Cents-Ability Grants in Monmouth Presbytery

The Cents-Ability Grants Committee—a group made up of representatives from every congregation that participates in the program—had done its homework. There was a committee charter, guidelines for grants, an application form, and requests for funding from hunger ministries within the bounds of the Presbytery. They lit a candle to remind them of Jesus’ presence, prayed for guidance, checked on how much money was available, and discussed each application with care. By the end of the meeting, a consensus had been reached and grants totaling $4,250 ma de to The Christian Caring Center, Forked River Hunger Action Team’s Summer Program, the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, Lunch Break, The Center in Asbury Park, St. Gregory’s Pantry in Point Pleasant, Jamesburg Presbyterian Church Deacons Food Cupboard, and the Samaritan Center. We thank God for the faithfulness and stewardship of the committee, for the gifts that came from so many, and the ministries that will be made possible from all those pennies!

The Christian Caring Center –Pemberton: $1,000. This program serves Continental breakfast and a hot cooked lunch 6 days/week. They also go out to the woods on Wednesdays and Fridays to a population that lives there. They bring lunch, talk to them about services available to them and offer support. In 2007 12, 976 meals were served. In addition, this program offers homeless survival kits: pop top can goods, non cooking foods, fruit juices, crackers, etc. They are also working to help individuals escape from welfare dependency and achieve economic self-dependency; as well as reduce the incidence of Hunger in Burlington County caused by lack of adequate food and nutrition.

Forked River Presbyterian Church – Hunger Action Team Summer Program: $400. This is a new program at Forked River, aimed at providing fresh produce to the hungry and breakfast/lunch bags for children – once a month from June-September. They have identified a specific need during the summer months – the children who normally receive free or reduced breakfast/lunch at school, are without that supplement during the summer months. They hope to expand this program as time goes on.

Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean County - $500. The Food Bank distributes to food pantries throughout Monmouth and Ocean Counties. As such, they are affiliated with America’s Second Harvest, a program which not only addresses hunger, but also waste of food products, and the root causes of hunger, and how we can begin to alleviate them.

St. Gregory’s Pantry (Point Pleasant): $1000. An emergency food pantry, which operates year round, serving families in need in the greater Point Pleasant area. St. Gregory’s gives temporary aid (a 4 day supply of food and personal items) to approximately 1200 individuals annually. 200-250 additional families are assisted during the holidays. They serve the elderly, young single mothers, persons with illness or disability, and low-income working families.

Lunch Break (Red Bank): $300. Monmouth County’s first “soup kitchen” this organization provides free hot and nutritious lunches Monday-Friday to 60 – 100 men, women and children. More than 20 lunches are taken to the homebound. Social, Medical and legal services are available on site. Clothing, baby supplies and special food baskets are also offered throughout the year. On a yearly basis, Lunch Break serves over 24,000 people.

The Center in Asbury Park: $300. The Center serves over 50 hot lunches to those afflicted with HIV/AIDS living in Monmouth and Ocean Counties. The Center also houses 25 formerly homeless individuals on site. Their volunteers offer love and support to these neediest of people.

Jamesburg Presbyterian Church – Deacons Food Cupboard: $250. The Food Cupboard is currently expanding its operation to a handicapped accessible facility. The grant will assist in completing the relocation.

Samaritan Center, Inc.(Manalapan-Englishtown): $500. This food bank serves working poor families by providing supplemental weekly groceries, as well as school supplies for children, and holiday food baskets. The program provides basic needs for approximately 83 families – 70% of whom cannot get help from other social services organizations because they make too much money.