The North Porch Ministry at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Morristown is excited to announce this week’s opening of a satellite facility of the North Porch Women and Infants Center at St. Peter’s Parish House.
North Porch fills the gap in emergency situations when needy families are displaced or have shortfalls in their budget. North Porch will provide diapers, formula, baby food, wipes and toiletry items.
“This is a big day for us” said Rev. Kohn-Perry, North Porch board president. “We are thrilled to begin this partnership with St. Peter’s.”
Morristown has a lot of families in need. Before this, the nearest North Porch Center was in Dover creating a hardship for families without access to transportation, also limiting their ability to shop at warehouse and discount stores.
Using cloth diapers is not an option for many of the families because coin-operated laundromats do not allow customers to wash cloth diapers due to sanitation concerns. There is a concern that because of income constraints the life of disposable diapers is extended, often leading to rash, staph and urinary tract infections.
The opening of Morristown’s North Porch was supported by the Community Church of Mountain Lakes, which ran a month-long campaign collecting diapers, formula and other emergency supplies. The Community Church of Mountain Lakes has a long history of serving the wider community.
“Participating in the Plus One Campaign for baby supplies gives us an opportunity to live our faith by caring for God’s little ones just down the street,” said the Rev. Dr. Debra Duke of Community Church.
North Porch also received a $1,000 grant from The Town Club of Mountain Lakes, to help support the opening of the Morristown center. The Town Club awards grants annually to local non-profit organizations that build community.
North Porch has centers in Newark, Paterson and Dover, as well as Satellite Centers in Hackettstown, and now Morristown at St. Peter’s, under the direction of Jayne Murphy Morris.
North Porch is governed by a volunteer board of trustees. Clients are vetted and referred to North Porch by social service agencies registered with the organization as well as religious organizations. Approved clients are able to visit North Porch to receive one week’s supply of diapers, wipes, formula, baby food and toiletries.
North Porch Women & Infants’ Center is a 501(c) 3 Ministry of the Diocese of Newark. We are supported by private donations both monetary and in-kind. Donations to North Porch are tax deductible and, for many donors may qualify for company matching gift programs. Donations can be made through their website www.northporch.com.
To learn how your organization or parish can coordinate a campaign to support North Porch please contact Board member, Dicki Lulay at 973-644-0246.
For additional information about St. Peter’s North Porch Satellite Center, contact Jayne Murphy Morris, program director, 973-537-0392.
