Samaritan Center to get new space in Manalapan
Social services agency is losing lease at Englishtown location
BY KATHY BARATTA
Staff Writer

MANALAPAN - It's Manalapan to the rescue as municipal officials work to effect an 11th-hour save for the Samaritan Center.

The Samaritan Center is a full-time food pantry and crisis center that has served the Manalapan-Englishtown area for 20 years. The center's director announced several months ago that the organization's lease for space in a building on Harrison Avenue, Englishtown, would not be renewed when it expires on Dec. 31.

That turn of events left the future of the organization in doubt, but now it appears Manalapan officials may have found a solution that will keep the Samaritan Center alive.

Samaritan Center Director Carol Puorro said she was elated if not altogether surprised when she heard that township officials may have found some space for the organization.

An ebullient Puorro said, "They came through for us and it looks like they saved the day. Manalapan has always been good to the Samaritan Center."

Puorro, a Manalapan resident for more than 30 years, has been the director of the center since its beginnings.

And speaking of "beginnings," Puorro recalled it was Manalapan's donation of more than 14 acres that made possible the development of the 87-unit New Beginnings affordable housing subdivision that the Samaritan Center built just outside of Englishtown.

"Towns didn't do things like that then but Manalapan did," she said of the donation of property.

Township Committee members have instructed assistant township administrator Tara Lovrich to meet with the individuals necessary to effect a transition from the Samaritan Center's present location in Englishtown to two rooms in a building behind the senior center on Route 522.

The directive was prompted by a request at the committee's Nov. 8 meeting from former Manalapan mayor Anthony Morelli, who asked officials to help provide temporary quarters for Samaritan Center.

Morelli said the Samaritan Center expects to need the temporary quarters for about six months during which time the organization will be working to secure a permanent location and lease. He said it has been difficult for the Samaritan Center to find a new home due to the high rents being asked for Manalapan real estate.

Morelli said the work of the Samaritan Center is important to the 430 families it serves through its many programs. He said Manalapan could not afford to lose the center as a resource.

The committee members were unanimous in their recognition of the importance of the Samaritan Center being able to continue its service to residents and their commitment to give the center a home until a permanent location can be found.

According to Puorro, help from the Samaritan Center comes in many forms, from providing food to helping to pay utility bills.

Puorro said the Samaritan Center has always operated on donations from area businesses and sponsors, as well as donations from individuals and groups, national organizations like the United Way, and local philanthropic endeavors like the Manalapan Yorktowne Club's annual "Walk With Joe" fundraiser. She said all money donated to the Samaritan Center goes toward programs and not to administrative costs.