To the Editor:
During this wonderful and joyful season of Christmas, many of our citizens in Bayonne did not consider it to be as joyful as it had been in past years. As the economy continues to falter and we still deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, many of our residents needed help during the holiday season and came to the Giordano Food Pantry and Cluster Soup Kitchen seeking aid. As usual, our citizens and businesses in Bayonne not only rose to the challenge of helping them, but far surpassed it!
It is impossible to show everyone how much their donations helped our patrons, but we would like to pass along their thanks, along with our gratitude, to all those who helped make this a truly joyous season!
Our sincere gratitude goes out to the Bayonne Police and Fire Departments, the Bayonne Chamber of Commerce, the Bayonne City Council, Annette Rubin and the members of Exit Realty, Catholic War Veterans Post 1612, the Knights of Columbus, Star of the Sea Council No. 371, the staff and students of All Saints Catholic Academy, the Rosary Societies of Mt. Carmel and Assumption Churches, St. Ann’s Society and the Golden Ages of O.L.A., the Sicilian and Italian clubs, the residents of Back Bay Gardens, most especially our hardworking friend Kathy Tibbets, along with our special angels Paul and Maryjane Witkowski, Barbara Godfrey, Lisa McGonagly, Pat Mirabella, Domenica and Dominick Gironda, and Officer Joe Lynch.
A great big thanks must go out to our bread and cake donors to the Cluster Soup Kitchen, including Judicke’s Bakery, Anthony and Vinnie’s Bakery, Kupcake Kouture, and the Little Food Café. A very special mention must be made of the Bayonne Chapter of UNICO. This wonderful organization not only donated toys to our needy families, but also purchased and cooked the most fantastic meals for us at the Soup Kitchen. Under the direction of Chef Mike Masone, all of our patrons looked forward to their delicious meals. Grazie, Mike and the gang!
Last but not least, we could not operate without the continued support of the outstanding parishioners of Our Lady of the Assumption Church! Thanks, Fr. Joe, for choosing to ignore how nuts we are! Thank you, grazie, gracias, dziekuje, and may God bless everyone who supported us throughout the year!
JANICE MACHIN & MARIANNE SILVANI
Co-Chairpersons of the Giordano Food Pantry
Our Lady of the Assumption Church