Move On or Move Forward
"Let's just move on". Sure, that's an option. But how about if we "move forward" instead? To move on, we put the old aside and go on to something new. But to move forward, we choose to take what we learned from the old and make the new even better. What can we take from 2020 to make 2021 our best year yet? What amazing things happened in the midst of turmoil?
Jesus said in John 10:10 "the thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they might have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance". I love this verse because it doesn't ignore that bad things do happen, but it also shows that those bad things don't come from God. On the contrary, Jesus came that we might have and enjoy life. We get to choose how we will respond to the bad things that come our way...move on or move forward.
At the South Jersey Dream Center, our mission is to help people take steps forward, to change their status quo, and fulfill their God given purpose. For many people in poverty, they've heard all their life that "this is it for you, this is all there is". That's simply not true. When people discover their value and how much they are loved unconditionally by their Heavenly Father, something good happens on the inside. And when good things happen on the inside, good things eventually start to happen on the outside. They begin to move forward into a life they've only "dreamed" of.
In 2020, we received and distributed over 175,000 pounds of resources to thousands of local families. But we don't want to just "move on" from here, we want to move forward...literally! We've outgrown our donated space (again), and hope to move into a facility of our own this year. Let's move forward together!
“Living Large”
Oh my goodness I am so eternally grateful for the amount of food and the kind of food that you gave us. I deeply appreciate it. I will be living large for a while! Thank you so very, very much. You are so kind and very, very considerate. May you all have a very blessed Thanksgiving, I know I am! Thanks to you. With hugs and happiness - C.G. National Park
Yes, it was a blessed Thanksgiving for over 75 students and their families at our fourth Food Distribution at the National Park Elementary School. Big thanks to the Deptford Mall Virtual Food Drive, Heritage's, Rastelli's, Shoprite of Mullica Hill, local residents who donated turkeys, and Albert's Fresh Produce. AND True North Church of Mullica Hill who collected and donated 1600 pounds of holiday food. One more big thanks to YOU for helping us raise over $15,000 through our Thanksgiving Miss-A-Meal Virtual Fundraiser.
Diaper and Wipes Drive
West Deptford Township hosted a Diaper and Wipes Drive on behalf of the Dream Center on Monday, January 18th in honor of their Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. It was a great success, collecting almost 500 pounds of diapers and wipes from local residents. KLOVE Philly was on site with their mobile unit playing music for the event, as well as Miss West Deptford and Miss Tiny West Deptford who assisted our volunteers with collecting the diapers and data from the donors. A Diaper Drive is a great idea for any organization or individual to help moms and dads care for their little ones.
Winter Kindness
The Dream Center partnered with the Gloucester County CEAS Committee in January by providing hats, gloves, scarves, and socks that were taken to the homeless in preparation for the winter weather. We also passed along hundreds of brand new long underwear tops and bottoms to the homeless and those who travel by foot to work. These were donated by Sergeant Brian Stanker and Anthony Zeak of the New Jersey State Police Agency for Surplus Property (left).
In The News
Dream Center Nominated for
Non-Profit of the Year
What better way to close out 2020 than to be nominated as Non-Profit of the Year at the Greater Woodbury Chamber of Commerce Marquee Awards. It was such a great honor to be in the company of the United Way of Gloucester County and the winner, Family Promise of Southwest New Jersey. Big shout out to Rosemarie Parker and your amazing team for providing stability for homeless families.
Macy’s Making Merry
The Dream Center partnered with Ann Gillespie and the employees of the Deptford Mall Macy's to bring holiday cheer to local parents who needed help with Christmas gifts for their children. Big thanks to Rachel and Tori from Acenda Integrated Health for connecting us with the families they serve. Also, big thanks to Colleen Cooney, and her sisters Sharon and Cathie, and their mom Pat for providing a heap of gifts for a family at the Woodbury Public School, and to the Keegan family of West Deptford for the beautiful gifts they provided as well.
