Grant Spotlight:

ECS-NJ Supports Community-led Projects That Uplift and Nourish

At ECS-NJ), we believe that real change begins at the grassroots level, with people coming together to support one another and build stronger, healthier communities. One of our core missions is to encourage and empower parishes and local partners as they respond to the needs of their neighbors. That’s why we are excited to highlight the new community garden initiative taking root at St. John’s, a project that reflects the spirit of collaboration and compassion at the heart of our work.

Special Feature: St. John’s Plants Seeds of Hope in the Community

What began as a vision of parishioner Paul Chalifour is now becoming a reality: St. John’s Garden for the Community. This inspiring project serves two important purposes—providing fresh, healthy produce to local food ministries and bringing people together through shared work and fellowship in the garden.

St. John’s has partnered with organizations such as Lunch Break through their “Project Citizen Gardeners” initiative, and with Saint Brigid’s Pantry in Long Branch, ensuring that the food grown will go directly to those facing food insecurity in the surrounding area.

Thanks to the hard work of volunteers, the garden is already taking shape. Permits have been secured, compost and soil have been laid, raised beds are built and fenced, and planting is underway. Perhaps most exciting is the growing interest from those outside the church, neighbors and friends who are lending their hands and hearts to help this garden flourish.

“I’m very happy to say that we have already involved many people from outside of our church in this project and look forward to including significantly more as we get our legs beneath us” says Paul Chalifour.

The project has already brought so many people together, and we can’t wait to see how it continues to grow.

With every seed sown, St. John’s is nurturing not only the land but also the spirit of partnership, service, and hope.