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| Agency Mission and CAP Promise |
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The agency's mission is to provide services that improve the quality of life and promote self-sufficiency.
CAP Promise: Community Action changes people's lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community, and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.
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| Contact Information |
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Rivers Edge Campus
(Headquarters)
110 Cohansey Street
Bridgeton, NJ
08302
(856) 451-6330
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The name Gateway Community Action Partnership reflects our expanded coverage area, but more importantly, it signifies what we are all about. We are a gateway to success for individuals and families in our community and we achieve those results through actions done in partnership within that very community we serve. So please take a minute to read our newsletter and learn more about our successes and struggles as we serve a Gateway to Community Action in Partnership with others for everyone's benefit!
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Gateway, Bancroft Form Dynamic Partnership
To Provide Employment Services And Job Training
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Bancroft's Adult Employment Services program has been working with Gateway Community Action Partnership since 2013 providing employment services and job training for individuals with developmental disabilities. Bancroft, a non-profit agency specializing in providing programs and services for individuals with autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities and those in need of neurological rehabilitation, selects participants from its Adult Employment Services Program and hires them to work at Gateway CAP's Mill Creek Urban Farm and the Gateway Food Pantry. All Bancroft clients and staff receive USDA approved training on how to properly handle food and how to accurately run the food pantry. Bancroft believes that every person has a right to employment that is fulfilling and enjoyable.
Bancroft program participants, Andrew and Kevin, currently work in the Gateway Community Action Partnership Food Pantry packaging food boxes and produce bags for food distribution throughout Cumberland County. Monday through Thursday Andrew and Kevin, accompanied by their Bancroft staff members, come to the food pantry ready to work. Every Friday, the program participants with the assistance of Bancroft staff members distribute food to Gateway CAP's Spring Gardens Senior Housing Complex which is made up of a 125-unit apartment complex in Vineland and home to the Alzheimer's Adult Day Care Center. Andrew and Kevin go door- to- door, distributing food boxes to the residents of the Spring Gardens Housing Complex.
Marcus Weaver, Director of Agriculture and Food Initiatives at Gateway, leads this project between Gateway CAP and Bancroft. Weaver, who has been very hands-on and involved in the project the past four years, is thrilled to provide Andrew and Kevin the opportunity to contribute and work in the community. When talking about the program, Weaver stated:
"Working with Bancroft to develop the food pantry project has been rewarding to me. To see these too-frequently-sidelined individuals engaged in a meaningful activity which helps others is truly fulfilling. Everyone benefits: low income seniors receive a regular delivery of groceries, the autistic participants get out and perform an activity that benefits their communities, and the Gateway Food Pantry receives a boost from the added hands helping with the work." Weaver hopes to continue to partner with Bancroft to provide individuals with employment and learning opportunities in the workforce and in the community.
As a part of the Gateway/Bancroft Food Pantry project, two employees have been key in the day to day operation of the program. Katie Curran, Autism Consultant, and Jessica Johnston, Program Associate, both support Andrew and Kevin in their employment with Gateway. The two, who have been working with the program since its inception, stated that Gateway has been both warm and welcoming to Bancroft clients and staff.
Curran, who provides clinical support for Andrew and Kevin, explained that Gateway CAP has created a great environment in which both Andrew and Kevin are thriving, as they are working and giving back to their community. Johnston described this project as a "positive experience that allows the adults who participate in the program the opportunity to spend positive time in the community and receive hands on experience in the work force.'' Johnston, who provides job support daily to Andrew and Kevin, believes the program has been very successful since it began four years ago. Both Ms. Curran and Ms. Johnston describe the young men who participate in this program as having "all smiles" when they come to the Gateway Food Pantry to work. The parents of both Andrew and Kevin described
In addition to Bancroft and Gateway staff being instrumental in the success of the project, the parents of Andrew and Kevin have also been a tremendous support to the two young men who work in the Gateway Food Pantry. Theresa McCormick, the mother of Kevin who works at the Gateway Food Pantry, described the experience as being humbling. "Everyone at the Gateway Food Pantry has been so welcoming to Kevin and so open-minded,'' said McCormick. She goes on to say that her family appreciates the opportunity that Gateway has given her son and thanks Gateway for teaching her son Kevin to have confidence in himself. "If it wasn't for the food pantry, we wouldn't know the skills that Kevin has," McCormick said. "We can't thank Gateway enough."
Lisa McCauley Parles, Esq., the mother of Andrew, and also an attorney that provides legal representation of children and adults with special needs and their families, describes the Gateway Food Pantry project as being one the best programs she has ever seen. She explains how the project gives wonderful community based experiences for people who have challenges. One thing she admires about the project is how the staff and volunteers at the Gateway Food Pantry celebrate Andrew and Kevin's successes, and are genuinely interested in helping the two be successful in the program. Parles says that Gateway's Food Pantry program "allows individuals with autism the chance to give back to their community and allows them to interact with other members of society.'' The Parles family would like to recognize the hard work of the staff that come to support the young men daily and thanks them helping to make their son's day meaningful. "Katie Curran is the genius around the success of the program. We can't thank Gateway and Bancroft enough for the support that they provide for both Andrew and Kevin," Parcel said.
Last year, Gateway CAP's Food Pantry distributed more than 300,000 pounds of food throughout Cumberland County. Half of this food was distributed to individuals, including those who are residents of Spring Gardens. The other half went to local soup kitchens, churches, shelters and programs such as Gateway's CODE BLUE program and Hotel/Motel Transitional Housing Shelter Support program. Bancroft plans to continue to partner with Gateway to provide individuals with meaningful employment and service learning opportunities in the community for years to come. In the future, Bancroft hopes to expand the number of participants involved in the program and increase the number of jobs available for Bancroft clients. Bancroft would like to give a big thank you to Gateway for providing employment opportunities for young men and women with developmental disabilities.
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Andrew (left) and Kevin hold Holiday Crafts that they made to be donated to the seniors at Gateway CAP's Spring Gardens Senior Housing Complex. Materials for the crafts were donated by the Parcel family. The Parcel family has also donated items to the Gateway Food Pantry to help improve accessibility for the Bancroft Autistic participants and to help other volunteers who work at the food pantry feel comfortable.
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Gateway Celebrates MLK, Jr. Day With Community Service
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Albert B. Kelly, the President and CEO of Gateway Community Action Partnership and the Mayor of Bridgeton, wanted an activity that would truly honor the memory of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the day celebrating the iconic civil rights leader.
Kelly decided upon a day of community service in Bridgeton to go along with inspiring messages from local leaders and community-minded men and women.
Between gatherings in the morning and afternoon at the Marino Center honoring Dr. King, youth and adult leaders swept through Bridgeton in teams, picking up and bagging litter to beautify the city.
"This year, we wanted to do something different," Kelly said on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on January 16. "It was important that we didn't just celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King's memory by merely talking about it, but being active and doing something. It's important that we keep the dream alive by doing something constructive."
The youth worked hard, did a great job and learned something about the value of community service.
But the day had another positive component. Local leaders and role models gave of their time to the youth. They sat around tables with the youth and talked about their experiences and their pathways to success. They offered helping hands. They made an impression.
Among the leaders were: Mr. Kelly; Jennifer Webb-McRae, the first African-American and female prosecutor in Cumberland County; Dr. Yves Salomon-Fernandez, the President of Cumberland County College and Gateway board member; youth leader Karen Barnett; Bridgeton City Councilwoman Gladys Lugardo-Hemple; Dawn Watkins from Stockton University; youth and basketball league leader John Fuqua; and Demetrica Todd-Cruz, who shortly after was sworn in as the first African-American and female municipal judge in Vineland.
Each delivered a message of hope and encouragement. They stressed the importance of education and/or training that would lead to a bright future.
Dr. Salomon-Fernandez, who arrived in the United States from Haiti "with nothing," and spoke no English, is a shining example of how someone can overcome many financial and social challenges to rise to the top of a chosen profession.
"I want you to have opportunities," Dr. Salomon-Fernandez said. "I want you to be the best you can be. Aim for the stars. You have a community that is behind you and people who care about you. When you think things are hard, just think about the alternative. Think about all the other people who have worked really hard for you to have the opportunities and privileges you have. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. put his life in danger. He was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice - which he did make it - so that we can have the rights and privileges that we have. Think about his legacy every day."
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Gateway Recognizes Irma Clark For Her 30 Years of Service To Agency
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Staff at Gateway Community Action Partnership celebrated Irma Clark's 30 years at Gateway with a surprise party that included a luncheon, cake, flowers, testimonials and a gift.
Clark, Gateway's Director of Administrative Services and one of the most beloved staff members at Gateway, served as Mr. Albert B. Kelly's Executive Assistant for many years.
"I would not be where I am today if it wasn't for you supporting me," said Kelly, Gateway's President and CEO. "Thank you for your dedication, your loyalty and your hard work. We're the No. 1 Community Action Agency in New Jersey, it's all because of people like you and everybody in this room. I appreciate the work that you have done."
Clark, surrounded by fellow staff members and friends, said: "Thanks, everyone. I like what I do and I have so much fun. I like the people I work with. You have to like what you do in order to stay at a job this long. So make sure you like what you do."
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Gateway Literacy Program Conducting Tutor Trainings Starting March 22
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Gateway Community Action Partnership's Literacy Services Department will conduct a Literacy Volunteers tutor training session in Vineland beginning March 22. Pre-registration is required. Trained tutors will work one-on-one with adult learners who need help reading, writing, or speaking English.
The training course will be held five consecutive Wednesday evenings from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at PathStone Corporation, 76 W. Landis Ave., Vineland. Class dates are March 22 and 29 and April 5, 12 and 19, with a snow date of April 26.
Residents of Cumberland and Salem counties can register for the training.
The training is free and open to the public, but tutor trainees must attend at least four of the five sessions to graduate and become certified to tutor. Tutors will be trained in ESL and basic literacy.
Gateway has provided literacy services in Cumberland and Salem counties for the past 21 years and is accredited by Literacy New Jersey and ProLiteracy. Trained tutors generally meet one to two hours per week with learners.
For additional information, or to sign up this or future training sessions, call Laura Stanton at 856-497-6645.
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2017 Gateway Golf Classic On May 18 At Stockton Seaview Hotel & Golf Club
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Gateway Golf Classic
May 18, 2017
Stockton Seaview Hotel & Golf Club
For more information on registration and sponsorships, call 856-497-6652 or e-mail [email protected].
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A Warm Welcome To Gateway Community Action Partnership's Newest Employees
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Welcome To Gateway CAP's New Hires!
Jakeline Galarza, Head Start
Noel Cossaboon, Head Start
Violet Plummer, Early Head Start
Barbara Saunders, Early Head Start
Briana Miller, Head Start
Camila Matheus, Head Start
Rasha Mohamed, Head Start
Deborah Long, Head Start
Suzanne Wentworth, Head Start
Shawn O'Connor, Head Start
Carmen Cruz, Head Start
Cathy Humes, Head Start
Ni'Keema Thompson, Early Head Start
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Support Gateway CAP By Shopping At AmazonSmile
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| You can support Gateway's mission "to provide services that improve the quality of life and promote self-sufficiency" while shopping at Amazon's "AmazonSmile" during this holiday season or any time of year. Please click on the link below the next time you shop. More information about the program follows the link. Thank you. Click Here To Donate To Gateway Through AmazonSmile!
What is AmazonSmile?
AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support Gateway Community Action Partnership every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at
smile.amazon.com, you'll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to Gateway.
How do I shop at AmazonSmile?
To shop at AmazonSmile simply click on the link above or go to
smile.amazon.com from the web browser on your computer or mobile device. You may also want to add a bookmark to
smile.amazon.com to make it even easier to return and start your shopping at AmazonSmile.
Which products on AmazonSmile are eligible for charitable donations?
Tens of millions of products on AmazonSmile are eligible for donations. You will see eligible products marked "Eligible for AmazonSmile donation" on their product detail pages. Recurring Subscribe-and-Save purchases and subscription renewals are not currently eligible.
Can I use my existing Amazon.com account on AmazonSmile?
Yes, you use the same account on Amazon.com and AmazonSmile. Your shopping cart, Wish List, wedding or baby registry, and other account settings are also the same.
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A
round Gateway Community Action Partnership ... News and Notes
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Local 6th grade students from Melvin H Kreps Middle School came to Hightstown Head Start on a literacy adventure! The students read books and made crafts with the preschool classes. The children had so much fun engaging and interacting with their "big reading buddies."
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Internet Essentials
, a program offered by Comcast, gives income-eligible families access to the Internet for $9.95 a month with no activation fee, equipment fees or price increases. Having the Internet enables children to do homework, type reports or do research and enables the parents to e-mail teachers as well as look for jobs, pay bills or find doctors.
Gateway Community Action Partnership is working with Comcast to inform families of the program. Internet Essentials is available to households that have children eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program or if they receive HUD housing assistance. They must reside in a Comcast service area and must not have subscribed to Comcast Internet in the last 90 days or have overdue Comcast bills. Also, low-cost computers are being offered for $149.99 and free training is accessible if needed. To get more information or to sign up, visit www.internetessentials.com or call 1-855-846-8376. ... Gateway operates the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants & Children (WIC) in Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic and Salem counties. The program provides supplemental foods, nutrition education, lactation support, immunization education and health care referrals to income-eligible pregnant women, new mothers, infants and children up to age 5. Gateway WIC serves more than 23,000 clients annually through flexible hours through its eight (8) offices and a full-service, health screening mobile office. WIC is an equal opportunity program. If you believe you have been discriminated against because of race, color, national origin, age, sex or handicap, write immediately to: USDA, Director-Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC, 20250 - 9410. For additional information on the Gateway WIC program or nearest office location and hours of operation, call the Gateway WIC program at 856-451-5600 or 856-225-5050. ... Gateway's Head Start program is once again sponsoring the Child Care Food Program. This program is designed to provide meals to children receiving services in Head Start centers located throughout Atlantic, Cape May, Mercer, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties. Meals are available at no separate charge to all children 12 and under enrolled in the Child Care Food Program and are served without regard to race, color, national origin, disability, age or sex.
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Sincerely,
Michael Cudemo
Gateway Community Action Partnership
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