St. Joseph Catholic Church food drive organizers Bill and Bette Keller fill up their SUV with donations.
As the holiday season begins to unfold, St. Joseph Catholic Church in Sea Isle City is doing more than spreading Christmas cheer.
The church is helping the community stay fed by collecting canned goods and non-perishable items during its monthly food drive.
The church accepts food donations at the Parish Life Center on 44th Street on the first Thursday of each month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The food drive is run by Bette Keller, an organizer at St. Joseph and outreach specialist for the Catholic Daughters, along with her husband, Bill Keller.
“We knew there was a need. There were a lot of hungry people,” Bette Keller said in an interview Thursday. “Just because we live on the shore, doesn’t mean there aren’t hungry people in the area. We've been fortunate all our lives and want to give back. The goal is to give people dignity.”
Food donations are dropped off at St. Joseph's Parish Center.Bette Keller started the monthly food drive during the COVID-19 pandemic. She said prior to the pandemic in 2019, parish members would meet together to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for donation. When the pandemic no longer allowed them to meet in person, she decided to start the food drive.
“Our community couldn't meet inside anymore, but we knew people were still hungry, so we started collecting food in the parking lot,” she explained. “Since then, we’ve averaged three carloads of donations each month.”
The Kellers said they’ve seen an increase in donations this month, likely because people are more inclined to give during the holiday season. They loaded their SUV full of non-perishables three times for this month’s collection.
“Donating is an opportunity for me to give back for all of the wonderful blessings that I’ve received,” said Helen Bennett, a parish member who dropped off two donation bags. “I think it's especially important to donate during the holiday season.”
Donations benefit The Branches Outreach Center in Rio Grande, a nonprofit that provides food, personal care and other support to people in need in Cape May County, and Holy Redeemer, a home care and hospice service in Cape May, Atlantic and Ocean counties. Additionally, some non-perishables are donated to Sea Isle City United Methodist Church and given to local families.
Helen Bennett, center, who donates food, joins Bette and Bill Keller.Bill Keller said that they’ve been able to supply specific items that these organizations are in need of. Organizations will let them know what types of food they are lacking or need more of, and they then publish a list of needed items in the weekly church bulletin.
This month, the items were sliced bread, juice, canned chicken, canned beef stew, baked beans, cereal and cookies.
In addition to their monthly food drive, the church collects donations of casseroles to provide hot, nutritious meals for The Branches Outreach Center.
“We’ve supplied over 150 casseroles since we started,” Bette Keller said.
The Kellers said the holiday food drive this December was successful, and they’re looking forward to seeing everybody for their January food drive on the 2nd.
“We’re so happy to be able to support people, but we're sad that we have to be giving them food,” Bette Keller said.
Bill Keller looks at casseroles waiting for delivery.
