Mayor Baraka, North Ward Council Member Anibal Ramos, Jr., and Deputy Mayor of Community Engagement Jacqueline Quiles will be hosting free Community Dinners for homeless residents and at-risk families at the Vincent Lombardi Center of Hope at 201 Bloomfield Avenue, for residents in need. The next dinners will be held on Sunday, December 11, and Sunday, December 18, and will take place from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Seasonal music will be provided.
The dinners are hosted by the Newark Department of Public Safety, the Department of Recreation, Cultural Affairs & Senior Services, ID Newark, the Hispanic Law Enforcement Society of Essex County, the Hispanic Firefighters Association of Newark, Lighthouse Assembly of God, ARJ Civic, Believe in Newark Foundation, Latin African American Chaplains Association, Dr. Jose A. Pagan, United Healthcare, WellCare Health Plans, and Samaritan Outreach Services.
“As Charles Dickens wrote so well, this is a time of year when ‘abundance rejoices, and want is felt most keenly.’ We in Newark are committed to sharing our abundance so that those in want can rejoice,” Mayor Baraka said. “I am proud of how our private, non-profit, and public communities are coming together as a family this holiday season to care for those in need, and urge all of our residents to join with us and become part of this critical holiday effort.”
Samaritan Outreach Services (SOS) began as an outreach of Abundant Life Worship Center, and was created in 2012. Today it is a recognized 501c3 not for profit organization which offers extensive assistance to disadvantaged and or homeless men by providing mentoring, counseling, job training, housing and other support services which include feeding programs and clothing.
