Samaritan Center Offers Helping Hand to Community

The Samaritan Center food pantry has been serving the Englishtown, Marlboro, Manalapan, and Millstone areas for decades, and does not plan on stopping any time soon.

Located on 211 Route 522, behind the Manalapan Senior Center, the Samaritan Center offers food weekly for individuals and families in need. An interview and registration is required to become a client.

“We really strive to get families good food, based on their preferences,” long-time volunteer Jean Baker said. “We have every person fill out a card we keep on file. You never know if a person has food allergies or any kind of medical condition, so we do the best we can to accommodate everyone.”

Baker and colleague Regina Finn strive to accommodate everyone themselves, but often receive help from the community; everyone from individuals to big and small businesses do their part.

“Target, Wegmans, many of the businesses here, even the big names, have all offered a helping hand,” Finn said. “The support we receive is overwhelming. We don’t even know some of these people’s names! A lot of times we’ll run out of cereal or bread, and a person will come in and bring us food out of kindness, just in the nick of time. They don’t ask for credit and they don’t give their name. They just do it to help. It’s heartwarming.”

“We have a lot of people that come in to do the right thing. We have the Bread Man, the Cereal Man, the Canned Food Lady, Mr. School Supplies," Baker jokes about her often-anonymous contributors, who are simply known by nicknames. "All these people don’t want any glory, they just want to help. Their support, along with the entire community’s really keeps us going.”

From the homeless to people that used to donate but have lost their jobs in the tough economic climate, the Samaritan Center helps all it can.

“The unity in the community is evident here,” Baker says. “We’re so thankful and I know our clients are too.”

The Samaritan Center staff recommends that those in need of food call to make an appointment, before weekly pickup. Pickup dates are Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

For more information on donations and how to volunteer for the Samaritan Center, please call 732-446-1142.