Church Youth Group Bakes Hundreds of Pies for Local Families

First Presbyterian Church of Newton Youth Group members prepare to bake hundreds of pies for Sussex County families.

NEWTON, NJ - A joint effort between the Youth Group at the First Presbyterian Church of Newton and Race’s Farm in Blairstown will result in full bellies for many hungry families this Thanksgiving.

Youth group members, ranging in age from sixth through twelfth grade, recently gathered in the kitchen at the First Presbyterian church to roll out dough, slice apples, and mix ingredients for more than 150 pumpkin and apple pies which will be given to Sussex County families through Project Self-Sufficiency’s Thanksgiving food distribution effort.  Apples for the massive undertaking were donated by Race’s Farm in Blairstown, which has contributed produce to the youth group project for many years.

“The Youth Group has been making pies for Project Self-Sufficiency for the past seven years,” noted Colleen Duffy, Associate for Family Nurture at the First Presbyterian Church.  “It has become a tradition and the kids love serving the community in this way year after year.”

Project Self-Sufficiency distributes complete Thanksgiving dinners to hundreds of local families each November.  “Project Self-Sufficiency has depended on volunteers since its inception in 1986, and we are very grateful to the Youth Group at the First Presbyterian Church for identifying a need and working together to create these delicious, home baked pies for our participants,” commented Deborah Berry-Toon, Executive Director of Project Self-Sufficiency.

Project Self-Sufficiency is a private non-profit community-based organization dedicated to improving the lives of low-income families residing in northwestern New Jersey.  The agency’s mission is to provide a broad spectrum of holistic, respectful, and comprehensive services enabling low-income single parents, teen parents, two-parent families, and displaced homemakers to improve their lives and the lives of their children while achieving personal and economic self-sufficiency and family stability.  Since 1986 Project Self-Sufficiency has served more than 19,500 families, including over 30,000 children.

To make a donation to Project Self-Sufficiency’s Thanksgiving food drive, or to find out more about the programs and services at Project Self-Sufficiency, call 973-940-3500, or visit www.projectselfsufficiency.org.

Source: http://thealternativepress.com