Sanctuary Program Enters its Seventh Year

[BrianSullivan]

Sanctuary Program Enters its Seventh Year

Breakfast and Lunch Provided to Working Poor on
Saturdays During Winter

The Sanctuary Program, which provides breakfast and lunch for the working
poor, families, and immigrant laborers on Saturdays during the cold winter months, will
begin its seventh year on December 4 serving breakfast and lunch at the Reformed
Church at 67 West Main Street in Freehold. There is great urgency this winter, as there
was last year, because of the dramatic economic downturn across the state and nation.

The program is a collaborative effort of the Latino Coalition of New Jersey
working in conjunction with the First Presbyterian Church, New Beginnings Agape
Christian Center, and the Reformed Church, all of Freehold.

A second location for Tuesdays or Friday mornings is being sought.

As was the case last year, this year’s program will be funded in large part by a
generous grant by the Graeme Preston Foundation for Life which donated $2,500 in the
spring of 2008, as well as through the support of the I Beseech Thee Community
Development Corporation. “We continue to owe a tremendous debt to the Preston family
and I Beseech Thee for their continued support,” said Ann Bagchi, co-chairperson of the
Sanctuary Program.

This year’s program will begin on December 4 and operate until March 12, 2010.
Doors open at 7 a.m., with food served until 12 p.m.

“There remains great economic instability in the nation and in New Jersey, and
unfortunately that means more people uncertain about their food supply,” said Sandra
Whitehill, volunteer coordinator of the Sanctuary Program. “Our program aims to take
away a little bit of that uncertainty and provide a bridge of food for the weekends,
particularly for those who found little or no work during the week.”