As a Benedictine Catholic school, Delbarton works to foster a culture of service to others, and this idea shines brightly through the Delbarton Service Fair. On September 18th, Delbarton students listened to presentations by each service opportunity with the goal of cultivating participation in service projects. The service projects vary from annual projects like the Raising Hope Suicide Awareness Walk to semi-monthly projects like the Interfaith Food Pantry. The Interfaith Food Pantry begins on October 8th, and represents a great opportunity to help others.
Since 1994, the Interfaith Food Pantry has been a staple of Morris county, helping to solve the issue of food insecurity. In 2019, 30,000 families in Morris county alone suffered from food insecurity. Families that are affected by food insecurity are unable to obtain consistent access to healthy food. In 2023, the Interfaith Food Pantry distributed 2.1 million pounds of food to 39,000 households.
The Interfaith Food Pantry addresses food insecurity in a variety of ways. The goal of the food pantry is to improve the health and well-being of Morris County residents in need by providing access to food, nutrition education and related resources. The Interfaith Food Pantry does not only hand out food, but it also educates and engages the public about the issues of food insecurity in Morris county. The food pantry seeks to end the causes of food insecurity by leveraging strategic partnerships to innovatively address the root causes and impact of food insecurity. Through these actions, the Interfaith Food Pantry has helped many people gain access to happier and healthier lifestyles.
Delbarton students help the Interfaith Food Pantry in its mission to help those in need. Every other Tuesday after school, Delbarton students go by bus to the Interfaith Food Pantry. There, they undertake any activities that are necessary for the food pantry to run efficiently. Between 4:30 and 5:00, the bus takes Delbarton students back to campus. The Interfaith Food Pantry is a great service opportunity for Delbarton students because it exemplifies solidarity. Delbarton students not only show solidarity by helping others in their community, but they also work together to accomplish the tasks. The Interfaith Food Pantry is a great way to bond with your fellow brothers over a common goal.
In the coming weeks, I will write more about the amazing service opportunities Delbarton has to offer, including the Raising Hope Suicide Awareness walk on September 28th.
