NJCDC Hosts 15th Annual Holiday Party for Children and Families in Need
Monday, January 26th, 2009On December 24, 2008, New Jersey Community Development Corporation (NJCDC) hosted its 15th annual holiday party at the Bishop Rodimer Community Center on Grand Street in Paterson. 
The annual party, which is a culmination of a month-long gift and food drive, was attended this year by close to 400 people and served over 500 children from Paterson.
Businesses throughout New Jersey participated and their employees donated over 1500 toys and food items. The gifts were wrapped and bundled together for families referred to NJCDC by New Jersey Department of Youth and Family Services, Catholic Charities and other local agencies. NJCDC’s AmeriCorps volunteers organized the drive, from recruiting companies to dropping off/picking up collection boxes to planning activities for the children during the holiday party.
“This is the longest running special event of NJCDC, and with the current state of the economy, there was an even greater need for generosity this past Christmas,” said Bob Guarasci, NJCDC President. 
“In fact, the need has become so great that the party has outgrown the NJCDC headquarters on Spruce Street. For the first time, we hosted the holiday party at the Bishop Rodimer Community Center on Grand Street. We are thankful to Fr. Mark Giordani and the staff of St. John Cathedral for letting us partner with them to host this party for over 500 children. We are also so very thankful to the many businesses in the area for their donations of gifts and toys. They made this Christmas special for so many.”
At the event, children met and had pictures taken with Santa, participated in games, made ornaments, and took part in dance contests and other fun activities to begin the Christmas holiday. Attendees at the party included Jennifer Velez, Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Human Services, and Rowena Madden, New Jersey AmeriCorps Director. The event is made possible annually through the generosity of Bill Albanese and Rosemary Ravella in memory of Arthur Ravella III.
