I grew up in Verona in the halcyon days of the early fifties, attending F.N. Brown School, and enjoying all Verona had to offer, belonging to a Brownie troop, playing an instrument, participating in town activities.
What my school friends didn’t know at that time was that my family was struggling financially. My father was diagnosed with tuberculosis when I was three years old, and was sent to the Essex Mountain Sanatorium on Verona’s Hilltop to recover. Fortunately, it was a world-class facility right around the corner. It meant that my mother had to go back to work at a time when most moms were stay-at-home mothers. It also meant we had little income.
I remember eating cereal for dinner, and that fortunately we walked home for lunch so that no one knew what little food choices I had.
There were many kind people that helped us back then. A local grocer would often give day-old merchandise to my mother. We utilized the thrift shop as our primary source for clothing.
The reason for telling this secret now is that it is not uncommon for families in a town like Verona to be struggling today. Uncertain economic times, divorce, illness or the inability to find income that provides enough for a family can all contribute to this “hidden poverty.”
The United Way has coined an apt acronym to describe this: ALICE. ALICE stands for Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed. These families are struggling to make ends meet, and according to surveys in Suburban Essex there are 10,549 households struggling, accounting for 18% of the population. Although it may seem hard to believe, the number of ALICE households for Verona is at around 30%.
For a long time, I have had a dream to help those in our community who struggle. As a member of The Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit in Verona, which is located on Gould Street just across from the H.B. Whitehorne athletic fields, I have been involved in the Outreach Committee, helping programs in local communities.
Now, that dream to bring assistance to those in need in Verona is becoming a reality. Through a generous contribution made by Cardie Mortimer and his family, Holy Spirit now has a new kitchen, and a pantry to store goods for those in need. In April, we hope to begin this ministry by opening our food pantry one Saturday a month.
I share my story to encourage families in our community to contact us if they need help, even before the pantry opens. Contact the church at 973.239.2850 or email us at [email protected], and we will arrange for you to pick up essential food items. All inquiries will remain confidential.
We will need many hands to make this dream a reality. If you can donate non-perishable food items, would be willing to have your organization schedule a food drive, or are willing to volunteer to work a Saturday morning once we have a regular schedule, please contact us at [email protected].
Let’s not be ashamed of the circumstances we face, but use them as an opportunity to recognize that in this caring community no one should go hungry.
Thank you, Mary Garland, for sharing your story!
Please consider becoming an agency of the Community FoodBank of NJ…your dollars will go further. All Saints’ in Millington became a member in November 2015 and has distributed over 5000 lbs of food since then