Morristown walk for soup kitchen takes bite out of hunger; jobs fair set for Oct. 22

Volunteers Julia Trzesniowski, 12, of Chester and Chloe Hession, 12, of Long Valley, at Hunger Walk 2014 in Morristown. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Volunteers Julia Trzesniowski, 12, of Chester and Chloe Hession, 12, of Long Valley, at Hunger Walk 2014 in Morristown. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
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Aerial view of the 2014 Hunger Walk. Photo by the Rev. Cynthia Black.
Aerial view of the 2014 Hunger Walk. Photo by the Rev. Cynthia Black.

Some 950 people took to the streets of Morristown on Sunday for the 18th annual Hunger Walk, which raised upwards of $77,000 for the Community Soup Kitchen and Outreach Center, said its executive director.

JUMPING FOR JOY:  Mime entertains at the 2014 Hunger Walk in Morristown. Photo by the Rev. Cynthia Black
JUMPING FOR JOY: Mime entertains at the 2014 Hunger Walk in Morristown. Photo by the Rev. Cynthia Black

Teresa Connolly said the money will be put to good use: Demand for meals has been growing at the soup kitchen, which began serving breakfasts in addition to lunches last spring.

“The need has been climbing the last few months. A lot more people are having trouble with food stamps.  It’s taking a long time for re-certification of food stamps,” Teresa said on a blustery Sunday afternoon, as a sea of hunger-walkers in brightly clad t-shirts set out from the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer on South Street.

Photos by Bill Lescohier, the Rev. Cynthia Black and Kevin Coughlin. Please click icon below for captions.

Teresa said the state did not renew its participation in the federal “Heat and Eat” program, which had qualified people automatically for food stamps if they were receiving assistance with their energy bills.

“Some people are down from $135 a month [in food stamps] to $15 a month,” she said. “We’re seeing a lot of seniors.”

The nonprofit was hoping the final numbers for the Hunger Walk would approach last year’s donations, which totaled about $100,000, Teresa said.

That’s enough money to provide about 18,000 meals, she said.

JOB FAIR

As part of its outreach mission, meanwhile, the soup kitchen will host its 11th annual Morris County Job Fair, from 1:30 pm to 3 pm on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014, in the dining room of Redeemer, at 36 South St.

It’s free of charge to all job-seekers and no advance registration is required. Employers who will be represented include Walmart, UPS, Atlantic Health System, TD Bank, Investors Bank, MY LiMO, Loving Care Agency Inc., and Toys R Us.

The County College of Morris and Morris County School of Technology will provide information about their courses, and help with resume writing and interviewing skills also will be available. Employers wishing to participate should contact Lois Nichols at 973-267-0709 x. 204.

 MORE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY SOUP KITCHEN

Volunteers Julia Trzesniowski, 12, of Chester and Chloe Hession, 12, of Long Valley, members of the Community Soup Kitchen Youth Council, at Hunger Walk 2014 in Morristown. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Volunteers Julia Trzesniowski, 12, of Chester and Chloe Hession, 12, of Long Valley, members of the Community Soup Kitchen Youth Council, at Hunger Walk 2014 in Morristown. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

 

Hunger Walk story stations reminded walkers about hard times facing many Americans. Photo by Bill Lescohier
Hunger Walk story stations reminded walkers about hard times facing many Americans. Photo by Bill Lescohier

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