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On Christmas day, Earl Colclough was hanging out with some friends at Journal Square. A man approached him and invited him to a Christmas dinner at a church in downtown Jersey. For Colclough, a hot meal seemed much better than the cheeseburger that he was planning to eat.
"I feel good. I feel blessed, "said Colclough while he indulged in his plate full of ham, macaroni and cheese, ziti and meatballs.
Dressed in a beige hat with" I LOVE JESUS "In bold and black, he said," I'm anyway, I am very grateful for what people do for me. "
And he makes it clear to the man who proposed him to take a turn at the party, Mark Muntzel.
" It was really C & # 39; s great to see how much people are grateful and grateful, "said Muntzel, who drove the Honda Civic in Jersey City around Jersey in search of people in need. "Such a small gesture brought them so much gratitude."
Thanks to Grace Church Van Vorst and the St. Matthews Lutheran Church, at least 100 needy people received a hot meal at Grace Church's downtown Jersey City on Christmas Day. Tuesday's effort was made by children, parents, volunteers, pastors and parishioners all standing on deck to feed some of Jersey City's most vulnerable and food-insecure community. .
"I think it's very important because at one point. There is a lot of hate and ugliness in the world, we are a place where people from all walks of life, rich and homeless, can come together and have a meal, "said Myrna Perez, coordinator of the Christmas dinner That's why we do it. "
Many people sitting at the round table covered with red tablecloths were entertaining themselves by drinking sodas, fruit juices and cookies decorated with colorful icing.
"I helped make biscuits with the kids," said Abby, a 15-year-old volunteer who lives in Brooklyn but made the trip with her family to help out. "It was really messy, but it was really fun."
Abby's 12-year-old brother, Jack, helped organize the utensils and give the tables a presentable appearance.
"One of my favorite roles was probably being able to converse with people from all walks of life … who are not like me, "said Jack.
The Christmas dinner feast is an annual effort for nearly six years by the two inner city churches, whose funds come entirely from donations. At least 50 people have either brought or prepared food for this year's dinner, said Perez.
Both churches also provide a hot breakfast at Grace Church every Saturday and Sunday – which Perez also helps to coordinate.
"As a Christian, I am called to feed the hungry," she reasoned, adding that the annual Christmas dinner began when church members realized that many people were not going to eat. had no place to go for Christmas.
Georgia Gordon, a friend of Colclough's, had no plans for Christmas before being offered a ride to Grace's church.
"I was like," Go, let's go! "Gordon said about the dinner offer." The food is really good. "The macaroni Cheese and ham were his favorite
Gordon said that she usually spent the holidays with her kids, but that they were traveling this year. "Everyone is friendly and kind." J & # "She likes the environment," she said of dinner.
The dinner was filled with enthusiastic volunteers who served brown rice, hari green cots, ham, meatballs, chicken wings, potatoes and more.
"These are all people who are here because we love our neighbors and want to show them respect, give them a good meal and make them feel the warmth of the season," said Perez. [19659002] was grateful to have had the chance to be accompanied by three of his friends at Christmas dinner.
"I believe in God more than anything in the world … I feel very blessed."
Aya Elamroussi can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @aya_elamroussi . Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook
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