Fall/Winter 2015 Edition - Interfaith Caregivers of Greater Mercer

Autumn/Winter 2015
NONPROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
TRENTON, NJ
PERMIT NO. 371
3635 Quakerbridge Road, Suite 16
Hamilton, New Jersey 08619
(609) 393-9922 ● www.icgmc.org
21 YEARS!
If you wish to receive our newsletter by
e-mail, please write us at the address
above or e-mail [email protected].
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Serving Greater Mercer County for 21 years
Board Members
Kathy Anne Lo Bue, Chair
Robert Morris, Vice Chair
Elizabeth Solan, BSN, MPH,
Secretary
Maureen G. Cozzi, Treasurer
Rosemary C. Frascella, M.D.
Jay Greenberg
Loretta R. Kuhnert
JoAnne San Paolo, RN, BSN, MSN
Eileen P. Thornton
John Zimmerman
Advisory Board
Rev. Darrell Armstrong
Norma L. Carmichael
Ann M. Cannon
Rosemary D. Durkin, Esq.
Paul Jellinek
The Very Rev. Rene Rory John
Sondra G. Obstein
Patricia O’Neill
Jack Parra
Rev. James Pruner
Our mission is to promote the independence, dignity, and wellness of homebound elderly and people with disabilities by matching them with supportive and caring volunteers who assist them
with the tasks of everyday life.
A Life-Giving Gift that Fits All!
Are you checking your holiday list and
wondering “What can I possibly give?
They have everything!” Perhaps they
never received a donation given in
their honor to help sustain life, give
hope and ease the burdens of someone alone, elderly and in need. Consider a donation to Interfaith’s Angel Fund for direct service to someone in critical need. Hanukkah,
Christmas and Holiday cards are available for a
donation of $25. Check our website,
www.icgmc.org, select a
design and call to order
your cards and for more
information,
609-393-9922.
One Enchanted Evening for Interfaith
The evening bustled with the excitement of
an opening night. The long-awaited event
had finally arrived. Due to an overwhelming
demand for tickets, the event, “The Best of
Broadway Dinner & Show,” had to be relocated. On the night of the event, over 400
people packed the West Trenton Ballroom,
which was magically transformed into a
spectacular Broadway theatre. Thrilled patrons greeted one another cheerfully, with
anticipation of hearing the songs which had
made the American theatre and the Broadway musical immortal.
The splendid dinner was catered by Rosa’s
Restaurant and served by volunteers and
guest wine sommeliers. To the delight of an
enthusiastic audience, the show commenced immediately after the meal. Appearing on stage were the featured vocalists, Joanna Latini and Michael Maliakel.
They were dazzling in appearance, truly
breath-taking! The repertoire of this classically trained duo included favorites from
“Guys and Dolls,” “My Fair Lady,” “Carousel,”
“South Pacific,” “The Music Man,” “The New
Yorker,” “Funny Girl,” ‘Les Miserables,”
“Phantom of the Opera”, and many others.
The audience requested encore after encore. Indeed, “The Best of Broadway” had
come to Mercer County.
Michael Bernabe, an incredible musician,
and faithful volunteer, performed jazz favorites during dinner. As he played, one could
see people dancing
at the back of the
ballroom. Others
were clapping their
hands in time to
the music.
The evening’s
attendees also enjoyed the opportunity to meet and
talk personally with
the star performers
who demonstrated
Michael Maliakel & Joanna Latini
their humility,
warmth, generosity, and abundant talent. Joanna’s inspired performances have gained recognition on operatic, recital, and competition stages.
Michael Maliakel, a professional singer based in
New York City, performs in genres ranging from
traditional musical theater to contemporary pop
to opera. God blessed Joanne and Michael with
extraordinary musical talent and those present
enjoyed the gifts of His bounty.
A highlight of the evening included a presentation
of a joint legislative resolution sponsored by State
Senator Linda Greenstein and Assemblymen Daniel Benson and Wayne DeAngelo to ICGMC for its
commitment to those in need within Mercer
County and the community at-large. Joanna and
Michael were each presented with commendations and praise extended in recognition of their
musical gifts displayed at the event, described as
“an occasion that required tremendous generosity and talent that brought
3635 Quakerbridge Road, Suite 16, Hamilton, NJ 08619 • (609) 393-9922 • www.ICGMC.org
It is a real challenge to sustain this life-giving
agency and I implore you, for the benefit of our
receivers, to put us on your gift-giving list. No
matter how humble the gift, your generosity
profoundly impacts our continued success and I
am deeply grateful.
Dear Friends of Interfaith,
We’ve entered into the splendor of autumn
where we observe in awe the brilliance of
God’s paintbrush and delight in His abundant
gifts. Indeed, it is time to pause and breathe-in
with gratitude the gift of life. I am so thankful
every day to share my life with our Interfaith
family. How privileged I am to serve and journey with our beloved seniors and compassionate volunteers who partner and create “new”
family units of loving and supportive care. To
be enriched by their grace, wisdom and appreciation is a magnificent gift.
November is the month of remembrance, and I
lift in grateful prayer the many members of our
Interfaith family who’ve entered eternity this
year. Our presence to them during their time of
need should never be underestimated. I recall
saying to a care receiver, “We don’t do badly
for a little agency.” She paused, studied me and
exclaimed, “You are not a little agency in God’s
eyes.” No, we are for our care receivers a Godsend, a glistening strand of hope and sustaining
love in the fabric of their life.
Rejoice! Live! Love! And be affirmed in your resolve to make a difference! Be the gift! Care for
life!
I humbly thank our dedicated Board of Trustees, incredible staff, volunteers, care receivers,
and supporters for faithfully living the mission.
With deepest gratitude,
Jane M. Latini
Executive Director
In Pursuit of Excellence
Monthly a staff meeting is held, and in conjunction, the executive director arranges for a
presentation in support of the agency’s goals
to meet the varied needs of the care receivers.
In addition, learning opportunities to enhance
the staff’s personal and professional goals are
provided.
Recently Rev. Elizabeth Congdon of First Baptist
Church of Trenton conducted a three hour active, energizing and enlightening session on
dealing with change. With poster paper, markers and much reflection and sharing, the staff
considered change in their personal and professional lives. Identifying coping mechanisms,
dealing with change without fear and with a
positive attitude, provided a very fulfilling and
enhancing experience.
Other presenters included:
Jessica Winters, Mercer Home Health Care,
www.MercerHomeHealth.com
Tom Bernetich, Open Systems Healthcare,
www.OpenSystemsHealthcare.com
Cathy Chabala, The Clare Estate Assisted
Living, Bordentown,
www.theclareestate.com
Steve Majeski, CSW, Senior Helpers of Central NJwww.seniorhelpers.com
“Adult Immunizations”
Presented by Giovanna Guarraggi, MSN,APN-C
and Lisa Auletta, RN, BSN
Giovanna Guarraggi, MSN, APN-C and Lisa Auletta, RN, BSN, healthcare educators from the
Hamilton Township Division of Health, presented
a comprehensive look at the necessary immunizations for adults. Below are some highlights
and information on Adult Immunizations:
A Flu (Influenza) Vaccine is recommended for
all persons aged 6 months or older. There
are several flu vaccines available. Talk to
your healthcare professional about which
flu vaccine is right for you. The vaccine is
recommended unless your healthcare professional tells you that you cannot safely
receive it, e.g., egg allergy or that you do
not need it. In many townships, flu immunizations are free of charge to their
community residents.
The Pneumonia Vaccine is available all year.
It is recommended for everyone 65 years
and older. This vaccine is also recommended for adults under 65 with high risk
chronic conditions. There are two different types of pneumococcal vaccines:
PCV13 and PPSV23. Talk with your
healthcare professional to find out if one
or both pneumococcal vaccines are recommended for you.
Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis should be
administered to persons aged 11 years or
older who have not received the tdap vaccine or for whom vaccine status is unknown. They should receive a tetanus and
diphtheria (Td) booster dose every 10
years thereafter.
Shingles Vaccine – A single dose of zoster
vaccine is recommended for adults aged
60 years or older, regardless of whether
they report a prior episode of herpes zoster.
Notes for Travel: If you are traveling outside the United States, you may need
additional vaccines. Ask your
healthcare professional about which
vaccines you may need at least 6 weeks
prior to
travel.
All immunizations always
should be recommended for
you by your
healthcare professional.
To contact Hamilton Township
Division of
Health, Nurse
Practioner Gio- Above: Giovanna Guarraggi, Lisa Auletta.
vanna Guarraggi or Registered Nurse Lisa Auletta, call 609-890-3884. For more information, call 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-2324636) or visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines.
Community Advocate Award
Congratulations to Jane Latini and Interfaith
Caregivers’ Project Healthy Bones Program
for being awarded The State of New Jersey
Department
of Human
Services, Interagency
Council on
Osteoporosis
Community
Advocate
Award in
June, 2015!
Above: Nancy Day, Director, NJ Division of Aging
Services, Jane Latini, Dr. Julia Grimes, Chair of NJ
Interagency Council on Osteoporosis.
Group Leader Dinners, Updates and Professional
Presentations: A Tradition With Interfaith
Interfaith Caregivers hosted two very informative
dinner meetings which provided critical updates
on policies, procedures, programs and current issues presented by our Executive Director and
staff. The forum provided for dialogue between
staff and group leaders on successes, concerns
and best practices. In conjunction with the June
and September Group Leader Dinner Meetings,
two amazing workshops were provided. A special
note of gratitude is extended to Fr. Cesar Rubiano
and Group Leader Grace Mazzatelli, Our Lady of
Angels Parish, Trenton, and Fr. Stan Kryston and
Group Leader JoAnne Garofalo, St. Vincent DePaul
Church, Yardville, for their warm hospitality and
generosity in providing the meeting space, dinner
and refreshments for the events.
“Eat, Move & Think Your Way to Diabetes Prevention,” Presented by Dr. Eric Jaszewski and
Coleen Mejias, RD
Dr. Eric Jaszewski, a practicing Chiropractor from
Lawrenceville, with a special interest in managing
diabetes through nutrition and exercise, and
Coleen Mejias, a Registered Dietician and an Interfaith Volunteer, presented an outstanding program . Below is a summary of their presentations
prepared by Coleen Mejias.
When you eat a food containing carbohydrates
(sugars, starches, and/or fiber), the digestive system breaks down the digestible ones into glucose
which enters the blood. As glucose levels rise, the
pancreas produces insulin which prompts cells to
absorb the blood sugar for energy or storage. As
cells absorb glucose, blood levels begin to fall.
Carbohydrate metabolism is important in the development of type 2 diabetes which occurs when
the body can’t make enough insulin or can’t
properly use the insulin it makes. Type 2 diabetes
usually develops gradually over a number of
years, when muscle and other cells stop responding to insulin. This condition, known
as insulin resistance, results in higher than
normal levels of blood sugar and insulin
long after eating. Over time, insulin production eventually stops.
Although the genes you inherit may influence the development of type 2 diabetes,
behavioral and lifestyle factors have a greater impact. Type 2 diabetes can be attributed to factors such as excess body weight,
lack of exercise, and a less-than-healthy diet. Data suggests that losing just 7% of your
weight, if overweight, offers benefit. Exercise helps with weight loss as well as making
our cells better responsive to insulin. Research indicates that a typical Western diet,
the “meat-sweet” diet, characterized by
high intakes of red meat, sugary desserts,
high fat foods, and refined grains, combined
with a lack of physical activity dramatically
increases risk for the development of type 2
diabetes. Making better food choices can
reduce your risk of developing diabetes.
The bottom line: (1) choose whole grains
and whole grain products over highly processed carbohydrates; (2) limit red meat and
avoid processed meats, choose nuts, whole
grains, poultry, and fish protein sources instead; (3) choose fresh fruits and vegetables
(aim for variety and color); (4) choose unsaturated fats (polyunsaturated and monounsaturated) instead of saturated and trans
fat; (5) skip sugary drinks, choose water instead. Stay lean and active!
Dr. Jaszewski contact information: 609-3931600, [email protected].
Coleen Majias contact information: 732-547
-5645, [email protected].
One Enchanted Evening (cont.)
pride to the entire Mercer County community.”
Everyone left the evening thankful for having
attended and looking forward to next year’s
event. The two stars promised to return to the
delight of Executive Director, Jane Latini, and everyone present. ICGMC Board Chair and event
sponsor Kathy Lo Bue of Glen Eagle Advisors
summed up the event by saying, “It was an amazing evening, which was blessed by the incredible
voices of Joanna and Michael, an outpouring of
community support for our small, but mighty,
agency and the expression of love and unity by
people of all faiths.”
“The Best of Broadway” event netted over
$12,000 to support the mission of Interfaith Caregivers which provides free volunteer services to
homebound elderly and people with disabilities.
Co-chairs, Jane Latini and Eileen Thornton expressed deep gratitude for this tremendous blessing.
Above: “Celebrity Sommeliers and Servers” included Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo; Mercer County Freeholders Ann
Cannon, John Cimino, Pasquale Colavita, and Andrew Koontz;
Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami-Covello; Hamilton Councilman Dennis Pone; Hamilton Sargent Quincy Hendryx; Mercer
County Executive Brian Hughes; Lauretta Lucchesi , Senior
Vice President, Grand Bank, NA; Cathy DiCostanzo, President
of the Mercer County Chapter Sunshine Foundation; Dan Keelan, President of E&T Services, LLC; John Strycharz, Chairman
of Hamilton Township Economic Development Advisory Commission; Chris Scales, Hamilton Board of Education Member;
and Liz Tindall, President of Liz Tindall and Associates, LLC.
Community Development Block Grant
Neighbors Helping Neighbors Stay Healthy
Sixty-five Trenton residents have received services through the CDBG grant and have completed a Health Access and Health Promotion
Assessment survey with the assistance of their
volunteer, group leader or office staff. In September, two new Project Healthy Bones wellness classes began in Trenton, and sixteen Trentonians are participating. In October, Dottie
Richardson and Nancy Remer provided a lunch
and training for group leaders and volunteers.
The training focus included: acquainting one
with the module, reading the survey to discern
areas of need, locating corresponding topics in
the Healthy Living Training Module, securing
documentation of distribution and follow-up
procedures. To date, twenty-five residents received a personal presentation of Healthy Living
Training Module. Great things are happening in
Trenton!
And We Grew By Two!
Home Song
A Musical Visit
Home Song, a friendly visit with live
music, is available to our care receivers
upon request. We welcome vocalists or
accompanists who are willing to volunteer for this new service to sing with
our home-bound folks during a 30-40
minute visit. Please call the office to receive a visit or for more information
about volunteering for this musical service at 609-393-9922. “A Picture is
worth a thousand
words!” Behold
the joy expressed
by Bernard from a
Home Song visit
by Mary Lou Cimini and Wes
Hart. Not pictured
is Walt Borys.
Left: Bernard, Mary
Lou Cimini, Wes Hart.
A Winning Presence
Interfaith Caregivers of Greater Mercer County received congratulations
as the winner of the "Display and
Win" from the National Volunteer
Caregiving Network for its display of
NVCN on its web site.
The agency received a copy of
“Fundraising Leadership, The Essential Guide for Nonprofit Board Members Who Want to Make a Lasting
Difference,” by Karin L. Cox, who presented at the national conference.
We recently welcomed two new congregations to the
Interfaith Family: St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish, Hamilton and Incarnation-St. James Parish, Ewing. Following
a week-end of outreach to each congregation, volunteers were trained for this new ministry to the homebound elderly and disabled in their respective parishes.
Six group leaders were trained to lead and manage the
parishes’ corps of volunteers. Special gratitude is extended to Pastors,
Fr. John Chang,
Saint Raphael-Holy
Angels Parish and
Fr. Santhosh Kozhippadan, IncarnationSt. James Parish, for
their prayers, welcome, support and
Above: Nancy Remer, Joyce Raymond, Diane
assistance.
Goettler, Michelle Perone, Pat Bisogno; Seated:
Alice Erdy, Jane Latini, Deborah Motherwell.
Gratitude for Recent Grants/Gifts:
June—November 2015
Anonymous
The Bunbury Company
Catholic Health East
Corporation for NATIONAL &
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Dayton Auto Repair
First Baptist Church of Trenton
Glen Eagle Advisors
Grace Cathedral Fellowship
Ministry
Grand Bank, N.A.
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Independence Home Care LLC
Investors Bank
Investors Bank Foundation
Mercer County Office on Aging
Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony
Our Lady of the Angels Parish
Pearson Memorial UM Church
Presbyterian Church of
Lawrenceville
Shiloh Baptist Church
Stark & Stark
St. Ann’s Church
St. Gregory the Great
St. John the Baptist
St. Mark Lutheran Church
St. Mary’s Church
St. Vincent de Paul
Harold Wetterberg Foundation
The Church of St. Ann
The Karma Foundation
The Lo Bue Group LLC
Trenton Community Development Block Grant
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
Union Baptist Church
United Way of Greater Mercer
County
Wallerstein Foundation
Wawa
Wells Fargo
Project Healthy Bones: A Program to Live By
Our PHB Program keeps us stepping in time! On
June 12, 2015, Nancy Day, Director, Division of
Aging Services presented Executive Director,
Jane Latini with a Community Advocate Award
from the Interagency Council on Osteoporosis.
Jane accepted this award expressing praise and
gratitude for the 18 Lead Coordinators and Peer
Leaders that serve over 80 participants who
attend PHB classes offered at 3 sites: the Hamilton Public Library, St. Mary’s Cathedral, host of
the only bilingual class in NJ, and Trent Center
West.
Dr. Sally Fullman invited Executive Director, Jane
Latini and Peer Leaders from Interfaith to share
best practices at a “Re-energizing your Healthy
Bones” conference in Livingston, New Jersey on
August 25th. Educational presentations, statistics
on the risk of fractures due to osteoporosis for
women and men over the age of 50, benefits of
weight-bearing exercises, risk factors of different
ethnicities, and the risks and benefits of medications taken for osteoporosis highlighted the
workshop. Nearly 150 attendees received an updated PHB Peer Leader Manual and education
materials.
PHB Coordinator, Lisa
Patten
attended a
two day
Above: Maria Antonieta Reyes, Lauri Harbison, Doris
Petruska, Phyllis DiPersio, Susan Jellinek, Lucia Perez Lead CoDelgado.
Above: Carolyn Selmon, Ronni Shearn, Manuela Farrell, Marilyn
LeCerff, Mary Lou Cimini, Joyce Bush, Lisa Patten.
ordinator Training , conducted by Kathleen
Hodapp and Kathryn Mylotte from Morristown
Medical Center and Maryann Marian from the
NJ Department of Human Services for the Division of Aging Services. At completion of the
training, Lisa received Lead Coordinator certification. Jane Latini, Lauri Harbison, Mary Lou
Cimini, and Gina Hopkins attended the inservice for Lead Coordinators and received the
updated PHB Lead Coordinator, Peer Leader
and Participant Manuals.
September orientations were well-attended at
all sites and we are seeking creative ways to
accommodate the overwhelming response to
our program. Classes are filled to capacity and
we welcomed two new Peer Leaders, Carolyn
Selmon and Ronni Shearn to accommodate
class need. Since September, PHB offered six
professional presentations at all sites. Presenters included: Cindy Medina-Garrido, RN, Bill
Crotty, M.S.P.T., Jerry Foster, President of the
West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance,
Olga Gonzalez, RD, Dr. Stephen Skokan, Podiatrist, and Lauri Harbison, MPH. A new 24 week
session will begin in March 2016. If you are interested in becoming a Peer Leader or registering for a class, call Lisa at 609-393-9922.
Upcoming Events
Dec. 8, 2015
New Volunteer Training, 10 am/7 pm, ICGMC Office
Dec. 9, 2015
Holiday Open House and 50/50 Drawing, 5:30 pm—7 pm
Dec. 11, 2015
Community Christian Choir Concert to benefit ICGMC, St. Gregory the Great Church, 7:30 pm
Dec. 15, 2015
Group Leader Holiday Breakfast, Mastoris Restaurant, 8:30 am
Dec. 17, 2015
Coat Drive, ICGMC Office, Drop-off time 9 am—5 pm
Dec. 21, 2015
PHB Breakfast and Presentation, Mastoris Restaurant, 9:30 am
Retired Senior Volunteer Program
A Boost For Interfaith
ICGMC is very excited to be the recipient of the
three year Retired Senior Volunteer Program
(RSVP) federal grant for Mercer County. Creating
the program from scratch has been an exciting
journey involving input from staff, Board and volunteers. A grant in the amount of $62,529 was
awarded for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2015
and ending June 30, 2016. During that time, Interfaith will submit a renewal application for year
two of the three year grant period.
RSVP is part of Senior Corps under the Corporation for National and Community Service. The
mission of the Corporation is to improve lives,
strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering. RSVP
provides opportunities for individuals age 55 and
over to use the skills and talents they’ve learned
over the years, or develop new ones, while serving in volunteer activities to meet critical community needs. Being much in accord with the mission
and goals of Interfaith Caregivers, RSVP encourages its volunteer to achieve an enriching experience by engaging in meaningful and productive
activities that support their neighbors.
By becoming an RSVP volunteer through ICGMC,
volunteers age fifty-five and over will participate
in a nationwide collaboration of individuals building stronger and safer communities. An expected
180 RSVP volunteers will serve in Mercer County
over the next three years. Interfaith has established performance measures for three critical focus areas: friendly visits, shopping, and transportation services to the elderly and people with disabilities. Having defined each of these service activities and the means for measuring performance, staff will track progress in achieving anticipated outcomes as the grant proceeds.
The RSVP Community Advisory Group has been
established as a core group that contributes their
perspectives and active assistance to the program. This faithful group of knowledgeable and
experienced community members has been
giving guidance and support to the program
since April of this year. Interfaith is honored by
and deeply grateful for the service of the following Advisory Board Members:







Rosemary Durkin, Esq. Shareholder, Stark and
Stark
Richard Eckstein, Retired Colonel U.S. Army Reserves
Amy Klein, Executive Director at Volunteer Connect
Robert McGowan, MSM, Consultant, LNHA
Jean Malloy, Retired Director of the State of New
Jersey WIC Program
Richard O’Grady, Retired Director of Operations,
NJ Department of Human Services, Division of
Youth and Family Services
Elizabeth Solan, BSN, MPH, Consultant, Public
Health
Andrea New joined the Interfaith Staff in July
2015 as the RSVP Program Director. This competent and energized professional, came to us
with a background in serving Mercer County’s
elderly and people with disabilities. She is excited to manage the program and looks forward
to RSVP being a boon both those who serve
and those who are served through it.
Andrea has laid a solid foundation for the program by defining policies and procedures in
compliance with federal regulations and coordinating RSVP efforts with those of the organization over all. In September, she attended a national Senior Corp training program in Reston,
Virginia
With the added resources provided through the
RSVP grant in terms of financial support, expertise, educational opportunities, networking capacity and programmatic support, Interfaith
Caregivers, along with its volunteers aged 55
and over, looks forward to making great strides
in meeting the needs of the elderly and people
with disabilities in Mercer County over the
three year grant period.
Welcome New Volunteers: July through October 2015!
Independent Volunteers
Independent Volunteers
Chrystele Baden
Arlene Bellotti
Ken Buck
Matt Connor
Dawn Crutchley
Dylan Cohen
Cristano, Georganne,
& Julian D’Angelo
Mary Donahue
Carol & David Fritchey
Judy Foy
Sean & Anthony Greenwood
Deborah Giordano
John Kashner
Nanci McCarthy
Myrian Padro
Margaret Ram
Joyce Raymond
Natalie Rippy
Donna Schafer
Presbyterian Church
of Lawrenceville
Lew Thurston
Sacred Heart Church
Chris Bartholomew
Jacquelyn Guthrie
St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish
Patricia Bisogno
Mary & Charles Bound
Jane Branca
Joan Bryan
Virginia Costantini
A Holiday Gift from the
Merry Merchants of Mercerville
The merchants at the Mercerville Shopping
Center, 356 Route 33, Hamilton, invite the
public to support its Christmas Drive to benefit the elderly and disabled care receivers of
Interfaith Caregivers. Co-Chairpersons, John
Strycharz of MSC and Eileen P. Thornton,
ICGMC’s Development Committee Chairperson, said "The partnership between MSC and
ICGMC brings us great joy at Christmastime. The spirit of Christmas is giving.
ICGMC's care receivers will be most grateful
for the generosity of the MSC merchants and
their customers. We know that it will make
Christmas happy for the ICGMC care receivers." Special containers will be available at
participating stores, November 27th through
December 15th for donations of fresh winter
fruit: apples, oranges, tangerines, pears, etc.,
packages or cans of shelled nuts, chocolate
candy, hard wrapped candies, and tins of
cookies.
St. RaphaelHoly Angels Parish (cont.)
St. Mary’s Church Bordentown
Alice Erdy
Evelyn Kavesdi
Joseph Licari
MaryAnn Lukaszewski
Karen Mihalow
Doris Moro
Jonathan D. Nguyen
Linda & Mark Richardson
Anita Sakowski
Richard Szymanski
Charlene Tharp
Mindy Gullo
Joyce Myers
Mary E. White
Mark Mozgowiec
Barbara Sopronyi
St. Gregory the Great Church
Our Lady of SorrowsSt.Anthony Parish
Douglas Schindewolf
Shiloh Baptist Church
Addie Daniels-Lane
Pearl Lawrence
Wesley Hart
Union Baptist Church
Cheryl Carmichael-Collins
Monetary donations, made payable to ICGMC,
are welcomed and will be used to purchase food
gift cards for care receivers to select the main
course for their holiday dinner. Jane Latini expressed her gratitude to the merchants and shoppers for choosing Interfaith, “Many of our care
receivers have very limited means, living alone,
without family close by. Responding to them
with abundant loving generosity, even more so
during the holidays, affirms that they are loved,
cared for
and
wished
the comfort and
joy of
holidays
past."
Above: Representatives of some of the participating MSC stores
gather to discuss MSC's Christmas Food Drive for IFGMC. They are
(L-R) Tom Armenti of Fred & Pete's; Deb Runyon and Lisa Gearheart, both of Customers Bank;Carmen Guagliardo of Italian People's Bakery; John Cacjacelli of Rock Dreams Electronics, Anna Marie Pratico of Pratico's Jewelers; Jane Latini and Eileen P. Thornton,
both of IFGMC, Alicja Michalak of Alicja's Boutique and John Strycharz of Reading Center.
An Evening of Grace and Honor
The aura of good will and grace glimmered
throughout a splendid evening. Nearly two hundred delighted guests entered the stylish Hyatt
Regency in Princeton to celebrate the sacred
work of Interfaith Caregivers. With warm personal greetings by our devoted staff and the
harmonious sounds of soft jazz playing in the
background, our guests proceeded to survey
the bountiful array of stunningly decorated silent auction baskets. The cocktail hour was followed by a gala dinner and beautiful program
paying tribute to this year’s distinguished Shining Lights honorees.
LIFE St. Francis is a service of St. Francis
Medical Center,
one of Central
New Jersey’s most
respected
healthcare providers since 1874,
and is the first
Program of AllInclusive Care for
the Elderly (PACE)
in New Jersey. Jill
Above: Jill Viggiano, Nancy Remer.
Viggiano, Vice President of Senior Services, has championed
the program from its inception to present. LIFE provides and helps coordinate
all medical care for elders through a wide
range of healthcare services available at
the Center or in the home, 365 days a
year.
Sally Fullman, Ph.D., a member of the
Healthy Bones Advocacy Network and the
National Osteoporosis Foundation since
2009, is an active
“Project Healthy
Bones” Peer
Leader and Lead
Coordinator. She
has been a presence on Capitol
Hill and in the
Above: Sally Fullman,
community and
Mary Lou Cimini
through her inspiring presentations has raised awareness of the physical and economic impact of osteoporosis and improved access to quality care, education, and prevention initiatives
Shannon Mason, Ph.D., has been the Executive Director of Mercer Street
Friends since 2013. In addition to her
work against the ravages of economic
poverty, Dr. Mason battles spiritual
poverty as the senior pastor of New
and Living Way Ministries, in Trenton,
NJ. As a psychotherapist, educator, researcher, and consultant, she has empowered
people to
make the
journey
out of poverty, and
seeks in
every way
to be a
Above: Shannon Mason,
Dottie Richardson
“vessel”pouring out into the lives of others
what she has received.
St. Mary’s Church in Bordentown, NJ was
established in 1831 by Irish immigrants
and presently has 1,300 registered famipeople with disabilities. Indeed, our Shinlies. Among the parish’s ministries, are
ing Lights honorees shed the warm glow of
those devoted to prayer and worship, faith
love over this evening
formation, community life, and Christian
of grace and honor.
service and outreach. In the year 2000,
through a partnership with Interfaith Caregivers of Greater Mercer County, St.
Mary’s “Open Hearts, Willing Hands” ministry was created. Since that time, the volunteers, with the faithful support of Fr. MiAbove: Pat Solan, Richard
Eckstein, Robert McGowan;
chael Burns and
Left: Kathy Lo Bue.
the under the dynamic leadership
Right: Gary
Bernabe,
of Judy Pesce,
Michael
have provided
Bernabe,
Isaac Dye
nearly 7,000
hours of compassionate service to
Special Thanks to
Above: Father Michael Burns,
the elderly and
Our Shining Lights sponsors:
Judy Pesce, Mary Ann Isaac.
disabled homeGlen Eagle Advisors, LLC
bound.
Anonymous
Grand Bank, NA
It was a fitting evening to acknowledge the conIndependence Home Care
tributions and accomplishments of our extraordiInvestors Bank
nary honStark & Stark
orees who
St. Gregory the Great Church
have done
Walls Fargo
so much to
Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Lo Bue
benefit of
Right: Susan Scibilia,
Marcia Matrisciano;
our homeBelow: Exquisite Basket
bound el- Above: Rev. Darrell Armstrong, Maria Antonieta
Raffle Items.
Reyes, Joan Sumners, Landies Bullock
derly and
Bottom Left: John Zimmerman,
Jane Latini, Betsy Solan, Rosemary Durkin, Eileen Thornton,
Kathy Lo Bue, Maureen Cozzi,
Rob Morris, Jay Greenberg.