Dear Friends,
 
 
"I wanted to thank you from my heart for all the times you came to my home and fed me. I praise God that you are all down there helping people in this way. Thank you so much for caring. It meant a lot to me."
 
 
This message is from Brenda.  She has been one of our home delivery clients for several years and just relocated to live with family.  Thanks to all of you, St. Joseph Social Service Center has been able to provide her not just with food, but also with conversation, connection, and compassion.  Many acts of kindness have been shared with Brenda – from the volunteers who call to obtain her “order”, from those who have delivered the food, from the Giving Tree participants involved in her Christmas gifts, and from all of the volunteers, donors, and staff who contribute to the work of St. Joseph’s.

It’s hard to believe we have been through 2 years of this pandemic.  Despite the many challenges we have all faced, we are grateful for the support from our community.  This has been especially difficult for those who depend on St. Joseph’s for food, as we have had to ask them to stand outside during all kinds of weather just to feed their families.  We look forward to welcoming our neighbors back inside very soon!

Thanks to you, St. Joseph Social Service Center is a place where our sisters and brothers can receive help when they need it.  Here are just a few highlights of what you helped us do last year:

• Distribute 1,000,000 pounds of food, including 250,000 pounds of fresh produce.
• Collect, pack and distribute 500 bags of “hotel friendly” food for victims of Hurricane Ida.
• Deliver food to 50 homebound or Covid impacted households - and offer conversation and choice by calling to see which foods the individuals prefer.

• Host Covid testing and vaccine clinics. 
• Help a victim of human trafficking obtain shelter, food, clothing, and counseling.
• Feed, clothe, and accompany a mentally ill homeless man over to the Trinitas Behavioral Health center for admission.
• Counsel and coach a young woman whose father died of Covid. 
• Find a bed and provide transportation to a substance abuse rehabilitation facility for a man who showed up in tears one morning.  He came to St. Joseph’s because he was ashamed to ask his family for help.

 
As we continue to pray and hope for a healthy and peaceful world, we look forward to resuming and expanding services that we had to put on hold.  Everything that happens at St. Joseph’s is thanks to the generosity of supporters like you.  
 
We hope that you are able to support our annual appeal in any of the following ways:

• Mail a check to the address below or donate using the "Donate" button below
• Make a monthly gift to sustain our work
• Donate directly from your IRA to qualify for your Required Minimum Distribution
• Donate from a Donor Advised Fund or Charitable Trust
• Donate stock or securities (please email ecruz@sjeliz.org for details)
• Leave a legacy gift in your estate plan
• Make a gift in honor or memory of a loved one

 
As Brenda said, “Thank you for caring.”  Thank you for sharing your blessings in so many ways. 

With gratitude,

---

Bernadette Murphy
Executive Director

Please Note: Due to credit card processing costs, the minimum online donation is $10.


​Make a Donation by Mail
Send your check to:
St. Joseph Social Service Center, 118 Division St., Elizabeth, NJ 07201

For a form to make a donation by mail, click here »


​Donate Food or Goods