Catholics in the Diocese of Camden will be donating canned goods for the poor in its 68 parishes and in many of its schools through Sunday, March 1.
The effort, in the spirit of Pope Francis’ challenge for Catholics to assist the needy, will be an encore of a similar campaign held last year, the first of its kind in the diocese. Last year’s effort collected 77,000 pounds of food.
“We’re hoping to surpass that total in 2015,” said Michael Jordan Laskey, director of Life& Justice Ministries for the diocese.
“Hunger is an urgent issue in many communities in our diocese. One in six in the region is food insecure, including one in four children. Our Gospel mandate to take action is clear: Jesus reminds us that whenever we feed someone who is hungry, we feed Christ himself,” said Laskey.
The price of admission at recent basketball games at Paul VI High School in Haddon Township and Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill, were canned goods donated in support of the drive.
Partners with the effort include The Food Bank of South Jersey, Pennsauken; Community FoodBank of New Jersey, Egg Harbor Township; Catholic Charities, Diocese of Camden, and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.