Reverend Brown Students Make a Donation to the Project Self-Sufficiency Food Pantry

Students at the Reverend Brown School recently gathered boxes and bags of non-perishable food items for the pantry at Project Self-Sufficiency as part of the school’s Extending Hands initiative.  The effort, initiated and coordinated by Reverend Brown staff member Monica Carelli, collects food donations throughout the school year and rotates donations among area food pantries each month.  Project Self-Sufficiency was chosen to receive donations during November to coincide with the agency’s Thanksgiving food basket distribution to hundreds of local families.

“Our Thanksgiving food drive for Project Self-Sufficiency was a wonderful collaboration between our Kids Take Action Club and our Extending Hands program,” explains Reverend Brown Science Coordinator Patricia Quinn.  “The students of Reverend Brown really embraced this outreach project to help feed local families.”

The school has made an annual donation to Project Self-Sufficiency’s Thanksgiving food drive for many years, recalls Carelli.  “Every month, the children in our school are responsible for bring in one item needed by the selected food pantry.  So far, we have helped The Samaritan Inn, First Presbyterian Church of Sparta, Project Self Sufficiency and Saint Joseph's Food Pantry.  There are so many people that need help within our county, I'm hoping our school can somehow make a difference in their lives.”

Project Self-Sufficiency accepts donations of non-perishable food items all year long for distribution to agency participants.  “Hunger is a pervasive issue in our community and Project Self-Sufficiency is fortunate to offer several ways to address this situation, including our community gardens, the Jolin Food Box program and our own, on-site food pantry,” explains Deborah Berry-Toon, Project Self-Sufficiency’s Executive Director.  “With Reverend Brown’s food donation, we see the impact children can have on other children right here in their own backyard.  We are exceptionally grateful.”

Non-profit agency Project Self-Sufficiency is celebrating its 30^th year of service to families in northwestern New Jersey.  The agency’s mission is to provide a broad spectrum of holistic, respectful, and comprehensive services enabling low-income single parents, teen parents, two-parent families, and displaced homemakers to achieve personal and economic self-sufficiency, family stability, and to improve their lives and the lives of their children.  The agency offers a supportive family-centered environment where life issues are addressed through a combination of individual counseling, peer support groups, case management services, parenting skills training, life skills management training, home visits, childcare and early childhood education, family activities and health education.  

For more information about contributing to the food pantry, or any of the other programs offered by Project Self-Sufficiency, call 973-940-3500 or 844-807-3500, or visit www.projectselfsufficiency.org.