St. Stephen Asbury Park hosts 2nd Annual Community Day And Provides Backpacks for Over 1400 Students

Asbury Park, NJ- For the second year in a row, St. Stephen A.M.E.Z Church, Community Karma, and Asbury Park Little League, in collaboration with various community organizations, came together for Community Day on Sunday, August 25th. Immediately after Sunday's Worship Service, church members and volunteers from all over the greater Asbury Park community, came together to give back to the community and prepare children and families for the upcoming school year. Community Day 2024, which took place in the parking lot of the St. Stephen A.M.E.Z Church, kicked off with a Resolution from the State of New Jersey Senate and General Assembly by Senator Vin Gopal and Assemblywomen Margie Donlon and Luanne Peterpaul presented to the organizers for all their efforts and success. In the weeks leading up to the event, volunteers packed over 1,400 backpacks filled with school supplies to be distributed to children and families. While it was strongly recommended to pre-register, anyone who attended and needed a backpack received one. Organizations collected so many backpacks that there were still bags and supplies available for pick-up the week following the event. Rev. Quavon Newton, Pastor of St. Stephen, expressed his gratitude for the work of all the volunteers, "every time we have an event, I am astounded at how everything comes together. We [St. Stephen] are a part of this community, and we are doing our part to take care of our community and the people in it. We never have to beg for help, people show up and keep showing up, day after day. We had volunteers at the church packing bags and helping to organize all day, every day, for weeks. It's truly a blessing to see and be a part of."

In addition to backpacks and school supplies, Everybody Eats, a local organization fired up the grill and fed over 1,000 people. Local barbers and hair braiders generously offered their time and skills, giving free haircuts and braiding styles so that children of all ages would feel good and look their best to start the school year. The St. Stephen Health and Wellness Ministry provided on-the-spot health checks, ensuring attendees had access to essential healthcare services. In a show of civic engagement, the Monmouth Ocean County Pan Hellenic Council, representing the Divine 9 organizations, conducted a voter registration drive. They registered many first-time voters and helped verify voter eligibility for others.

The St. Stephen's Women's Home and Overseas Missionary Society, led by Sis. Sabrina Fowler, with the help of First Lady and District Officer Sis. Ashley Newton collected new and gently used school uniforms and back-to-school clothing that were freely given to children of all ages, along with 200 pairs of brand-new shoes. The Asbury Book Cooperative was also represented, handing out hundreds of free books to promote literacy and encourage reading just in time for the school year.

Community Day featured a host of fun-filled activities for the whole family. There were games, face painting, arts and crafts, bounce houses, and lots of free treats including popcorn, cotton candy, and Italian ice. In a powerful demonstration of faith and support, the St. Stephen Evangelism Ministry offered prayer and the message of salvation to attendees. Many individuals took this opportunity to accept Christ and receive prayer. Bishop George D. Crenshaw, Presiding Prelate of the North Eastern Episcopal District, showed his excitement for the work being done at the St. Stephen church, "I am grateful for the visionary leadership displayed by Pastor Newton and the insightful community partnership of the St. Stephen Church. Lives are indeed being changed and hope restored!"

St. Stephen A.M.E.Z Church, Community Karma, Asbury Park Little League, and all participating organizations helped fill St. Stephen's parking lot with more than just tangible items. The atmosphere was filled with generosity, love, and an overwhelming sense of community. Community Day has become a highly anticipated and carefully planned event, an end-of-summer tradition to continue year after year. Celia Cattani, Community Karma's founder, remarked, "Community Day gives everyone in Asbury Park an opportunity to come together and support children and families to have a great school year. Community Karma is excited to be a partner in this effort and grateful to the donors and volunteers who help make this all possible."

Since the inaugural Community Day, St. Stephen has partnered with Community Karma and Coach Will Wright, President of the Asbury Park Little League Board of Directors, for a Community Thanksgiving, Holiday Toy Giveaway, and the Family Festival: Honoring Our Fathers, in collaboration with the United Fellowship Food Pantry for the NJ N2Shore Festival, which was a celebration of fatherhood. Collectively, the partnership has fed close to 5,000 people, helped over 700 families, including nearly 2,000 children, with gifts during the holiday season, and provided over 1500 children with back-to-school supplies this summer and last year. They have also brought an immeasurable amount of joy to the Asbury Park community. The overwhelming success of the trio's efforts highlights the power of collaboration and the importance of coming together to uplift and support our community. As Coach Will reminded the organizers, "We make a living by what we get- we make a life by what we give. Never stop giving!"