On Wednesday, March 19th, New Jersey Area Knights, Dames and volunteers gathered at Christ the King Church in New Vernon for our monthly Food Backpack Program. Following delivery of the food packages and books to Friendship Corner 2, a school tour was provided by its Director, Ms. Gloria Bodker.

This Signature NJ Area Ministry was started in May 2014 by Bob Sameth, KM and Sue Sameth, DM, who served as Paterson Diocese Area Hospitallers through 2024. The Ministry has been funded by a combination of both Local Area Project Support (LAPS) and NJ Area Supplemental Grants.

Each month, we assemble 135 packages with non-perishable food items to be brought home by 3-5 year-old youngsters in their backpacks. The assembled packages today are transported by our Malta Mobile Ministry van to this accredited pre-school program in Paterson operated by Catholic Family and Community Services, part of Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Paterson. These food packages, along with age-appropriate story books in both English and Spanish, are distributed to the children at the end of the month when family food stamp benefits often run out and supplemental nutrition is required.