Volunteers and Staff from New Destiny in partnership with the Community Food Bank of New Jersey collaborated to provide much needed food relief to some of our most vulnerable and beloved community members. Bright and early on Monday, April 27, 2020, Volunteers and Staff from New Destiny (NDFSC) gathered in the community room of a Paterson Senior building to distribute food boxes door to door. Over 75 residents received a two-week food supply. Boxes of food contained pantry necessities such as ready-to-eat, boxed cereals and milk, 100% fruit juices, bags of rice and reduced-fat cheese to canned tuna and vegetables. During COVID-19, extended family members that might otherwise meet some of the residents’ food needs were limited in their ability to travel and visit their loved ones. New Destiny Staff and volunteers took the initiative to say, we are here for you! Partnership and collaboration from organizations, staff, and volunteers show that even in crisis, we can make a difference. All who took part in the day’s relief took every safety and health precaution, maintaining social distance, wearing surgical masks and gloves. Residents who requested help in placing boxes in their apartments were accommodated. “I volunteered because I love giving back to the community. It brings me an unexplainable joy when I can help out”, expressed Volunteer, Dominique Edwards. This was the exact sentiment experienced by all who gave of their time for such a worthy initiative championed by New Destiny. Executive Director, Carolyn McCombs shared, “it gives us a feeling of gratefulness to know that we can be a blessing to senior members of our community.” The icing on the top of this opportunity was the special article in Tapinto Local news which featured New Destiny’s volunteers and staff in delivering their act of kindness. The link for the article is attached below https://www.tapinto.net/towns/paterson/sections/giving-back/articles/new-destiny-family-success-centers-provides-food-to-city-seniors.
