60 Baskets of Hope Delivered to Atlantic City Families
Students, faculty and staff gathered to create care baskets for families in need this November.
Galloway, N.J. – Thanks to the tireless efforts of Stockton University students, faculty and staff, 60 families were able to receive all the staples and trimmings fit for a Thanksgiving feast.
Harvest of Hope, which was spearheaded in 2021 during Stockton’s 50th anniversary celebration, is a program where students involved with Residential Life, the Dean of Students Office, Student Affairs and the Residential Scholars program utilize donations to create giant care packages for families in need right before the holidays.
The baskets — which included canned and boxed goods, as well as a $20 gift card — were then distributed to the families of Asbury Methodist Church in Atlantic City by Associate Dean of Students Marques Johnson and Director of Residential Life Steven Radwanski.
During a celebratory dinner in the Fannie Lou Hamer Event Room in Stockton – Atlantic City last week, students were encouraged to bring their families to discuss the project. According to Johnson, the love felt in the room was palpable, and the project demonstrated Stockton’s commitment to being “of Atlantic City, and not just in Atlantic City.”
“Stockton’s mission has always been and continues to be connected to civic engagement. Seeing our students embrace this part of our identity by leading with their hearts through service to our community is one of the most gratifying experiences. Their work in serving at Asbury United Methodist’s soup kitchen is one of many acts of kindness during this season of gratitude,” Johnson said.
The holiday season isn’t over yet, and neither is Johnson. The Dean of Students Office has teamed up with the Atlantic City Board of Education and Romanelli’s Garden Café for Operation Osprey, a toy drive that will benefit selected families during the winter holidays. The Galloway restaurant anticipates matching every toy donated and dropped off either at the Dean of Students Office or the Atlantic City residential halls by Dec. 11.
“For those who are able, please consider dropping an unwrapped toy at any of our locations to help bring a little more cheer to those during this holiday season,” Johnson said. “That is what we call Stockton Friendly.”
– Story by Loukaia Taylor
– Photos submitted by Marques Johnson
Students Donate Food Baskets to Sister Jean's Pantry
November 24, 2021
Galloway, N.J. – Stockton University students presented 25 Thanksgiving baskets to Sister Jean’s Pantry as part of the Holiday Harvest dinner Nov. 23 at the Stockton Atlantic City Residential Complex coordinated by Stockton Residential Life, Dean of Students Office, Student Affairs and the Residential Scholars Program.
The Rev. John Scotland, executive director of the Friends of Jean Webster accepted the baskets on behalf of Sister Jean’s Pantry.
“We all know there’s a great deal of food scarcity in Atlantic City,” Scotland said. “For Stockton students to be aware of that and for them to work as hard as they have worked to make sure that people who don’t have enough to eat have the resources, like these baskets, I think that’s tremendous, not just for the relationship between Stockton and Atlantic City, but for the lifelong learning that these students are getting from that kind of service project.”
– Story by Diane D’Amico
