2015 Fall/Winter

Serving Greater Mercer County for 21 years

3635 Quakerbridge Road, Suite 16, Hamilton, NJ 08619 • (609) 393-9922 • www.ICGMC.org

Our mission is to promote the independence, dignity, and well-ness of homebound elderly and people with disabilities by match-ing them with supportive and caring volunteers who assist them

with the tasks of everyday life.

Autumn/Winter 2015 NONPROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

TRENTON, NJ

PERMIT NO. 371

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

3635 Quakerbridge Road, Suite 16 Hamilton, New Jersey 08619 (609) 393-9922 ● www.icgmc.org

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e-mail, please write us at the address

above or e-mail [email protected].

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

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

Advisory Board

21 YEARS!

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 relo-cated. On the night of the event, over 400 people packed the West Trenton Ballroom, which was magically transformed into a spectacular Broadway theatre. Thrilled pa-trons greeted one another cheerfully, with anticipation of hearing the songs which had made the American theatre and the Broad-way 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 com-menced immediately after the meal. Ap-pearing on stage were the featured vocal-ists, Joanna Latini and Michael Maliakel. They were dazzling in appearance, truly breath-taking! The repertoire of this classi-cally 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 en-core. Indeed, “The Best of Broadway” had come to Mercer County.

Michael Bernabe, an incredible musician, and faithful volunteer, performed jazz favor-ites 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 en-joyed the oppor-tunity to meet and talk personally with the star performers who demonstrated their humility, warmth, generosity, and abundant talent. Joan-na’s inspired performances have gained recogni-tion 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 Dan-iel 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 commenda-tions and praise extended in recognition of their musical gifts displayed at the event, described as “an occasion that required tremendous generosi-ty and talent that brought

Michael Maliakel & Joanna Latini

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 some-

one alone, elderly and in need. Consider a do-nation to Interfaith’s Angel Fund for direct ser-vice 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.

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 jour-

ney with our beloved seniors and compassion-

ate volunteers who partner and create “new”

family units of loving and supportive care. To

be enriched by their grace, wisdom and appre-

ciation 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 God-

send, a glistening strand of hope and sustaining

love in the fabric of their life.

Rejoice! Live! Love! And be affirmed in your re-

solve to make a difference! Be the gift! Care for

life!

I humbly thank our dedicated Board of Trus-

tees, incredible staff, volunteers, care receivers,

and supporters for faithfully living the mission.

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.

With deepest gratitude,

Jane M. Latini

Executive Director

In Pursuit of Excellence

Monthly a staff meeting is held, and in con-junction, 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 ac-tive, energizing and enlightening session on dealing with change. With poster paper, mark-ers and much reflection and sharing, the staff considered change in their personal and pro-fessional 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 Cen-tral NJwww.seniorhelpers.com

“Adult Immunizations” Presented by Giovanna Guarraggi, MSN,APN-C

and Lisa Auletta, RN, BSN

Giovanna Guarraggi, MSN, APN-C and Lisa Au-letta, RN, BSN, healthcare educators from the Hamilton Township Division of Health, presented a comprehensive look at the necessary immun-izations 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 pro-fessional tells you that you cannot safely receive it, e.g., egg allergy or that you do not need it. In many townships, flu im-munizations 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 recom-mended for adults under 65 with high risk chronic conditions. There are two differ-ent types of pneumococcal vaccines: PCV13 and PPSV23. Talk with your healthcare professional to find out if one or both pneumococcal vaccines are rec-ommended for you.

Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis should be administered to persons aged 11 years or older who have not received the tdap vac-cine or for whom vaccine status is un-known. 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 zos-ter.

Notes for Travel: If you are traveling out-side 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 immuniza-tions always should be rec-ommended for you by your healthcare pro-fessional.

To contact Ham-ilton Township Division of Health, Nurse Practioner Gio-vanna Guarraggi or Registered Nurse Lisa Au-letta, call 609-890-3884. For more infor-mation, call 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) or visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines.

Above: Giovanna Guarraggi, Lisa Auletta.

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, In-teragency 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.

Above: “Celebrity Sommeliers and Servers” included Assem-

blyman Wayne DeAngelo; Mercer County Freeholders Ann

Cannon, John Cimino, Pasquale Colavita, and Andrew Koontz;

Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami-Covello; Hamilton Council-

man 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 Kee-

lan, President of E&T Services, LLC; John Strycharz, Chairman

of Hamilton Township Economic Development Advisory Com-

mission; Chris Scales, Hamilton Board of Education Member;

and Liz Tindall, President of Liz Tindall and Associates, LLC.

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 eve-ryone present. ICGMC Board Chair and event sponsor Kathy Lo Bue of Glen Eagle Advisors summed up the event by saying, “It was an amaz-ing 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 Care-givers which provides free volunteer services to homebound elderly and people with disabilities. Co-chairs, Jane Latini and Eileen Thornton ex-pressed deep gratitude for this tremendous bless-ing.

years, when muscle and other cells stop re-sponding 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 produc-tion eventually stops.

Although the genes you inherit may influ-ence the development of type 2 diabetes, behavioral and lifestyle factors have a great-er impact. Type 2 diabetes can be attribut-ed to factors such as excess body weight, lack of exercise, and a less-than-healthy di-et. Data suggests that losing just 7% of your weight, if overweight, offers benefit. Exer-cise helps with weight loss as well as making our cells better responsive to insulin. Re-search 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 pro-cessed carbohydrates; (2) limit red meat and avoid processed meats, choose nuts, whole grains, poultry, and fish protein sources in-stead; (3) choose fresh fruits and vegetables (aim for variety and color); (4) choose un-saturated fats (polyunsaturated and mono-unsaturated) instead of saturated and trans fat; (5) skip sugary drinks, choose water in-stead. Stay lean and active!

Dr. Jaszewski contact information: 609-393-1600, [email protected].

Coleen Majias contact information: 732-547-5645, [email protected].

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 is-sues 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 Pre-vention,” 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 In-terfaith Volunteer, presented an outstanding pro-gram . 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 sys-tem 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 de-velopment 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

Community Development Block Grant Neighbors Helping Neighbors Stay Healthy

Sixty-five Trenton residents have received ser-vices through the CDBG grant and have com-pleted a Health Access and Health Promotion Assessment survey with the assistance of their volunteer, group leader or office staff. In Sep-tember, two new Project Healthy Bones well-ness classes began in Trenton, and sixteen Tren-tonians 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 re-ceived a personal presentation of Healthy Living Training Module. Great things are happening in Trenton!

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 Develop-

ment Block Grant

Trinity Episcopal Cathedral

Union Baptist Church

United Way of Greater Mercer

County

Wallerstein Foundation

Wawa

Wells Fargo

Gratitude for Recent Grants/Gifts: June—November 2015

A Winning Presence

Interfaith Caregivers of Greater Mer-cer 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 Essen-tial Guide for Nonprofit Board Mem-bers Who Want to Make a Lasting Difference,” by Karin L. Cox, who pre-sented at the national conference.

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 volun-

teer for this new service to sing with

our home-bound folks during a 30-40

minute visit. Please call the office to re-

ceive a visit or for more information

about volunteering for this musical ser-

vice 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 Ci-

mini and Wes

Hart. Not pictured

is Walt Borys.

And We Grew By Two!

We recently welcomed two new congregations to the Interfaith Family: St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish, Ham-ilton and Incarnation-St. James Parish, Ewing. Following a week-end of outreach to each congregation, volun-teers were trained for this new ministry to the home-bound elderly and disabled in their respective parishes. Six group leaders were trained to lead and manage the parishes’ corps of volunteers. Special gratitude is ex-tended to Pastors, Fr. John Chang, Saint Raphael-Holy Angels Parish and Fr. Santhosh Kozhip-padan, Incarnation-St. James Parish, for their prayers, wel-come, support and assistance.

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 Hamil-ton 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 medica-tions taken for osteoporosis highlighted the workshop. Nearly 150 attendees received an up-dated PHB Peer Leader Manual and education materials.

PHB Coordi-nator, Lisa Patten attended a

two day Lead Co-

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

Upcoming Events

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 Divi-sion of Aging Services. At completion of the training, Lisa received Lead Coordinator certifi-cation. Jane Latini, Lauri Harbison, Mary Lou Cimini, and Gina Hopkins attended the in-service 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. Present-ers 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, Podia-trist, and Lauri Harbison, MPH. A new 24 week session will begin in March 2016. If you are in-terested in becoming a Peer Leader or register-ing for a class, call Lisa at 609-393-9922.

Above: Carolyn Selmon, Ronni Shearn, Manuela Farrell, Marilyn LeCerff, Mary Lou Cimini, Joyce Bush, Lisa Patten.

Above: Maria Antonieta Reyes, Lauri Harbison, Doris Petruska, Phyllis DiPersio, Susan Jellinek, Lucia Perez

Delgado.

Left: Bernard, Mary

Lou Cimini, Wes Hart.

Above: Nancy Remer, Joyce Raymond, Diane Goettler, Michelle Perone, Pat Bisogno; Seated:

Alice Erdy, Jane Latini, Deborah Motherwell.

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 vol-unteers. 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, In-terfaith will submit a renewal application for year two of the three year grant period.

RSVP is part of Senior Corps under the Corpora-tion for National and Community Service. The mission of the Corporation is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engage-ment 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 serv-ing in volunteer activities to meet critical commu-nity needs. Being much in accord with the mission and goals of Interfaith Caregivers, RSVP encour-ages its volunteer to achieve an enriching experi-ence 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 build-ing stronger and safer communities. An expected 180 RSVP volunteers will serve in Mercer County over the next three years. Interfaith has estab-lished performance measures for three critical fo-cus areas: friendly visits, shopping, and transpor-tation services to the elderly and people with dis-abilities. Having defined each of these service ac-tivities and the means for measuring perfor-mance, staff will track progress in achieving antici-pated 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 pro-gram. 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 fol-lowing Advisory Board Members: Rosemary Durkin, Esq. Shareholder, Stark and

Stark Richard Eckstein, Retired Colonel U.S. Army Re-

serves Amy Klein, Executive Director at Volunteer Con-

nect 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 com-petent and energized professional, came to us with a background in serving Mercer County’s elderly and people with disabilities. She is ex-cited 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 pro-gram by defining policies and procedures in compliance with federal regulations and coordi-nating RSVP efforts with those of the organiza-tion over all. In September, she attended a na-tional Senior Corp training program in Reston, Virginia

With the added resources provided through the RSVP grant in terms of financial support, exper-tise, educational opportunities, networking ca-pacity 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

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

Independent Volunteers

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

St. Raphael-

Holy Angels Parish (cont.)

Alice Erdy

Evelyn Kavesdi

Joseph Licari

MaryAnn Lukaszewski

Karen Mihalow

Doris Moro

Jonathan D. Nguyen

Linda & Mark Richardson

Anita Sakowski

Richard Szymanski

Charlene Tharp

St. Gregory the Great Church

Wesley Hart

Union Baptist Church

Cheryl Carmichael-Collins

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 bene-fit the elderly and disabled care receivers of Interfaith Caregivers. Co-Chairpersons, John Strycharz of MSC and Eileen P. Thornton, ICGMC’s Development Committee Chairper-son, said "The partnership between MSC and ICGMC brings us great joy at Christmas-time. 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 receiv-ers." 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.

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 ex-pressed her gratitude to the merchants and shop-pers 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 com-fort and joy of holidays past."

St. Mary’s Church Bor-dentown

Mindy Gullo

Joyce Myers

Mary E. White

Mark Mozgowiec

Barbara Sopronyi

Our Lady of Sorrows-St.Anthony Parish

Douglas Schindewolf

Shiloh Baptist Church

Addie Daniels-Lane

Pearl Lawrence

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 Gear-heart, both of Customers Bank;Carmen Guagliardo of Italian Peo-ple's Bakery; John Cacjacelli of Rock Dreams Electronics, Anna Ma-rie Pratico of Pratico's Jewelers; Jane Latini and Eileen P. Thornton, both of IFGMC, Alicja Michalak of Alicja's Boutique and John Stry-charz of Reading Center.

An Evening of Grace and Honor

The aura of good will and grace glimmered

throughout a splendid evening. Nearly two hun-

dred delighted guests entered the stylish Hyatt

Regency in Princeton to celebrate the sacred

work of Interfaith Caregivers. With warm per-

sonal 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 si-

lent auction baskets. The cocktail hour was fol-

lowed by a gala dinner and beautiful program

paying tribute to this year’s distinguished Shin-

ing Lights honorees.

LIFE St. Francis is a service of St. Francis

Medical Center,

one of Central

New Jersey’s most

respected

healthcare provid-

ers since 1874,

and is the first

Program of All-

Inclusive Care for

the Elderly (PACE)

in New Jersey. Jill

Viggiano, Vice Presi-

dent of Senior Services, has championed

the program from its inception to pre-

sent. 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 pres-

ence on Capitol

Hill and in the

community and

through her in-

spiring presentations has raised aware-

ness of the physical and economic im-

pact of osteoporosis and improved ac-

cess to quality care, education, and pre-

vention initiatives

Shannon Mason, Ph.D., has been the Ex-

ecutive 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, re-

searcher, and consultant, she has em-

powered

people to

make the

journey

out of pov-

erty, and

seeks in

every way

to be a

“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 fami-

lies. Among the parish’s ministries, are

those devoted to prayer and worship, faith

formation, community life, and Christian

service and outreach. In the year 2000,

through a partnership with Interfaith Care-

givers of Greater Mercer County, St.

Mary’s “Open Hearts, Willing Hands” min-

istry was created. Since that time, the vol-

unteers, with the faithful support of Fr. Mi-

chael Burns and

the under the dy-

namic leadership

of Judy Pesce,

have provided

nearly 7,000

hours of compas-

sionate service to

the elderly and

disabled home-

bound.

It was a fitting evening to acknowledge the con-

tributions and accomplishments of our extraordi-

nary hon-

orees who

have done

so much to

benefit of

our home-

bound el-

derly and

Right: Gary Bernabe, Michael Bernabe, Isaac Dye

Special Thanks to Our Shining Lights sponsors:

Glen Eagle Advisors, LLC Anonymous

Grand Bank, NA Independence Home Care

Investors Bank Stark & Stark

St. Gregory the Great Church Walls Fargo

Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Lo Bue Above: Jill Viggiano, Nancy Remer.

Above: Rev. Darrell Armstrong, Maria Antonieta Reyes, Joan Sumners, Landies Bullock

Above: Sally Fullman, Mary Lou Cimini

Above: Shannon Mason, Dottie Richardson

Above: Father Michael Burns, Judy Pesce, Mary Ann Isaac.

Right: Susan Scibilia, Marcia Matrisciano;

Below: Exquisite Basket Raffle Items.

Bottom Left: John Zimmerman, Jane Latini, Betsy Solan, Rose-mary Durkin, Eileen Thornton, Kathy Lo Bue, Maureen Cozzi,

Rob Morris, Jay Greenberg.

people with disabilities. Indeed, our Shin-

ing Lights honorees shed the warm glow of

love over this evening

of grace and honor.

Above: Pat Solan, Richard Eckstein, Robert McGowan;

Left: Kathy Lo Bue.