Commitee Members: Lisa Stazak (Chair) | Joan Kegerize (Co-chair) | Ilse Wolfe | Pat Kibildis | Pat Mason | Ruth Muenzen | Lillie Bloomgren | Joan Desilets | Robert Neary | Linda Heitzman | Cathy Vonderahe | Debbie Gorin | Laura Aroune Mission: Helping neighbors down the road and around the world (use arrows to scroll through our causes) |
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Sparta ecumenical food pantry collection
Food that works
Even in Sussex County, one of the most affluent counties in NJ, over 11% of residents live below the poverty line.Our food banks are constantly at low levels and in need of fresh stock. In 2012 St. Mary's will be collecting food for donation helping participating families to get up to two bags of food each month. April 15th: Canned Chicken, Turkey and Tuna. Next month canned Veggies and Beans.
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haven of hope for kids
Country getaway for poorly kids
This program provides vacation breaks to families with children who have a life-threatening illness. Haven owns two homes it uses as accomodation. It's a non-profit, joint initiative of regional hospitals, the Valerie Fund, Camp Sunshine in Casco, Maine, the Diocese of Newark, local churches like St. Mary's and a whole bunch of dedicated volunteers. The children and families are selected by social workers from the hospitals and from Camp Sunshine
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Interfaith Hospitality Network
Building Communities, Strengthening Lives
A mother loses her job, a father is kept from working by an injury, a family is forced from their home by fire or natural disaster. Interfaith Hospitality Network brings the faith community together to help families regain their housing, their independence, and their dignity. IHN is a partnership of congregations, like St. Mary's, helping families who are facing homelessness. It offers an opportunity for volunteers of all faiths to reduce homelessness and transform lives.
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Eric Johnson House
New Jersey AIDS Services, Inc. (NJAS)
In 1990, a young man named Eric Johnson died from AIDS and a community was mobilized into action. In 1994, the Eric Johnson House, a transitional housing program for homeless men and women living with HIV/AIDS, was dedicated in his memory. In 2009 the organization changed their agency name to New Jersey AIDS Services, Inc. (NJAS) to fully encompass the range of services provided. To date, over 220 people have resided in the Eric Johnson House.
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Knoll Heights
Project Thanks
Each year St. Mary's parishioners deliver and serve a Thanksgiving lunch for the senior citizens of the Knoll Heights community in Sparta. In the late 60's, St Mary's was part of an Ecumenical Council that in a dramatic action of cooperation, organized two coporations to purchase 21 acres to build the Knoll Heights senior citizen Housing community. $42 million in state and federal loans was secured to build the 150 apartments.
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Manna House
The Soup Kitchen of Sussex County
St. Mary's parishioners help prepare meals that feed the homeless, elderly, mentally ill, the lonely, the poor of pocket and the poor of spirit as well as those who fall between the "cracks" for public assistance. Manna House is a place of hospitality, where one can nourish the body with food, and the spirit with respect and dignity.
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