At the observance of the feast day of St. John the Baptist on Sunday, June 26, 2022, Bob and Sue Sameth, KM/DM were recognized by the Order of Malta in Rome and the Grand Chancellor for their continuing efforts through their Backpack Ministry to provide sustenance for nutrition-challenged youngsters throughout the COVID isolation period.

Once a month members gathered at Christ the King Parish to fill 240 backpacks of non-perishable food items for three-to-five-year-old youngsters. The bags are then transported to a daycare center in Paterson where they are distributed to the children at the end of the month when family food stamp benefits may run out and supplemental nutrition is required.