Our Progress
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The Capital Campaign for St. Joseph's has enabled us to have successfully raised the necessary funds to:
- build a new food pantry building
- build a new clothing and household goods distribution center
- renovate the existing buildings on the property
- reconfigure and repave the parking lot.
Collectively, these projects will transform the facilities of St. Joseph Social Service Center. This plan will make it possible for the agency to improve services and to accommodate the increase in the number of residents who seek the agency’s assistance.
We could not have done this without your generosity! Progress on this project will be documented here - please check back often to see the fruits of your support come to life!
- build a new food pantry building
- build a new clothing and household goods distribution center
- renovate the existing buildings on the property
- reconfigure and repave the parking lot.
Collectively, these projects will transform the facilities of St. Joseph Social Service Center. This plan will make it possible for the agency to improve services and to accommodate the increase in the number of residents who seek the agency’s assistance.
We could not have done this without your generosity! Progress on this project will be documented here - please check back often to see the fruits of your support come to life!
March 25, 2024 Update
St. Joseph Social Service Center Showcases New Food Pantry and Clothing Buildings
St. Joseph Social Service Center Showcases New Food Pantry and Clothing Buildings
The St. Joseph’s community, encompassing residents from Elizabeth and volunteers and supporters from five counties in New Jersey, came together on February 24 to celebrate the opening of two new buildings on its campus. The new food pantry building is already in use, and the second building will ultimately be used for clothing distribution. The cold weather was no match for the warm spirit of compassion and caring that animated the event and has guided the agency for the past 38 years. All in attendance toured the new buildings and participated in a moving dedication ceremony that concluded with an uplifting blessing offered by Father Anthony Randazzo of Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church in Westfield.
The two new buildings represent the first phase of an ambitious capital improvement plan to improve and expand services to families and children in need in Elizabeth and to fulfill St. Joseph’s vision to serve those experiencing homelessness and poverty with dignity. The new food pantry building will allow St. Joseph’s to offer a better food pantry model – an individual choice food pantry. With this model, clients will come at an appointed time and will be able to choose their food based on their personal and cultural preferences. The new clothing building will be used as temporary program space during the next phase of renovations and ultimately will be used to offer clothing and home goods in a more dignified environment. “Dignity has been a core value of the agency since our founding in 1986,” noted Bernadette Murphy, Executive Director. “Our goal is to help people acquire the material items they need to live with dignity. We believe that it is vital for our clients to receive food, clothing, supplies and support services in an environment that fosters dignity, where individuals experiencing poverty and homelessness are truly welcomed as sisters and brothers.” Daisy Trocan, a member of the Board of Trustees, spoke at the dedication event about what these new buildings will mean to Elizabeth residents. As a child her family relied on support from the agency during difficult times. “The love and support my family received from St. Joseph’s meant so much to us,” Trocan reflected.
Harold “Kess” Kessler, who has overseen the capital improvement plan from its inception several years ago, remarked that work has already begun on the second phase of the construction plan. Over the next year, the main hall on campus will be transformed into a multipurpose space with private offices for mental health counseling and case management services, new facilities for the soup kitchen program, spaces for the Adult Learning Center and health and nutrition workshops and diagnostic testing, and a reception area where residents can obtain information about agency programs and community services. Karen Maher, President of the Board of Trustees, noted that these new spaces will “allow the agency to expand services to the community, particularly in the areas of physical and behavioral health.”
Six days a week a dedicated team of 6,000 volunteers from Elizabeth, Union, Westfield, Cranford, Mountainside and dozens of other communities, make sandwiches for the hungry in their kitchens, bring food, clothing and home goods, serve meals at the soup kitchen and help with the operations of the agency. St. Joseph’s serves over 3,500 individuals annually. The organization helps Elizabeth residents access food, medicine, mental health counseling, adult education, clothing and a myriad of additional healthcare and support services.
The St. Joseph’s community, encompassing residents from Elizabeth and volunteers and supporters from five counties in New Jersey, came together on February 24 to celebrate the opening of two new buildings on its campus. The new food pantry building is already in use, and the second building will ultimately be used for clothing distribution. The cold weather was no match for the warm spirit of compassion and caring that animated the event and has guided the agency for the past 38 years. All in attendance toured the new buildings and participated in a moving dedication ceremony that concluded with an uplifting blessing offered by Father Anthony Randazzo of Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church in Westfield.
The two new buildings represent the first phase of an ambitious capital improvement plan to improve and expand services to families and children in need in Elizabeth and to fulfill St. Joseph’s vision to serve those experiencing homelessness and poverty with dignity. The new food pantry building will allow St. Joseph’s to offer a better food pantry model – an individual choice food pantry. With this model, clients will come at an appointed time and will be able to choose their food based on their personal and cultural preferences. The new clothing building will be used as temporary program space during the next phase of renovations and ultimately will be used to offer clothing and home goods in a more dignified environment. “Dignity has been a core value of the agency since our founding in 1986,” noted Bernadette Murphy, Executive Director. “Our goal is to help people acquire the material items they need to live with dignity. We believe that it is vital for our clients to receive food, clothing, supplies and support services in an environment that fosters dignity, where individuals experiencing poverty and homelessness are truly welcomed as sisters and brothers.” Daisy Trocan, a member of the Board of Trustees, spoke at the dedication event about what these new buildings will mean to Elizabeth residents. As a child her family relied on support from the agency during difficult times. “The love and support my family received from St. Joseph’s meant so much to us,” Trocan reflected.
Harold “Kess” Kessler, who has overseen the capital improvement plan from its inception several years ago, remarked that work has already begun on the second phase of the construction plan. Over the next year, the main hall on campus will be transformed into a multipurpose space with private offices for mental health counseling and case management services, new facilities for the soup kitchen program, spaces for the Adult Learning Center and health and nutrition workshops and diagnostic testing, and a reception area where residents can obtain information about agency programs and community services. Karen Maher, President of the Board of Trustees, noted that these new spaces will “allow the agency to expand services to the community, particularly in the areas of physical and behavioral health.”
Six days a week a dedicated team of 6,000 volunteers from Elizabeth, Union, Westfield, Cranford, Mountainside and dozens of other communities, make sandwiches for the hungry in their kitchens, bring food, clothing and home goods, serve meals at the soup kitchen and help with the operations of the agency. St. Joseph’s serves over 3,500 individuals annually. The organization helps Elizabeth residents access food, medicine, mental health counseling, adult education, clothing and a myriad of additional healthcare and support services.
Photos From Our Open House
January 11, 2024 Update
Phase 1 is Complete!
Thank you to everyone who helped make our dreams come true! We have just received the Certificate of Occupancy on our new buildings and we are very excited to begin using them. We look forward to serving our community with more dignity as we transition into the new spaces.
Plans for Phase 2 are underway, and we hope to begin renovating the hall in the spring. Since we will need to use the new clothing building for “swing” space, we are still not accepting used clothing.
Phase 1 is Complete!
Thank you to everyone who helped make our dreams come true! We have just received the Certificate of Occupancy on our new buildings and we are very excited to begin using them. We look forward to serving our community with more dignity as we transition into the new spaces.
Plans for Phase 2 are underway, and we hope to begin renovating the hall in the spring. Since we will need to use the new clothing building for “swing” space, we are still not accepting used clothing.
October 4, 2023 Update
The contractors have been working on the storm water management system and connecting the sewer and gas lines. Equipment has been delivered for the food building, and the HVAC is being installed. The excitement continues!
The contractors have been working on the storm water management system and connecting the sewer and gas lines. Equipment has been delivered for the food building, and the HVAC is being installed. The excitement continues!
June 14, 2023 Update
The assembly of our two new buildings is well underway! We are so pleased with our progress and are so grateful for your support.
The assembly of our two new buildings is well underway! We are so pleased with our progress and are so grateful for your support.
May 25, 2023 Update
Construction is underway at St. Joseph's! The site has been prepared and our two new buildings were delivered today. Assembly will begin next week. We will share updates as the work progresses. THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to this effort! We are so grateful for your support.
Construction is underway at St. Joseph's! The site has been prepared and our two new buildings were delivered today. Assembly will begin next week. We will share updates as the work progresses. THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to this effort! We are so grateful for your support.
April 4, 2023 - Pictures From Our Groundbreaking