Berkeley Heights Local 144 members continue to give back to those in need.
Members coordinated an opportunity for the community to donate food to Father Andy Prachar and the Little Flower Church.
The Local collected canned goods and non-perishable items from Jan. 12 until Feb. 1, leading up to a major donation.
The fact that the drive fell during Martin Luther King Jr. Day was no coincidence. Local 144 State Delegate Patrick Moran said it was symbolic of Dr. King’s mission to help others.
When word got out about the collection, Moran says the Berkeley Heights community showed up immediately.
“It was a tremendous effort by our township and I guess by getting the word out on social media and the church making a mention, we had barrels full of stuff,” Moran said.
Those barrels were then loaded onto two trucks and dropped off at the church — a sight that left Father Andy in complete awe of the town’s generosity.
Those barrels of food would go on to make a difference in the lives of thousands of families, but more than that it was a chance for Local 144 to use their influence in a positive way.
“People always deal with the police in a negative aspect,” Moran added. “But now you’re in church, you’re sorting the cans, you’re sorting the pastas, you’re working together.”
