Submitted by Cheryl Park
The Westfield High School Boys Hockey Team prepared and donated over 350 sandwiches to help end hunger in our neighboring community. Over 25 players attended this outreach event held on July 30, 2018 at Woodbridge Community Center. The team selected this initiative to address the sandwich donation deficit during the summer months at St. Joseph’s Food Pantry in Elizabeth. Many of the boys had been familiar with St. Joseph’s weekly ‘Sandwich Drives’ from their elementary school days.
Their donation exceeded the team’s original goal of 200 sandwiches to support the homeless of greater Elizabeth. Varsity coach Joe Bertucci complimented the boys on their efforts and lead off the group by encouraging them to not only be a team on the ice – but in the community as well. Bertucci went on to tell the boys that through these outreach initiatives they grow as players and as individuals – and most importantly, they have the opportunity to impact lives locally. Shoprite of Garwood generously donated over $300.00 worth of items.
Since 1983, St. Joseph’s has served the materially poor and homeless community of greater Elizabeth, New Jersey, by providing basic human needs such as food, clothing and medications, as well as a wide range of services and programs to help them acquire the material goods and social services they need to live with integrity. St Joseph’s Food Pantry accepts additional donations such as non-perishable food, clothing, and small household items.
