Presbyterian Church Donates $8,000 Towards Hunger Relief

The economic impact of COVID continues to devastate many in our surrounding communities as people are struggling to feed their families. About four in 10 people in New Jersey have visited food banks this year, and more than 1.2 million New Jerseyans are food insecure. Throughout the Easter season of hope, The Presbyterian Church of Chatham Township (PCCT) offered a way for its congregation to “pay it forward” by creating a Hunger Relief Fund. Through individual donations and church contributions, the congregation raised $8,000 that was shared among the following local agencies:

• Community Food Bank of New Jersey is the State’s largest foodbank. Food donations are received in bulk and are then packaged up for distribution to local soup kitchens and pantries.
• Nourish.nj offers food, housing, work readiness, medical, social and educational services. Their Free Farmers Market provides fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy and meat for guests several times each week.
• Interfaith Food Pantry Network provides nutritious food, education and resources to Morris County families in need.
• The First Baptist Church of Madison operates a food pantry that is open to the public on Saturday mornings.
• Helping Hands of Chatham provides assistance to families via $25 gift cards from Shop Rite. Cards are distributed on Wednesdays at the Chatham United Methodist Church, where a food pantry is also located and is operational 24/7. Boxes of fresh produce are also available for pickup on Wednesdays.

"Our congregation has a long history of reaching out to our community through acts of love and kindness,” said Senior Pastor Ellen Clemot of The Presbyterian Church of Chatham Township. “The Hunger Relief Fund is one example of our members stepping up to fill an immediate need to help the hungry in our local community, especially after recognizing the staggering numbers of food insecure people living in our state. Timing of the Hunger Relief Fund was also a factor as we saw the arrival of stimulus checks as an opportunity to help others by paying it forward and supporting our partner organizations."

The Presbyterian Church of Chatham Township is a vibrant, multi-generational congregation that celebrates the glory of God through faith, fellowship and service. Drawing members from across the state and the nation by livestream, and from more than 20 communities locally, it welcomes all, whether you are a young family, a single adult, or a couple with grown children. The congregation reflects diverse perspectives, provides rich music and education programs for all ages, and through social outreach addresses hunger, homelessness, and recovery from disasters or other crises. Follow PCCT on Facebook and Instagram to see the church in action. For more information, visit http://www.pcct-nj.org or call 973-635-2340.