
client's experience when theycome in the door, like what what
happens?
SPEAKER_04 (32:28):
Sure.
Um so there's an initial intake.
We have five counselors on staffthat when someone comes to us if
they're referred by, you know,the hospital or the accounting
office of temporary assistance,they have a very quick phone
interview.
And like I said, they just needto be a Morris County resident,
(32:50):
and then we just ask them, wedon't ask for proof of income or
anything like that, but tell usabout your circumstances.
That process is importantbecause there may be things
happening in that person's lifethat they want to share with the
other.
SPEAKER_01 (33:06):
Our Catholic charities programs we're redoing
our Father English uh center andum uh being able to offer other
resources, right?
Because if someone is needed offood, there's often the need for
many, uh a number of other umwhether it be family health or
employment or right.
SPEAKER_04 (33:22):
Pay my electricity, I can't pay my rent or you know.
I have no transportation thatand then we can make those
referrals to other agencies thatcan help.
SPEAKER_01 (33:31):
How many would you staff would you have that are uh
doing intakes on a daily dailybasis?
SPEAKER_04 (33:37):
Is it five.
We have five um client servicesand um they're all finally will,
which is helpful.
Um and they're all traumatrained because we know that
folks coming through our doorshave all had unique experiences
that put them in a position thatfor whatever reason, whether
(34:02):
it's if their income isn'tcovering your expenses, or they
recently lost a family member,or they recently lost a job.
SPEAKER_01 (34:09):
And then the conversation can begin with name
and address, and you know whatbut once you say, How are you
doing, uh uh then you never knowwhere it can go, right?
SPEAKER_04 (34:17):
Well, exactly.
And that's why we also dotrauma-informed training for our
volunteers.
Because people can be coming in,we don't know where that person
came from.
They could have just beenstanding in line at you know, or
sitting in a lobby at thehospital, or they could have
come from, you know, trying toget Medicare benefits sorted out
(34:37):
and have been at OT for fourhours.
And so understanding that theirindividual experiences and being
able to identify, well, thisperson right now, let's just see
what we can do to keep them calmand get them food in in a
peaceful manner.
And others who, you know, maycome in where where they're much
(34:58):
more approachable and being ableto kind of identify and meet
people where they're at is veryimportant.
SPEAKER_01 (35:04):
And so then um uh they speak to an intake person
and um then uh what happensafter that, right?
SPEAKER_04 (35:12):
In terms of um they're they're signed uh at a
time slot to come.
SPEAKER_01 (35:17):
Okay.
SPEAKER_04 (35:18):
We are open eleven days a week, so we offer eleven
different time slots betweenthis location and our satellite
pantry, um, including off hours,you know, Tuesday nights,
Wednesday nights, and Saturdaysfor our working families.
And they come once a month.
By having them come in once amonth, we're able to accommodate
a lot of families.
(35:38):
Um if we had to do this everytwo weeks or so, it it could be
more challenging.
So we load them up with food.
Um, they're getting a goodmonth's worth of food, typical
family of four.
We'll leave with about three orfour hundred dollars worth of
food and then can come back twoweeks later for a produce
distribution session.
(36:01):
When they come in, they're umgreeted by a volunteer and
because they have a specific dayto come, and those volunteers
are assigned to that specificday, as you may have noticed,
some of them get to know eachother.
And now they're having adialogue and they're saying, Oh,
(36:22):
hi Mike, how's it going?
Hey, what hey, whatever happenedwith your situation with that?
Did you get that job interview?
And having that sort of sense ofcommunity and that sense of
knowing each other, uh familiarfaces is important because that
helps us know what's happening.
SPEAKER_01 (36:44):
With more or less an an appointment or scheduled
time, um it avoids uh lines ofsay, right?
Uh uh and you know, it has to bein some other places that if a
food pantry is gonna opencertain hours, certain days, you
know, there's a reg there mightbe a regular line waiting for um
but um and again similar to ourum Father English Center as as
(37:06):
as it reopens something thatthey had started before um
COVID, uh that um it wouldn't bejust handing a bag, but that uh
the person coming could actuallyshop, go th and and and say that
their family likes this butmaybe doesn't like that, right?
So they're they're also notthrowing things away that they
they might receive and not youknow be allergic to or something
(37:28):
like that.
SPEAKER_03 (37:29):
Exactly.
SPEAKER_01 (37:29):
But I think that's the experience here, right?
There's um they have someability to go through the pick
some of their own.
SPEAKER_04 (37:36):
Choice is is critical because it like you
said, it it it eliminates thatwaste.
They're not getting things thatthey can't use.
They'll only take what theyneed, only take what they want,
but it offers a much moredignified experience.
We have a very diversepopulation that we're serving.
Um they want to pick foods thatare culturally appropriate.
They want to take home, youknow, my kids will eat this,
(38:00):
they won't eat the oatmeal, youknow, I need cold cereal, that
you know, that type of thing.
Um and it really does restore alot of dignity in the process.
SPEAKER_00 (38:11):
Okay, thanks for sharing that.
And then for those who arelistening and not watching uh on
the video version of thepodcast, we will have some
B-roll of um between one andthree, typically, right?
Is when the clients come to toget food.
SPEAKER_01 (38:26):
So um all right, well we're kind of and if
somebody um knows a family thatmight uh or a person that might
need help with food, um umInterfaith Food Pantry, Google,
is that uh or your website orInterfaith Food Pantry Network,
M C I F P dot org is thewebsite?
Interface InterfaithFoodPantry.org.
(38:49):
M C I F P Is Is it two apps orjust one?
Just one.
And you're on the InterfaithFood, it could be two, but it's
just one.
SPEAKER_02 (38:58):
Facebook, Instagram, Facebook, Facebook, okay.
And all they need to do is callthe main number to start the
process.
SPEAKER_01 (39:07):
So they could even uh schedule um the intake if
it's a first-time person, right?
Um uh probably even better thanjust showing up, right?
Absolutely.
They should call.
Right.
SPEAKER_02 (39:17):
Yeah, call ahead.
That way they'd have a timeslot.
SPEAKER_01 (39:20):
And there's a lot of if they go to your website,
there's a a lot of things.
All the information is there.
SPEAKER_04 (39:26):
Um like I mentioned, we work with a lot of community
partners, um, the county officesof temporary assistance, a lot
of the medical providers,Atlantic Health Zoofall, they
all have our information.
And even a lot of the other umnonprofit agencies here in the
county are very aware of us.
SPEAKER_01 (39:47):
And if a listener or viewer um is looking to
volunteer or to donate, right?
SPEAKER_04 (39:52):
Uh they can mcifp.org.
SPEAKER_01 (39:57):
Mcifp.org, Morris County Interfaith Food Pantry,
but onef uh.org.
Um uh and volunteers anddonations, welcome, right?
SPEAKER_04 (40:09):
Yes, always, always.
I should also mention that uh inaddition to the funds that were
raised last year and the fundsthat were donated, their
individual contributions andgrants um and our fundraising
events, the food drives are justas important.
SPEAKER_01 (40:27):
Oh, right, the food drives, yeah, yeah, right.
Yes.
SPEAKER_04 (40:30):
And we just had our finance meeting yesterday, and
the food that was collected lastyear was valued at 4.5 million.
That's right.
4.5 million dollars.
SPEAKER_01 (40:39):
Just from donated food.
SPEAKER_04 (40:40):
From donated food, yeah.
unknown (40:42):
Wow.
SPEAKER_01 (40:43):
Uh Lent is coming up, right?
So uh if they want to do aprogram during Lent, uh the meat
you don't eat on Friday, you canuh uh donate uh uh or make a
sacrifice, right?
Certainly.
SPEAKER_00 (40:55):
Yeah, yeah.
All right, well, great.
Well, I think we'll leave itthere.
Thank you, Helen.
Thank you, Carolyn, so much fora lot of things.
SPEAKER_01 (41:03):
Thanks, thanks.
Uh we'll look forward to keepingin contact and seeing how we
could you know help each otherand work together.
SPEAKER_04 (41:09):
We appreciate you being here and thank you for
your prayers and your continuedsupport of prayer.
SPEAKER_00 (41:16):
You got it.
SPEAKER_01 (41:16):
Yeah, thanks for having us.
Please pray for us too.
SPEAKER_04 (41:18):
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_00 (41:19):
And Bishop, before we close out, is it do you want
to reflect on any part of theconversation or anything to do
with um what happens here andthe other?
SPEAKER_01 (41:29):
Um uh Carol and I were speaking a little bit about
uh the recent challenges in ourMorristown community um with um
the immigrant population andsome of the activity that has
taken place, which um some ofthe fear is causing those uh
moms or families to uh be afraidto come out.
(41:50):
So that's another need for foodto be brought sometimes to um
our families.
We hope that people will be ableto feel comfortable enough to uh
come out and uh and and be ableto come here or to the churches.
Um so um that's something thatwe certainly pray for.
Um but um we see the some of thechallenges our people are
(42:10):
facing, right?
Um in at the moment.
SPEAKER_04 (42:12):
Yes.
And we've I just want to addressthat we've worked with our
communities and the families weserve, um, establish a great
deal of trust and are veryprotective of our clients'
identities and maintainconfidentiality with them.
(42:34):
So we are encouraging them toreach out to us and we will we
will serve the needed.
SPEAKER_01 (42:43):
Yes, right, yeah.
Um very important at the momentas we pray for all involved and
uh um our country and and forpeace.
And um, so um, yeah, somechallenging times for some of
our communities, especially ourimmigrant communities.
Uh but as we were also talkinguh, I think before we started,
that um sometimes in thosechallenging moments, that's when
(43:03):
we see people of goodness andgenerosity really stepping up,
right?
And uh and reaching out, and uhuh so um that's that's that's
encouraging um um certainly formyself and I think in our parish
and other organizations likehere, um we see a lot of people
of goodness, so um we'regrateful for them.
SPEAKER_00 (43:21):
Awesome.
And Bishop, before I I let yougo, any uh what else is going
on?
What do you what are youreading?
SPEAKER_01 (43:27):
I well I was on retreat last week, which was
really wonderful, and uh um uh Ifinally read uh one of Pope
Francis's most important workscalled Evangeli Gaudium, the joy
of the gospel.
Uh so that was um you might behearing more about that, but uh
um but also um I don't even knowif you heard Pope Leo has
recommended a book.
(43:47):
Um the I think reporters askedhim, and he said, I'll get back
to you.
Um and uh he said uh I told youI'd get back to you, and uh
there's a book called uh ThePractice of the Presence of God.
The practice of the presence ofGod by Brother Lawrence of the
Resurrection, I think in theeither 1200s or 1600s, a long
(44:09):
time ago, uh, before St.
Therese uh did talked aboutdoing little things with great
love.
Uh he was um he was in amonastery, but he was in the
kitchen.
He spent a lot of time in thekitchen.
So uh if uh for those who workwith food or um like to cook, um
uh but anyone interested, Ithink, in the in the spiritual
life, it's um it's a classicthat maybe hadn't been as well
(44:30):
known, but I think it's gonna begoing up on the uh bestseller
list.
So I'm about two-thirds of theway through it.
Um I I remember hearing about itand having a copy of it when I
was in the seminary.
I don't remember whether or notI had read it, um, but I'm
really happy to have had thechance to get back to it.
And uh if you're looking for alittle spiritual reading, uh The
Practice of the Presence of Godby Brother Lawrence, it'll be
(44:53):
easy to find because I thinkit's William Bulk gave it a good
bump.
SPEAKER_00 (44:58):
So yeah, it's trending today.
All right, well, thanks again,and thank you, Bishop.
And thank you all for joiningus.
Please subscribe, comment, andleave a positive rating.
Get to know us better byfollowing Bishop Kevin's
Instagram and beyond the beaconon social media.
Read the bishop's weekly columnon beaconnj.org and get in touch
if you have a question for thebishop or a podcast topic idea
(45:20):
and discover our other podcasts.
See you next time.
SPEAKER_01 (45:24):
Thanks, everybody.
God bless you.
Thanks again.
Thank you.
Welcome to Beyond the Weekend with Bishop Kevin
Sweeney, a podcast of theDiocese of Patterson, Jersey.
Join us for conversations aboutour Catholic faith.
And together, let's strive tolive a life of faith, hope, and
love.
We're so glad you can join us.
I'm Jay Agnish.
With me is Bishop Kevin Sweeney.
Bishop Kevin, how are you?
SPEAKER_01 (00:25):
I'm good, Jay.
How are you doing?
SPEAKER_00 (00:26):
Doing well, thank you.
SPEAKER_01 (00:27):
We have a new studio.
No, we're just uh location.
SPEAKER_00 (00:30):
Yeah, remote episode.
Uh you stay you stay in warm oruh what's it?
SPEAKER_01 (00:35):
So far so good, thank god.
SPEAKER_00 (00:36):
And dry, a lot of snow out there.
Some in the horizon, apparently.
So um yeah, so we uh made alittle trek out to Morris
Plains, and we are on locationat the Interfaith Food Pantry
Network in Morris Plains, and wehave with us uh Carolyn Lake to
your right there, who is theexecutive director of the
(00:56):
Interfaith Food Pantry Network,and Helen Hallberg, who is the
board president.
And uh we're happy that youinvited us and thanks for having
us.
SPEAKER_01 (01:07):
We're thrilled to have you.
SPEAKER_00 (01:08):
Thank you for coming.
Thanks for being on.
SPEAKER_01 (01:10):
It's my second trip I was able to get here finally
after a long time.
Uh just uh I guess it was rightbefore after Thanksgiving.
I guess uh right afterThanksgiving, I think maybe.
And uh I'm sure that was yourbusy time, and uh but it sounds
like uh it hasn't exactly sloweddown even within the year, huh?
SPEAKER_04 (01:29):
Uh no.
Uh it remains busy.
Thanksgiving was very busy forus.
It is our busiest season.
SPEAKER_01 (01:36):
Um Christmas as well, I guess.
Not as much Christmas.
SPEAKER_04 (01:40):
Um we guarantee that the people and agencies that
rely on us for Thanksgiving foodwill get a Thanksgiving basket.
And then for Christmas, anythingthat's left over, and there
usually is, um, goes out forChristmas where people can have
their ham or turkey or whateverthey want.
Uh but we did serve about 2,600people through um through our
(02:04):
two pantries and through otheragencies who received a turkey.
They got all the things, big bagof produce, um, you know, all of
the things uh for Thanksgiving.
SPEAKER_01 (02:16):
Well, um again, we're so happy to uh have the
chance to come down is uhbecause uh uh just even walking
in, and you can I think Jay'shas some pictures that he'll
show in some video.
Uh uh it's quite an operation.
And uh see, I've heard about it,uh, and we've had some contact
over the years.
Uh um uh God's work is God'swork uh in terms of especially
(02:39):
um uh offering uh food to thosewho are hungry.
Uh that's uh Jesus said uh inMatthew 25, I was hungry and you
gave me something to eat.
So we know for those of us umwho are Christians, it's a big
part of uh who we are and whatwe're called to do.
Um and so you I know you havemany Christian denominations in
uh part of the interfaith, andwe'll talk more about some of
(03:01):
the origin, but uh but uh uh uhit's great to see people of
faith coming together, right,and putting their faith in
action.
Yes, absolutely.
SPEAKER_04 (03:09):
Um I and as he had mentioned, I I believe all
faiths, whether it's Christian,Judaism, Hinduism, there's an
underlying text in all of thedifferent religions that allude
to feeding hungry.
SPEAKER_01 (03:24):
Right, right, right, right.
Right, right.
SPEAKER_04 (03:26):
And even people who don't practice religion still
have a moral compass to helptheir neighbors.
SPEAKER_01 (03:30):
That's right.
And and we would believe, wewould say that's that's because
we're all children of God, andyou know, that the way God made
us, um, there's there'ssomething in us that we want to,
that we have a sense of rightand wrong, good and bad, and uh,
and someone in need uh is uh weuh we we f feel even those who
may not you know profess a faithin God or a particular religion,
uh there's something about us ashuman beings.
(03:50):
We believe that um uh especiallywhen we're open to uh trying to
do the right thing, uh, that wewould we would help someone
who's in need.
But we'll talk more about it andhear your but maybe we'll just
uh uh get started with a prayer,huh?
Yeah, sounds good.
Great.
Um we'll place ourselves inGod's presence in the name of
the Father, Son, and HolySpirit, and giving thanks to God
(04:11):
in a special way for um Carolyn,for Helen, uh and for all those
who um make this uh interfaithfood pantry possible.
Um people of generosity, peopleof goodness, um donors,
volunteers, um and realizingthat uh we're all in need of
(04:32):
God's love and God's mercy andand that we're privileged to uh
be able to help our sisters andbrothers who may find themselves
in need uh in Thanksgiving forall the good work that's done
here in the Interfaith FoodPantry and throughout our
diocese and so many places bythose who uh especially um reach
(04:55):
out to those in need.
We join our prayers together asone as we pray, as Jesus Himself
has taught us.
Our Father, who art in heaven,hallowed be thy name, thy
kingdom come, thy will be done,on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily breadand forgive us our trespasses as
we forgive those who trespassagainst us and lead us not into
(05:17):
temptation, but deliver us fromevil.
Amen.
In the name of the Father andthe Son and of the Holy Spirit,
amen.
Helen, uh sorry it went out ofmy head for a second there.
Uh uh, you're the boardpresident.
SPEAKER_02 (05:31):
That's right.
SPEAKER_01 (05:32):
Um maybe tell us how that came about or um how the
Lord led you to be the head ofthe board.
SPEAKER_02 (05:40):
Um it's really such a privilege to be part of the
organization.
Um and it's it's also wonderful.
My husband and son had some timevolunteering, and so um it was
it was really wonderful to uhjoin the board.
We have an a reallyhigh-performing board, very
(06:02):
compassionate.
Many of them are volunteersfirst and foremost.
Um I was able to do a lot ofdifferent volunteer activities
as an early on as a board memberto learn the operation.
I continue to do home deliveryto homebound seniors, which is
really important part of our ofwhat we do, in addition to the
(06:23):
clients that come here and areable to shop for their families.
So for me, it's about um beingable to give back.
I'm really grateful for where Iam in in life.
Um it's important to live withpurpose, and so for me, this is
part of giving back and beinggrateful for all the you know
(06:44):
benefits, and it provides a lotof joy and happiness to be part
of such a wonderfulorganization.
SPEAKER_01 (06:50):
And I know you said you live in Morris County,
right?
SPEAKER_02 (06:53):
Yeah, right here in Morristown, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (06:55):
And Carolyn?
SPEAKER_04 (06:57):
I live in Morris Township.
SPEAKER_01 (06:58):
Okay, right.
And uh sometimes people mightthink of place here, place like
Morris County or evenMorristown, and say, well, well
there's not there's not any needthere.
But uh uh Carolyn, you see uh onboth, I'm sure, uh, that that
there is some need right here inthe local community, right?
SPEAKER_04 (07:16):
Yes.
Well, people are shocked tolearn that, you know, we right
here in Morris County, which isconsistently ranked one of the
wealthiest in the nation, haveuh 10,000 SNAP households
through our two locations andall of the partners that we work
with that expand our reach.
We have 38 external partners.
We distributed 2.4 millionpounds of food during 40,000
(07:40):
household visits.
So you think about that.
Um so you know, that does breakdown in a certain number of
individual households, but everytime they come, if you counted
them with a clicker, it's 40,000visits.
Um the problem is real, it oftengoes unrecognized.
People who are relying on a foodpantry for their meals do not
(08:02):
walk around and tell people, ohyeah, we set the food pantry
last night and I got all thisfood.
And we don't realize who theyare, but they're um, you know,
they're not just people who arerelying on SNEP and government
benefits.
They're workers.
SPEAKER_01 (08:17):
Right.
They work in a And you have thislocation here in um, is it
called Central Park inMorristown, I think, uh uh uh
Yes.
Where there's a few governcounty government buildings,
right?
And uh how did you end up here?
SPEAKER_04 (08:30):
Um so our origins came back in 1994 when we took
over the county food clauses.
SPEAKER_01 (08:38):
Okay, I think right.
SPEAKER_04 (08:39):
And the county didn't want to be in this
business because we were doing avery good job out of the out of
the basement of the firstBaptist Church, and they said,
all right, well, why don't youcan you do this for this?
And they gave us some space thatwas a good thing.
SPEAKER_01 (08:50):
The basement of the first Baptist Church um was the
beginning, huh?
SPEAKER_04 (08:53):
That was the beginning.
SPEAKER_01 (08:55):
Right.
SPEAKER_04 (08:55):
Um there were a group of volunteers from Notre
Dame Church.
Cedar Knowles that were umvolunteering with the drop-in
center for homeless families.
And what they were finding therewere a lot more families that
needed food that had housing,but there were no programs, you
know, aside from the smallpantries that were operated in
(09:17):
St.
Margaret's Church and AssumptionChurch.
There was no coordinated effort.
So they would bring the foodfrom Notre Dame, collect it from
the other houses of worship, andbring it down to the First
Baptist Church.
That was the origins ofinterfaith.
Okay, right?
Um so they like I mentioned,they they had this coordinated
effort, and the County of Morrisworked with us.
(09:38):
We took over their food closetsin exchange, they gave us some
space in um county-ownedproperty on Hanover Avenue right
up the road.
And it was the basement of anursing home that was built in
1922 that was operating as ahome shelter.
Uh, as we grew out of thatspace, um John Murphy, who was
(09:59):
the commissioner at the time,was also a firefighter, and he
said, you know what, let'snegotiate something for you
because you don't fit hereanymore, and this is untenable.
SPEAKER_01 (10:10):
Were you around at that time in terms of being
involved?
SPEAKER_04 (10:15):
I was a volunteer at that time.
SPEAKER_01 (10:16):
Right, right.
SPEAKER_04 (10:17):
Um and so that was when we then were able to
acquire this property from thecounty.
Um and there, you know, theysaid you can have property, you
just need to build raise themoney to build the building.
SPEAKER_01 (10:31):
Did you give Jay the tour?
Oh, yeah.
I got the tour.
It's great.
You have a like a warehouse,right?
And and a shopping place.
And uh so um so you said uh itit it was the built- this was
built from the ground up to bethe center of the It was built
from the ground up and blessedby Father Duffy from uh St.
SPEAKER_04 (10:49):
Virgil's Church when we when we cut the ribbon.
SPEAKER_03 (10:52):
Wow.
SPEAKER_04 (10:53):
No, it was in 2011.
SPEAKER_01 (10:54):
Amazing.
SPEAKER_04 (10:55):
And so we've been here since.
We underwent some majorrenovations outside of COVID in
2021 to accommodate the massiveincrease in demand.
SPEAKER_01 (11:05):
And then you said there's a location in Morristown
itself as well.
Yes.
And uh we have to get in theplug for Christ the King, right?
In uh New Vernon.
They certainly do.
They just gave a donation tohelp uh uh uh make that uh uh uh
site more accessible.
SPEAKER_04 (11:22):
Yes, our original food distribution site.
It's on Speedwell Avenue inMorristown.
It's it's unmarked.
It was uh a home, it was abarbershop at one time.
We converted it into adistribution center back before
we had this one.
SPEAKER_05 (11:35):
Okay.
SPEAKER_04 (11:35):
Uh but maintaining a presence in Morristown is very
important to us.
Now, because it's an old home,um, it really needed to be
rehabbed to make it moreaccessible.
We wanted to put a ramp up forpeople who have to wheel carts
or if they're disabled andthey're using walkers.
Um so Christ the King recentlygave us a grant of$9,000 to help
(11:56):
us renovate that property.
SPEAKER_00 (11:59):
So, Carolyn, do you want to tell the story of there
was a deacon at church thatencouraged you to get going with
the what was the It was MerleSizzler.
SPEAKER_04 (12:10):
Um and I'll try to keep the story brief because I
make it very long.
Um this was shortly after 9-11,and I had left my job because I
had a very young child at thetime, and my job and the child
did not mix well.
And I was kind of at a pointwhere I wanted to do something
(12:34):
more than work for corporations,and um, you know, I had actually
prayed on this, and I waspraying for purpose.
And I was at church, and Mo wastelling the story about what was
happening with the food thatthey were giving out at the
church and this family that camein.
(12:55):
He was trying to help her, buthe was hurried.
He was trying to get her thefood and have her leave.
And she kept taking the food outof the bag.
And he's saying, I'm trying tohelp you.
I don't understand what you'redoing.
And he was getting short.
And she said, You don'tunderstand.
I I don't have a can opener.
And it halted him in his tracks.
(13:18):
And it kind of in hearing thisstory halted me for a moment.
And to think that he's tellingthe story about somebody who
lived locally and then startedtalking about all of the people
that it were food insecure herein our community, was
eye-opening to the world.
SPEAKER_01 (13:35):
God works in mysterious ways, speaks in
mysterious ways, was answeringyour prayer.
SPEAKER_04 (13:38):
And I do think he did, and I think he put me in
the right place at the righttime.
Because um, a few years later,when I was going to go back into
the workforce, um RosemaryGilmartin, who was the director
at the time, asked me if I wouldcome on staff, and she said, uh
Nadine, who is the outreachcoordinator, has cancer.
(14:02):
She's fine, she can do her job,she just needs some wheels, she
needs help.
And so I agreed to take on theposition of assisting Nadine.
Um, and Nadine passed away a fewdays before I would start.
So I came in and I took overNadine's position, and that was
what brought me on staff.
(14:24):
And then over the years I hadlearned more, took on additional
responsibilities, took over forthe assistant director when she
was having health problems andshe left, and eventually brought
me to 2019 when I took over asexecutive director.
SPEAKER_01 (14:43):
Um God really does work in mysterious ways.
As Helen was saying, I think uhyour son and your husband were
involved first, is that right?
That's right, yes.
Uh and and they through them,but you I think you also said
were you involved with someother organizations that are
connected with um Absolutelywith the board and the and and
the the work of the of the foodpantry?
SPEAKER_02 (15:05):
Yeah.
The wonderful thing that we do,in addition to having the
locations that Carolyndescribed, is we also provide um
emergency food to otherorganizations throughout the
community.
We also have um over 35 pantrypartners.
So for senior housing units andother locations, we're making
(15:29):
sure they have nutritious food,vegetables, fruit, dairy, eggs,
things that they might nototherwise have available at
smaller local pantries.
So it's really an important partof as we've grown, being able to
make sure that the whole countyis also thriving and getting
(15:50):
nutritious food.
It's not just the canned foodand the non-perishables are
wonderful, but a lot of ourfocus is on nutrition and making
sure that our our guests andclients are going to be healthy
going forward.
SPEAKER_01 (16:03):
And those partnerships and relationships
with other groups are soimportant, right?
SPEAKER_02 (16:07):
Absolutely.
And then then the relationshipsthat we have with the
faith-based organizations, theschools, the community just
really makes what we're able todo um happen.
SPEAKER_01 (16:19):
Um Yeah, I I guess I uh um hearing, you know, uh
assumption, St.
Margaret's, uh, St.
Virgil's, um, Notre Dame, uh,you know, um uh as Bishop
hearing about the good workthose parishes do, but uh over
time hearing how many of themwere connected here and uh and
you know I uh uh having a placelike this um uh it gives people
(16:43):
of faith in a a a place rightwhere they can go and and put
their faith in into action uhand to see that collaboration
between the parishes, thepastors, uh youth groups, um
confirmation classes surelyvolunteers, right, that would
lead from parishes to here, andand then the relationship goes
back and forth.
SPEAKER_04 (17:03):
A lot of our volunteer base um come from the
local churches.
Right.
And it's because uh, you know,we're always welcomed in to do
pulpit talks, and people arejust inspired.
Right, parishes do food drivesas well, I guess.
Do food drives, they um, youknow, are always and many of
them will publish our food needsin their bulletins, so they'll
(17:26):
say, all right, here's ourcollection for interfaith this
month, these are the things weneed.
And it goes even beyond theparishes that you had mentioned,
St.
Thomas More is another St.
SPEAKER_01 (17:36):
Pat's King, we're right, right.
Um St.
Pat's right.
SPEAKER_04 (17:39):
Even as we move, you know, more west, St.
Teresa and Sakasana, and a lot alot of them are regularly
involved and will help usevangelize when we really need
following the church.
SPEAKER_00 (17:49):
So that's Baptist Church, some temples involved.
SPEAKER_04 (17:52):
Yes.
Um, a lot of the local temples,Temple of Binay or um uh what's
there's another one inMorristown.
There's there's several AdatShalam that are very involved,
and the Hindu temples are veryactive.
SPEAKER_05 (18:07):
Oh, interesting.
SPEAKER_04 (18:08):
So there are uh we are technically in Parsipony,
and there's a very large Hindupopulation in Parsippony, and
they've got some wonderful umcivic organizations, Siwad
Diwali and others that also getvery involved and with food
drives and and volunteer work aswell.
SPEAKER_00 (18:28):
It's good to hear I'm half Indian.
I I get to Parsippany quite abit to the Indian restaurants,
but I I um you know you Helen,you mentioned about the food,
and and as you were touring mearound earlier, I was so
fascinated by the uh what do youcall it?
It's like food recycling andgleaning.
That's right.
SPEAKER_04 (18:48):
Yes, our food rescue program.
Uh so you know, greenhouseemissions are harmful.
And there's really no of thescience is behind it, and we
know that.
Um so in an effort to reducegreenhouse gases, a lot of
supermarkets have gone toward azero waste policy.
(19:11):
They really don't want to bepurchasing or producing more
than they can sell for obviousreasons, for business reasons.
Um but they've also embarked onan need to marry this reduction
of food waste to foodinsecurity.
So we have now, I think, 11supermarket partners that we're
(19:34):
working with.
We are out every morning.
SPEAKER_01 (19:36):
Instead of throwing food out when it comes up to its
expiration date, there should bewe bring it back here, we give
it out that day.
SPEAKER_04 (19:43):
And that program has grown dramatically.
Uh last year we rescued 600,000pounds of food from the
landfills and were able to giveit to people who were able to
enjoy it at home.
SPEAKER_01 (19:55):
Wow, wow, wow.
Uh and that takes volunteers andcoordination as well, right?
SPEAKER_04 (20:00):
Uh it certainly does.
SPEAKER_01 (20:01):
And I think uh you mentioned um corporate partners,
um, certainly those umsupermarkets, um, but some
others as well, I think, and andyou say they sometimes come with
their um uh teams to tovolunteer and and and be part of
the uh the work that happenshere as well, right?
(20:21):
Uh those who might work inoffices or white-collar
positions, but the the becausethere's a relationship with the
corporation, the employees willcome here and Yes.
SPEAKER_04 (20:30):
Yeah.
Yes.
And I like a lot of companies, Ithink, especially over the
years, have realized the benefitto offering their employees an
opportunity to give back to thecommunity because the employees
then have a greater sense ofpurpose, they have a lot more
respect, there's less turnover,and the corporation then gets
their logo on our Facebook page,which makes it right there's so
(20:53):
there's really good PR thatcomes out of that.
Um one of the programs that theyreally love is our Free Farmers
Market.
SPEAKER_03 (21:00):
Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (21:01):
Uh it's a produce-only distribution
session that we offer people inbetween their regular visits.
SPEAKER_05 (21:06):
Okay.
SPEAKER_04 (21:07):
So we're ensuring they're having proper nutrition
all month long.
And that's the interaction thatthey get with their neighbors.
SPEAKER_01 (21:15):
And where does the fresh produce come from?
SPEAKER_04 (21:17):
We purchase it.
SPEAKER_01 (21:18):
Okay, right, right.
Thanks to the donate.
With donated funds.
SPEAKER_04 (21:21):
That's right.
SPEAKER_01 (21:22):
Right.
Um something else about that.
Um uh uh well, I think try toremember that.
Uh uh delivering meals to um uhshut ins, that you say that's uh
there's the mentioningvolunteers, that's um w one of
the things that you look for,right?
In terms of those who can't.
(21:43):
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_04 (21:44):
Uh it's very rewarding and all that hell, and
speak to the experience.
Uh, but it is an area that we'realways looking for, volunteers.
SPEAKER_02 (21:52):
Right.
And it a lot of time it itinvolves people who can't get to
the store, either they're shutin or they're
SPEAKER_01 (22:00):
They not have family who could or to shop for them,
huh?
SPEAKER_02 (22:02):
Exactly.
They don't have people that canget to the store.
And so we're able to havevolunteers that we're all vetted
pretty much partner and shop forthem here and know what they are
looking what they like, whatthey like to cook at home, what
they don't like.
And so then we're able todeliver it to their doorstep.
(22:25):
And it's really wonderfulbecause you get to know them.
You're able to do a check-in andsee how they're doing.
For me, I have uh, you know, anelderly couple and it's nice to
hear about their grand howthey're able to then take care
of their grandkids and help getum backpacks and things for the
kids when it's back to schooltime and one of them had a
(22:47):
birthday today.
So it's really w rewarding and agreat part of what we do.
And um most of the board membersare home delivery volunteers,
and it's a it continues to be agrowing part of our of of the
way we're serving the community.
SPEAKER_01 (23:02):
How many would home deliveries would you do, maybe
in a month or in a week?
SPEAKER_04 (23:06):
We have about 140 households that we service with
home delivery.
I had and I I know I said I talka lot, but I do have a home
delivery story I would like tokeep it right.
It was one of the firstvolunteers jobs that I had when
I started volunteering.
One of the families that I wasdelivering to, he was an Iraq
war vet that was injured.
(23:28):
And they were living in landingin this very small apartment.
There were a set of twins and anuh an older child all living in
this apartment.
And I was doing these homedeliveries with my daughter.
And she was about, I don't know,maybe five or six at the time.
But we were delivering to themfor quite some time, so she got
to know the boy that we werewe're delivering to that was the
(23:51):
same age.
And she always talked about howexcited he got when he got the
goldfish.
They loved those goldfishcrackers.
And this experience of doingthese deliveries stuck with her.
And she, upon graduation fromhigh school, started looking at
(24:13):
colleges and was initially drawnto all the Northeast colleges.
For whatever reason, Xaviercalled her.
And she wrote her college essayon her experiences doing home
deliveries, and she called thisessay the goldfish rule, and
talked about her and Petergrowing up together and finding
(24:34):
the things that we shared incommon was our love for these
goldfish.
And then ended up writing thisentire college essay in um
Xavier in Xavier University inCincinnati.
SPEAKER_01 (24:47):
And that's where she ended up going.
SPEAKER_04 (24:49):
That's where she ended up.
I keep her very look at that.
SPEAKER_01 (24:54):
And started with goldfish.
Started with goldfish.
Right, right, right.
SPEAKER_00 (24:58):
What um what have you noticed are any trends as
far as has there been anincrease in in need in in recent
years?
I mean, obviously COVID, youknow, kind of blew things up for
every everyone.
But what's been going on lately?
Where's the the need been, orhow have you adjusted in any
ways to meet that need?
SPEAKER_04 (25:57):
Um I think that uh in general, uh the cost of
living here in Morris County hasskyrocketed.
And we see a significant numberof families who come in, and we
ask them where their income is,that are just listing prime
(26:17):
salary as their primary sourceof income.
Um about half of everybody thatcomes in here has two income
families.
That are working.
SPEAKER_01 (26:30):
They often say rent eats first.
SPEAKER_04 (26:33):
Rent does eat first.
People have to pay their rent,they have to pay their
utilities.
You need a car in order tomaintain a job in Morris County
because transit doesn't exist.
And food is the last thingpeople will spend money on.
SPEAKER_01 (26:47):
Right.
Working poor, it's not just aphrase, right?
The real people that are tryingto survive, uh, that have jobs
and um even decent jobs.
But when, especially if there'schildren, the the and and and
recent inflation uh, you know,uh um uh there are real
challenges, right?
Yeah.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (27:05):
The United Way has a term for this.
They coined it Alice.
SPEAKER_01 (27:08):
Alice.
SPEAKER_04 (27:09):
The Alice population, asset limited,
income constrained, andemployed.
SPEAKER_01 (27:14):
Wow.
SPEAKER_04 (27:14):
And these are the families that are working um but
are not meaning the level ofself-sufficiency and your
self-sufficiency index for afamily of four, if you had two
children that need child care toafford your basics, rent, child
care, transportation, insurance,clothing, food, et cetera, you
(27:36):
know, forget the vacations.
In Morris County is about$100,000 a year.
And so when you look at thenumber of people that are
between the poverty level andthe self-sufficiency level, it
is it's a significant percentageof our population.
SPEAKER_01 (27:53):
Those working in service industries aren't making
$100,000, right?
They certainly are not.
And other other jobs that areimportant and um, yes, bringing
a salary, but not to to be ableto reach that level, yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (28:06):
And to be able to qualify for federal programs,
you know, when you look at, youknow, um like synop assistance
and things like that, etc.
One of the things that's you'remaking too much.
SPEAKER_01 (28:17):
Right.
Right, right.
Um, Helen, did you say you cameon the board during the in 2020?
SPEAKER_02 (28:23):
Exactly, during the pandemic.
So we've really seen the growthof operations probably doubled
from where we were before thepandemic in terms of the number
of people we're serving.
And then I think it's importantto note we're really not a
government-fundednon-for-profit.
Um our support comes from thecommunity, it comes from
(28:45):
individuals, it comes from allthe different churches we talked
about, and um grants, and youknow, it really is an important
that we got no subsidy, huh?
No, no.
So we're really able to run anoperation as we do, and as
Carolyn said, you know, over 2.5million pounds of food last year
(29:09):
alone.
Um, so it's important to havethe community support support
and that rally around what wedo.
SPEAKER_01 (29:16):
And while there may not be direct support, it sounds
like you do have a goodrelationship with the county and
the county uh administration.
SPEAKER_04 (29:23):
Yes.
See, we have an excellentrelationship with the county,
and I should clarify that we doum get one grant from the county
that supports our home deliveryprogram.
Um take whatever we can get,right?
Yes, right, right, right.
Oh, yes, division of aging,yeah, sure.
Um you know, most of it comesfrom um private individuals, um,
(29:46):
houses of worship, fundraising,grantors, capacumen services.
SPEAKER_00 (29:51):
Is there any major fundraising events you want to
plug or tell us about?
Yeah.
Well you have to.
SPEAKER_02 (29:58):
How didn't take it over?
So we just had our kickoff lastnight um for our spring gala.
Okay.
Um so we're very excited for forthat.
Um, April 24th at theMeadowwood.
We're gonna have the Save theDate cards sent out next week,
and it'll be on our website.
And it's a really a night ofcelebration, um, honoring what
(30:23):
we do, several really importantorganizations that have
contributed um to our work thisyear, and um appreciating our
staff and volunteers and all ofour different community
partners.
So it's it's a fun evening, andI hope we get the support this
year as we always do.
SPEAKER_01 (30:41):
You reminded me of uh something I wanted to ask
earlier.
Um you're big on social media,right?
Is that um uh the the foodpantry itself?
SPEAKER_04 (30:48):
Um we have our Instagram, our uh Facebook, and
our LinkedIn presence.
SPEAKER_01 (30:55):
And a lot of followers, I guess, and that's
one of the ways that you canattract volunteers and uh
donations, huh?
Yes, yes.
Yeah, we've been doing that fora while.
SPEAKER_04 (31:03):
And communicate sort of what's happening and where we
need people to, if there's youknow, specific levels of support
that we need, support forevents, and just to advise
people what's going on, youknow.
In November, as you know, we hadSNAP benefits halted.
SPEAKER_03 (31:21):
Oh, right.
SPEAKER_04 (31:22):
And people wanted to know, okay, well, what next?
What do we do?
And so of course we use oursocial media channels to explain
what our response is, what wewant people to do, how they can
contact us for help, and how tokind of help us spread the word.
SPEAKER_01 (31:37):
Right, right.
And food programs really had atry everything possible to get
ready to who know who knew howlong it was gonna last, right?
Um yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (31:46):
Yeah, we we were fortunate.
We did have some emergencyresponse, and we again worked
with the county and the Officeof Emergency Management to set
up a response plan for uh a lotn of new families.
And we managed to sort of handlea few hundred uh new households
(32:08):
in the week that the benefitswere delayed and we were very
fortunate that we were able touh as a state get them
reinstated quickly.
SPEAKER_00 (32:17):
I wonder if I maybe should have asked you this
sooner, but if you could justwalk us through the the the the
client's experience when theycome in the door, like what what
happens?
SPEAKER_04 (32:28):
Sure.
Um so there's an initial intake.
We have five counselors on staffthat when someone comes to us if
they're referred by, you know,the hospital or the accounting
office of temporary assistance,they have a very quick phone
interview.
And like I said, they just needto be a Morris County resident,
(32:50):
and then we just ask them, wedon't ask for proof of income or
anything like that, but tell usabout your circumstances.
That process is importantbecause there may be things
happening in that person's lifethat they want to share with the
other.
SPEAKER_01 (33:06):
Our Catholic charities programs we're redoing
our Father English uh center andum uh being able to offer other
resources, right?
Because if someone is needed offood, there's often the need for
many, uh a number of other umwhether it be family health or
employment or right.
SPEAKER_04 (33:22):
Pay my electricity, I can't pay my rent or you know.
I have no transportation thatand then we can make those
referrals to other agencies thatcan help.
SPEAKER_01 (33:31):
How many would you staff would you have that are uh
doing intakes on a daily dailybasis?
SPEAKER_04 (33:37):
Is it five.
We have five um client servicesand um they're all finally will,
which is helpful.
Um and they're all traumatrained because we know that
folks coming through our doorshave all had unique experiences
that put them in a position thatfor whatever reason, whether
(34:02):
it's if their income isn'tcovering your expenses, or they
recently lost a family member,or they recently lost a job.
SPEAKER_01 (34:09):
And then the conversation can begin with name
and address, and you know whatbut once you say, How are you
doing, uh uh then you never knowwhere it can go, right?
SPEAKER_04 (34:17):
Well, exactly.
And that's why we also dotrauma-informed training for our
volunteers.
Because people can be coming in,we don't know where that person
came from.
They could have just beenstanding in line at you know, or
sitting in a lobby at thehospital, or they could have
come from, you know, trying toget Medicare benefits sorted out
(34:37):
and have been at OT for fourhours.
And so understanding that theirindividual experiences and being
able to identify, well, thisperson right now, let's just see
what we can do to keep them calmand get them food in in a
peaceful manner.
And others who, you know, maycome in where where they're much
(34:58):
more approachable and being ableto kind of identify and meet
people where they're at is veryimportant.
SPEAKER_01 (35:04):
And so then um uh they speak to an intake person
and um then uh what happensafter that, right?
SPEAKER_04 (35:12):
In terms of um they're they're signed uh at a
time slot to come.
SPEAKER_01 (35:17):
Okay.
SPEAKER_04 (35:18):
We are open eleven days a week, so we offer eleven
different time slots betweenthis location and our satellite
pantry, um, including off hours,you know, Tuesday nights,
Wednesday nights, and Saturdaysfor our working families.
And they come once a month.
By having them come in once amonth, we're able to accommodate
a lot of families.
(35:38):
Um if we had to do this everytwo weeks or so, it it could be
more challenging.
So we load them up with food.
Um, they're getting a goodmonth's worth of food, typical
family of four.
We'll leave with about three orfour hundred dollars worth of
food and then can come back twoweeks later for a produce
distribution session.
(36:01):
When they come in, they're umgreeted by a volunteer and
because they have a specific dayto come, and those volunteers
are assigned to that specificday, as you may have noticed,
some of them get to know eachother.
And now they're having adialogue and they're saying, Oh,
(36:22):
hi Mike, how's it going?
Hey, what hey, whatever happenedwith your situation with that?
Did you get that job interview?
And having that sort of sense ofcommunity and that sense of
knowing each other, uh familiarfaces is important because that
helps us know what's happening.
SPEAKER_01 (36:44):
With more or less an an appointment or scheduled
time, um it avoids uh lines ofsay, right?
Uh uh and you know, it has to bein some other places that if a
food pantry is gonna opencertain hours, certain days, you
know, there's a reg there mightbe a regular line waiting for um
but um and again similar to ourum Father English Center as as
(37:06):
as it reopens something thatthey had started before um
COVID, uh that um it wouldn't bejust handing a bag, but that uh
the person coming could actuallyshop, go th and and and say that
their family likes this butmaybe doesn't like that, right?
So they're they're also notthrowing things away that they
they might receive and not youknow be allergic to or something
(37:28):
like that.
SPEAKER_03 (37:29):
Exactly.
SPEAKER_01 (37:29):
But I think that's the experience here, right?
There's um they have someability to go through the pick
some of their own.
SPEAKER_04 (37:36):
Choice is is critical because it like you
said, it it it eliminates thatwaste.
They're not getting things thatthey can't use.
They'll only take what theyneed, only take what they want,
but it offers a much moredignified experience.
We have a very diversepopulation that we're serving.
Um they want to pick foods thatare culturally appropriate.
They want to take home, youknow, my kids will eat this,
(38:00):
they won't eat the oatmeal, youknow, I need cold cereal, that
you know, that type of thing.
Um and it really does restore alot of dignity in the process.
SPEAKER_00 (38:11):
Okay, thanks for sharing that.
And then for those who arelistening and not watching uh on
the video version of thepodcast, we will have some
B-roll of um between one andthree, typically, right?
Is when the clients come to toget food.
SPEAKER_01 (38:26):
So um all right, well we're kind of and if
somebody um knows a family thatmight uh or a person that might
need help with food, um umInterfaith Food Pantry, Google,
is that uh or your website orInterfaith Food Pantry Network,
M C I F P dot org is thewebsite?
Interface InterfaithFoodPantry.org.
(38:49):
M C I F P Is Is it two apps orjust one?
Just one.
And you're on the InterfaithFood, it could be two, but it's
just one.
SPEAKER_02 (38:58):
Facebook, Instagram, Facebook, Facebook, okay.
And all they need to do is callthe main number to start the
process.
SPEAKER_01 (39:07):
So they could even uh schedule um the intake if
it's a first-time person, right?
Um uh probably even better thanjust showing up, right?
Absolutely.
They should call.
Right.
SPEAKER_02 (39:17):
Yeah, call ahead.
That way they'd have a timeslot.
SPEAKER_01 (39:20):
And there's a lot of if they go to your website,
there's a a lot of things.
All the information is there.
SPEAKER_04 (39:26):
Um like I mentioned, we work with a lot of community
partners, um, the county officesof temporary assistance, a lot
of the medical providers,Atlantic Health Zoofall, they
all have our information.
And even a lot of the other umnonprofit agencies here in the
county are very aware of us.
SPEAKER_01 (39:47):
And if a listener or viewer um is looking to
volunteer or to donate, right?
SPEAKER_04 (39:52):
Uh they can mcifp.org.
SPEAKER_01 (39:57):
Mcifp.org, Morris County Interfaith Food Pantry,
but onef uh.org.
Um uh and volunteers anddonations, welcome, right?
SPEAKER_04 (40:09):
Yes, always, always.
I should also mention that uh inaddition to the funds that were
raised last year and the fundsthat were donated, their
individual contributions andgrants um and our fundraising
events, the food drives are justas important.
SPEAKER_01 (40:27):
Oh, right, the food drives, yeah, yeah, right.
Yes.
SPEAKER_04 (40:30):
And we just had our finance meeting yesterday, and
the food that was collected lastyear was valued at 4.5 million.
That's right.
4.5 million dollars.
SPEAKER_01 (40:39):
Just from donated food.
SPEAKER_04 (40:40):
From donated food, yeah.
unknown (40:42):
Wow.
SPEAKER_01 (40:43):
Uh Lent is coming up, right?
So uh if they want to do aprogram during Lent, uh the meat
you don't eat on Friday, you canuh uh donate uh uh or make a
sacrifice, right?
Certainly.
SPEAKER_00 (40:55):
Yeah, yeah.
All right, well, great.
Well, I think we'll leave itthere.
Thank you, Helen.
Thank you, Carolyn, so much fora lot of things.
SPEAKER_01 (41:03):
Thanks, thanks.
Uh we'll look forward to keepingin contact and seeing how we
could you know help each otherand work together.
SPEAKER_04 (41:09):
We appreciate you being here and thank you for
your prayers and your continuedsupport of prayer.
SPEAKER_00 (41:16):
You got it.
SPEAKER_01 (41:16):
Yeah, thanks for having us.
Please pray for us too.
SPEAKER_04 (41:18):
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_00 (41:19):
And Bishop, before we close out, is it do you want
to reflect on any part of theconversation or anything to do
with um what happens here andthe other?
SPEAKER_01 (41:29):
Um uh Carol and I were speaking a little bit about
uh the recent challenges in ourMorristown community um with um
the immigrant population andsome of the activity that has
taken place, which um some ofthe fear is causing those uh
moms or families to uh be afraidto come out.
(41:50):
So that's another need for foodto be brought sometimes to um
our families.
We hope that people will be ableto feel comfortable enough to uh
come out and uh and and be ableto come here or to the churches.
Um so um that's something thatwe certainly pray for.
Um but um we see the some of thechallenges our people are
(42:10):
facing, right?
Um in at the moment.
SPEAKER_04 (42:12):
Yes.
And we've I just want to addressthat we've worked with our
communities and the families weserve, um, establish a great
deal of trust and are veryprotective of our clients'
identities and maintainconfidentiality with them.
(42:34):
So we are encouraging them toreach out to us and we will we
will serve the needed.
SPEAKER_01 (42:43):
Yes, right, yeah.
Um very important at the momentas we pray for all involved and
uh um our country and and forpeace.
And um, so um, yeah, somechallenging times for some of
our communities, especially ourimmigrant communities.
Uh but as we were also talkinguh, I think before we started,
that um sometimes in thosechallenging moments, that's when
(43:03):
we see people of goodness andgenerosity really stepping up,
right?
And uh and reaching out, and uhuh so um that's that's that's
encouraging um um certainly formyself and I think in our parish
and other organizations likehere, um we see a lot of people
of goodness, so um we'regrateful for them.
SPEAKER_00 (43:21):
Awesome.
And Bishop, before I I let yougo, any uh what else is going
on?
What do you what are youreading?
SPEAKER_01 (43:27):
I well I was on retreat last week, which was
really wonderful, and uh um uh Ifinally read uh one of Pope
Francis's most important workscalled Evangeli Gaudium, the joy
of the gospel.
Uh so that was um you might behearing more about that, but uh
um but also um I don't even knowif you heard Pope Leo has
recommended a book.
(43:47):
Um the I think reporters askedhim, and he said, I'll get back
to you.
Um and uh he said uh I told youI'd get back to you, and uh
there's a book called uh ThePractice of the Presence of God.
The practice of the presence ofGod by Brother Lawrence of the
Resurrection, I think in theeither 1200s or 1600s, a long
(44:09):
time ago, uh, before St.
Therese uh did talked aboutdoing little things with great
love.
Uh he was um he was in amonastery, but he was in the
kitchen.
He spent a lot of time in thekitchen.
So uh if uh for those who workwith food or um like to cook, um
uh but anyone interested, Ithink, in the in the spiritual
life, it's um it's a classicthat maybe hadn't been as well
(44:30):
known, but I think it's gonna begoing up on the uh bestseller
list.
So I'm about two-thirds of theway through it.
Um I I remember hearing about itand having a copy of it when I
was in the seminary.
I don't remember whether or notI had read it, um, but I'm
really happy to have had thechance to get back to it.
And uh if you're looking for alittle spiritual reading, uh The
Practice of the Presence of Godby Brother Lawrence, it'll be
(44:53):
easy to find because I thinkit's William Bulk gave it a good
bump.
SPEAKER_00 (44:58):
So yeah, it's trending today.
All right, well, thanks again,and thank you, Bishop.
And thank you all for joiningus.
Please subscribe, comment, andleave a positive rating.
Get to know us better byfollowing Bishop Kevin's
Instagram and beyond the beaconon social media.
Read the bishop's weekly columnon beaconnj.org and get in touch
if you have a question for thebishop or a podcast topic idea
(45:20):
and discover our other podcasts.
See you next time.
SPEAKER_01 (45:24):
Thanks, everybody.
God bless you.
Thanks again.
Thank you.
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