Local Alumni Help Those in Need

They may have already graduated from but recently a group of former students spent time at Simon's Soup Kitchen in Seaside Heights for some community service work. 

The idea for helping the kitchen came after the school's Vice President Joanne Nelson heard they were in need of assistance and got the Social Justice Group involved in the project. Thanks to a bake sale and private donations the group raised more than $400  to pay for the meals. 

The Social Justice Group is made up of seventh and eighth graders who the kitchen said were too young to volunteer. Needing to complete community service the young students got help from the recent graduates. The older students came from high schools like St. rose, St. John Vianney, Red Bank Catholic, Christian Brothers Academy and Monsignor Donovan. 

When their alma mater called they answered and made the trip to Seaside to represent their old school as former members of the Social Justice Group. Their time at the kitchen included serving a hot meal including corned beef and cabbage and greeting the people they helped with a much welcome smile. 

Debbie DiBella said the volunteers provided a good service for people who needed the help. "This service not only represented how St. Veronica School reaches out to help others, but also shows how our alumni are still connected in a real and tangible way," she said. 

The kitchen serves the community on Tuesday and Friday nights from October through April and is sponsored by local Knights of Columbus Council 8415. So far more than 45 thousand meals have been served at the location. For more information check out the kitchen's website.