Manna House bringing holiday joy to children Marlboro councilwoman volunteers her time as a baby sitter BY MICHELLE ROSENBERG Staff Writer Patti Morelli ABERDEEN — This year, Manna House will help spread holiday joy to nine children of homeless single mothers. Manna House, which runs a nine-month program to help these mothers function in society, will host a Christmas party on Dec. 15 at the First Light Baptist Church, Cliffwood Beach. The children will receive gifts from Santa Claus. “It really means so much to them. These are kids that have never seen Santa Claus,” said Patti Morelli, a Manna House volunteer. Morelli, who is a member of the Marlboro Township Council, has been volunteering as a baby sitter with the program for three years. She watches the children while their mothers go to school or attend job training. This is the third Christmas party she is organizing for the youngsters in the shelter. Morelli finds volunteers to buy Christmas presents for the children in the shelter. She gives one child’s name and background information to a volunteer, who then buys the child a minimum of two outfits, a pair of pajamas and a toy that is recommended by Morelli or the child’s mother. Morelli also collects monetary donations that she uses to purchase coats, sneakers, dress shoes, books and other items she finds appropriate. All the presents get wrapped up and are distributed to the children by Santa Claus at the Christmas party. This year’s holiday festivities will feature a magician to entertain the children, provided by the Matawan law firm of Cleary, Alfieri and Grasso. The Cliffwood Beach-based Manna House was founded in 1987 and has helped more than 130 single mothers make the transition from having to depend on welfare to becoming contributing members of society. Each woman must have at least one child to qualify for the Manna House program. For nine months, the women are provided a home for themselves and their children. During that time they participate in a four-phase program that teaches various skills including parenting, budgeting, anger management, on-site computer training and how to have a successful job interview. In addition to the annual Christmas party, Manna House has two other celebrations during the year — an Easter party, and a graduation in which the women who have worked hard throughout the nine-month program move out to begin life on their own. After graduation, all the women are given support, encouragement and guidance by those associated with Manna House. Manna House is currently collecting donations to start an after-graduate program for the women and their families, Morelli said. The program, which is being organized by Manna House Administrator Sue Ralph, is designed to help the women who do not have a support system, Morelli said. Many of the women were never taught how to clean, how to take care of their children, or how to take care of themselves, and Manna House works to teach them those skills, Morelli said. “I wanted to do something the minute I saw Manna House. I loved it. I love that the mothers are getting so much help,” she said. Morelli also said that donations of all kinds are appreciated. “There is so much more than checks that businesses can do. A computer would make a little boy so happy,” she said. To learn more about Manna House or to become a volunteer, call (732) 566-8774. Donations can be mailed to Monmouth Neighborhood Housing, Manna House, P.O. Box 84, Cliffwood Beach 07735.