Food, shelter to be offered in Freehold
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer

FREEHOLD — Members of local clergy will once again open their arms and their doors to help those in need.

A sanctuary program for those in need will once again be offered in the borough this winter. The program offers food and hot beverages for those who need it from January through March.

According to a press release, this will mark the third year a program that provides food and hot beverages several days a week has been sponsored and implemented by local religious organizations and volunteers.

The sanctuary program will begin on Jan. 6 and run through March 17.

“The key to the program is volunteers,” said Sandra Whitehill, volunteer coordinator. “It is always more difficult to attract volunteers during the week. I am recruiting from my own church, the First Presbyterian Church of Freehold, and any and all other congregations and organizations.

“We are very excited to assist the needy in our community,” Whitehill said. “Seasonal work slows down in the winter and our goal is to help those struggling to provide a few extra meals a week to their families. There are some weeks when some residents may be struggling to put food on their table.”

The sanctuary program, although provided primarily for the borough’s population of immigrant day laborers, offers a safe haven and food to anyone in need.

The program will begin at the Reformed Church of Freehold, 67 W. Main Street. This church will host the sanctuary program, including breakfast and lunch, every Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon.

The First United Methodist Church, 91 W. Main Street, will provide breakfast every Tuesday from 8-10 a.m. beginning Jan. 9.

The intention of the civic organizations involved is to expand the program to a third day once more volunteers are recruited.

The Freehold Jewish Center, 59 Broad Street, has agreed to participate for the second year in a row on Thursday mornings but, according to Whitehill, the program needs more volunteers to staff that location.

“We are in desperate need of volunteers,” Whitehill said. “We know they are out there, they just don’t know it yet.”

The Rev. Ricky Pierce, executive director of the I Beseech Thee Community Development Corporation, said his organization is seeking contributions to fund the program.

“We are called to serve all of God’s children,” Pierce said. “We pray that this program will ease the suffering of those less fortunate and looking for a temporary escape from the cold.”

Borough resident Frank-Argote Freyre, along with Robert Cory

and Joseph Delengyel, travel to the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties in Neptune on a regular basis to pick up food and deliver it to the appointed location for guests.

Steve Richter, who recently moved from the borough to Philadelphia, has been involved in the program since it began. Richter said he believes in the program so much he is still helping to coordinate the effort long distance.

“Work slows down at this time of year and it becomes very difficult for some people to put food on the table. We are trying to help them during this slow period by providing shelter and food.

“It is one more effort for longtime borough residents to meet and interact with our newest neighbors,” Richter said.

According to Richter, last year’s sanctuary program provided food and hot beverages for 85 to 150 people per day.

Anyone who wishes to contribute money or food (canned goods and/or nonperishable items) may bring or send their donations to the I Beseech Thee Community Development Corporation, 13 Throckmorton St., Freehold 07728.

Anyone who is interested in helping to staff a sanctuary location may call Sandra Whitehill at (732) 984-1424.