Neighbor Spotlight

We are Neighbors Helping Neighbors. Every day members of the Interfaith Neighbors team and over 100 volunteers come together to support our neighbors in the community.

• Preserving Independence with Meals on Wheels

  

  Marjorie Faulhaber has lived in her Asbury Park home since 1956. When we visited, it was all prepped for Valentine’s Day, with red and pink heart décor and tempting jars of candy. She is 90 years old and has been a recipient of Meals on Wheels for two years, which has helped her maintain independence.

  Marjorie is retired from New Jersey Natural Gas, where she worked for 29 years. She spoke about Asbury Park warmly and recounted fond memories of her years in residence. “I’ve loved living in Asbury and being close to the beach. I used to walk the boardwalk every day from Ocean Grove to Avon. I can’t do that distance anymore, but I do still get out to walk around the block” Marjorie explained.
  Two years ago, as Marjorie became more reliant on relatives to help with everyday tasks, she began receiving Meals on Wheels. When asked about how these meals help her everyday life, she stated, “I’m still able to cook unlike some other senior citizens, but the meals delivered through Meals on Wheels supplement whatever I cook and are nice to have when my relatives are unable to take me grocery shopping. They’re a huge convenience in my life.” Marjorie expressed that Meals on Wheels is extremely important for seniors across Monmouth County who are unable to cook or get out to shop without relying on family members and friends for groceries. It allows them to continue living in their own homes.

  “The chili is my favorite! And I always love the vegetable sides and the cereal,” she exclaimed. However, when asked what her favorite part of receiving Meals on Wheels was, she responded, “the people. I love that they’re trustworthy, and I don’t have to worry about anything when they drop off the food. They’ve become my friends.” At this, her regular delivery driver, Shaneal, smiled and they laughed when Shaneal agreed, “we’re buddies!”
  With Meals on Wheels of Monmouth County by her side, Marjorie doesn’t have to worry. Friendly faces checking in and nutritious meals delivered to her doorstep are reassurance for her and allow her to continue living her life in her own home.

• Neighbor Spotlight: Joann Fischer

  

  Every Wednesday Joann Fischer sits at the first desk Interfaith Neighbors’ employees see on their way in, welcoming them with her familiar face. Usually, the individuals that employees get to know are their fellow full-time/part-time employees, working daily or a few times a week for an hourly wage or salary. However, Joann Fischer, is no ordinary familiar face in the office. She is an Interfaith Neighbors volunteer, and an extremely consistent and reliable one at that. Volunteers usually come and go and give their time on their own terms. But Joann has continued to volunteer with Interfaith Neighbors (almost) every Wednesday for the past 9 years.

  Joann volunteers with our Rental and Mortgage Assistance Program, which assists individuals and families with rental and mortgage payments to allow them to remain in their homes during times of financial instability. Before volunteering with IFN, Joann worked in retail for 15 years, and then moved on to work for the Department of Public Works as a Facility Management Specialist.

  Joann explained how she was introduced to IFN, stating “I actually had a neighbor who volunteered here, but I started after seeing an announcement in my church’s bulletin that the organization was looking for volunteers right after I had retired.” Her volunteer work consists of entering data of clients the Rental and Mortgage Program assists into a county database that goes by the acronym HMIS, which is required by Monmouth County under grant agreements. This data not only tracks Interfaith Neighbors’ performance on the grant funding received from the county, but it also helps the county understand the level of need in the community.
  Judy Nelan, Interfaith Neighbors’ Senior Manager of Homeless Prevention through Rental and Mortgage Assistance, remarked, “Joann’s volunteer work helps us tremendously. With the increased volume of calls, our team has limited time to handle other mandatory tasks, like entering HMIS data. We’re so grateful Joann is a consistent, reliable volunteer that allows us to continue our work.”

  Joann described how the program makes a difference, stating, “The assistance Interfaith Neighbors’ Program provides allows people to meet their needs such as groceries, utility bills, and other financial obligations while they’re facing a difficult time.” She also highlighted the growing need, remarking, “it seems as if there are more people on the verge of homelessness than there is money to fulfill their needs.”

  When asked what her favorite part of volunteering with IFN is, Joann responded emphatically, “The people! I love the people I get to work with at IFN and how everyone interacts with one another. It’s almost like one big family, and I think this dynamic helps the employees do their jobs well and assist more people in need.”

  Interfaith Neighbors thanks Joann for her continued service and looks forward to seeing her next Wednesday!

• Neighbor Spotlight | Bethel AME Church & Pat Cooper

  After moving away from her hometown of Neptune to work in other New Jersey cities, such as Camden and Newark, Pat Cooper came back to her community to serve those in need through Bethel AME Church in Asbury Park. Before returning “back home,” Pat gained a wide variety of experience. She was employed at the Department of Labor for over 25 years, then worked for the Employment and Training Commission, and finally, proceeded to open her own business focused on management and consulting.

  

  She began working with Bethel AME Church in 1999 when she returned to the Neptune/Asbury Park area. She served as Chair of the Bethel AME Board from 1999 to around 2013. She now serves as the Director of the Bethel AME Food Pantry. When she first started with the church, she taught soft skills in career preparation and job training classes. Then, Pat wrote a grant that seeded the Bethel AME Food Pantry, allowing them to receive independent donations and connecting them to local food banks to provide food contributions for Bethel AME’s local recipients.

  “The relationship with Kula Farm began when they approached us about using part of our property to grow food and proposed some of the yields be donated to our pantry in return,” Pat recounted. “We were not receiving produce from any major food bank at the time, and I thought this could be a great addition to our supply.”

  Bethel AME Food Pantry not only began to receive produce from Kula Farm, but they also started to get their youth involved in Kula Farm programs. These provide education and hands-on experience in nutrition, wellness, and farming.

  “It’s so important to have access to this fresh, healthy produce to create a well-rounded diet for individuals picking up food from our pantry. I love the fact that it’s also teaching our young people about nutrition, and how they should be treating their bodies” Cooper explained when asked about why this relationship is so valuable. “I’m a firm believer that organizations working together makes for the best service to the community. We are so grateful to be able to have this relationship with Kula Farm,” Cooper continued.

  “The community we serve is primarily Haitian, and Kula has

  

  adapted to their wants and needs by growing produce they request. Our clients seem to love the red spinach, radishes, and dry beans. Many of them have also started eating produce that is new to them and learned how to prepare it, ultimately making their diet more nutritious and well-rounded,” Pat explained. “The community absolutely loves the fresh produce from Kula, and many of them would not have access to it without this relationship.”

  Pat went on to describe the impact our programs make in the community, stating, “We are so grateful for Kula Farm and Interfaith Neighbors for taking an active role in the community and making sure members have access to things that are critical to health, like food and housing.”

  Pat expressed again how important it is for these community members to have access to this fresh healthy food because of the high cost of food and the lack of transportation to distant markets. She described how, oftentimes, when people start receiving a great resource, like the produce provided by Kula, there is fear in the back of their minds that it will suddenly go away. However, Pat expressed her confidence in Kula and IFN’s abilities, stating, “With everything Kula Farm and Interfaith Neighbors is doing now, and how they’re preparing for the future by enlarging their footprint and impact on the community, you can tell they’re in it for the long haul.”

• Neighbor Spotlight | Community Connections

  Diane Shelton seems to know everyone, serving on many committees, while organizing events and initiatives all over Asbury Park. A staff member at Interfaith Neighbors for over five years, Diane is making a deep impact on the lives and communities around her.

  

   After growing up in Neptune and graduating from Neptune High School, Diane went on to earn her B.A. in Sociology and a Master’s in Social Work. As a social worker, she noticed there were patterns in the issues her clients were facing, and there needed to be systemic change to address their needs on a larger scale. This realization led her to macro-social work and her position as the Community Outreach Specialist at Interfaith Neighbors.

  “My role at Interfaith Neighbors is to be a liaison between our organization, the West Side of Asbury Park, community partners, and stakeholders,” Diane explained. She aims to bring encouragement to the community, and act as a role model and a connector.

  “Community events are so important because they allow individuals to become familiar with our organization and its incredible resources. We want to build trust in the community and give them spaces to express themselves and connect with one another,” Diane answered when asked about her initiatives and events.

  Under a grant from the Regional Foundation, Diane facilitates Springwood Avenue Rising, Asbury Park’s Got Talent, and annual mural projects. Springwood Avenue Rising was created while preparing for the 50th Anniversary of the civil unrest that took place on Springwood Avenue in Asbury Park. Diane explained that the community wanted to find ways to emphasize commemorating the black-owned businesses and the vibrant community of the West Side of Asbury Park, instead of focusing on the unrest. Events, including a Springwood Avenue History Tour, along iwth other initiatives were planned, but were interrupted by the COVID-19 Pandemic. With public events now coming back, they have engaged in speeches at libraries and have had two Roundtable Discussions centered around Community History and Involvement of Men in the Community.

   Asbury Park’s Got Talent is an annual community event Diane also facilitates. She explained that this is a “youth-led, adult-guided” event that was born out of kids expressing their desire to have space to display their talents. Each year, try-outs are held with reputable judges, and those who make it go on to the Final Showcase. This year, the showcase was held on May 6th and it was an overwhelming success with incredible performances and community bonding.

  Diane also oversees yearly mural projects in Asbury Park, funded by the Regional Foundation. She strives to have each mural embody a different story and neighborhood collaborations. For instance, the most recent mural project was a collaboration between a local artist and kids from the Boys and Girls Club, while the upcoming project is planned to be a woman-centric mural to promote awareness around women’s rights. “It’s essential for Interfaith Neighbors to be connected to the community we serve because only then can we know how to best be of service. We need to understand their needs, hopes, and struggles to know which programs to implement,” Diane explained. “I hope my work increases awareness about Interfaith and the services we provide, promotes community involvement, and assures community members’ voices are involved in planning and decision-making conversations regarding their community,” Diane shared.

  Diane is the embodiment of our founding principal of ‘neighbors helping neighbors.” Through her connections, organizing, and leading by example, our community and organization get better every day.

• Neighbor Spotlight | A Family Affair

  

  Dee Selheim, Patti Brown, and Jim Walsh are three siblings who were raised in Manasquan with volunteering and giving at the forefront of their family values. Each of them described how their family grew up volunteering and that giving back to their community came naturally to them.

  Interfaith Neighbors is lucky to have all three as faithful and valued volunteers for our Senior Nutrition/Meals on Wheels Program. Dee started in the Spring of 2022 after retiring from her job as the Associate Director of Brookdale Community College, Wall Campus. She currently assists the program by coming in twice a week to answer phone call inquiries for Meals on Wheels and clear the voicemail box. The calls from clients vary, ranging from questions or concerns, to newcomers hoping to sign up for the delivery program. Dee described that one of the best parts of volunteering with IFN is feeling good when she leaves knowing that she helped a senior in need. “So much of the communication can be an endless loop, and it feels good to actually get in contact with the clients and address their needs” she explained.

  Dee was introduced to Interfaith Neighbors and Meals on Wheels by her sister Patti. She and Patti, as well as their brother Jim, spoke about how Meals on Wheels is much more than the meals—it is a wellness check for the seniors they service as well. Patti started delivering meals in 2018 after retiring from teaching Kindergarten. Her brother Jim introduced her to Meals on Wheels and after riding along on his delivery route with him, she was drawn towards volunteering. Since 2021, she has been the site coordinator at Manasquan, helping facilitate delivery routes and delivering meals on an as-needed basis. Patti said her favorite part is chatting with the clients upon delivery and giving them a friendly face. Patti has been a jack-of-all-trades, and has also assisted with answering phones, like her sister Dee. She and Dee both agree that one of the most challenging parts of the job is dealing with those who don’t qualify due to living with family members or not being completely homebound.

  The starting point of this family volunteer chain reaction was Jim Walsh, Dee and Patti’s brother, who has been volunteering, delivering meals, with Meals on Wheels for about 20 years. He is still employed full-time in sales, and with his job requiring more travel as of late, he volunteers when he can. “There is so much need in the world. I do what I can, and I feel that if everyone pitched in even just a little it could really create change,” Jim described.
  Interfaith Neighbors is extremely grateful to have this wonderful family dedicated to helping those in need. Dee, Patti, and Jim are “three of a kind”, and we thank their parents for raising them to give back to their community.

  If you are interested in volunteering for the Meals on Wheels program, please contact Jennifer at [email protected] or 732-637-2146.

• Neighbor Spotlight | Meet Sade Mills

  Employed by Interfaith Neighbors for just over a year, Sade Mills has already risen above and beyond, and exceeded her own expectations. Sade started in the Meals on Wheels program as a part-time meal delivery driver in January 2022. In that role, she delivered meals to congregate sites in Middletown and Keyport, where senior citizens can come to the Senior Centers for lunch. After returning from delivering meals, she would assemble meal bags to be distributed on door-to-door home routes.

  

  Her role has since changed, and changed again! After showing her dedication and abilities, she took up the position as the Howell Senior Center Site Manager, which entailed managing the kitchen and serving the meals to seniors who came to the center. She began to learn the Meals on Wheels software system in her role as site manager at Howell, adding new clients and managing the home delivery routes. This led to her next role, another promotion, working in the main Interfaith Neighbors office assisting the Nutrition Program Director, Beth Paterno. Sade enters client information into the system and coordinates delivery routes for the county-wide program, while also delivering meals on an as needed basis.

  “It means a lot for me to be employed by an organization that many people are even just excited to volunteer for,” Sade explained. She described how great a feeling it is to help people, and that she is so grateful for the Interfaith Neighbors leadership team for believing in her and allowing her role to grow.

  “My favorite part is getting to tell people that I am helping to make a change in people’s lives when they ask what I do for a living,” Sade stated with a smile on her face. She went on to explain how delivering meals gives seniors not only nourishment, but also social interaction and a friendly face.

  Sade’s dream is to acquire her degree in Sociology and to become a social worker and/or to open her own daycare. She loves children and helping people, and feels like Meals on Wheels and Interfaith Neighbors is a great fit for her.