Meet our 2024 Shore to Rock Hunger Honorees
Nourishing Neighbors Award - Project Seeds of Service, Inc.
Project S.O.S. Seeds of Service, Inc. ("SOS") was established as an outgrowth of The Ministry, Visitation Relief Center of Visitation Roman Catholic Church. The grassroots efforts of The Ministry, Visitation Relief Center began shortly after Hurricane Sandy in November of 2012. The Ministry's mission was to focus on improving the process of receiving assistance and increasing access to resources in times of adversity or need. In 2018, it was decided the Visitation Relief Center ministry had fulfilled its mission. However throughout the process of serving the community, non-disaster-related unmet needs were uncovered. To address these unmet needs, a separate organization with a new mission was formed: Project S.O.S. Seeds Of Service, Inc. Today, Project S.O.S. Seeds Of Service, Inc. is currently providing 28 services to the sick, the poor and the needy in Ocean County. All services are provided free to all registered families at SOS. We are open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, in order to accommodate the schedules of working-class families. These services are split between three departments: (a) Outreach; (b) Sustainability; and (c) Development.
Fulfill is proud to call Project Seeds of Service one of our partners. The open-choice food pantry allows families to choose the food they want instead of having to wait to be given food. It also gives families more variety which can restore a sense of control and independence. Fulfill's Resource Connection Team also conducts outreach at Seeds of Service twice a month to help connect families with resources such as SNAP benefits, affordable healthcare and utility assistance. Seeds of Service is a great resource for Fulfill, allowing us to send our neighbors in need for services that include mental health and drug addiction assistance, immigration-related support, help for the homeless, life skill development, and help locating much-needed household items.
Collaborative Changemaker Award - Brookdale Community College
Brookdale Community College was founded in July 1967 by the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, who purchased the Brookdale Farm for the purpose of building a community college for residents. Today, Brookdale is Monmouth County's official county college, led by Dr. David M. Stout since 2018.
Dr. David M. Stout, appointed as Brookdale Community College's 7th President in May 2018, brings a wealth of experience from various leadership roles within the institution. With a focus on strategic planning and student success, Dr. Stout has implemented initiatives to enhance enrollment, facility management, financial planning, and program development tailored to Monmouth County residents' needs. Noteworthy achievements include optimizing student services, initiating community outreach programs to foster educational opportunities, and contributing to mental health initiatives in Monmouth County. Dr. Stout holds a Master's Degree in Psychological Counseling and a Ph.D. in Health Psychology & Behavioral Medicine.
An examination of Brookdale's approach under the leadership of Dr. Stout shows a focus on addressing the needs of the whole student, no matter what path in life took them to Brookdale, led by a spirit of collaborative leadership and impact. That focus shows up in Fulfill's multifaceted partnership with Brookdale - from hosting our Mobile pantry very month on campus, to collaborating on culinary training for Reentry Program students, and offering classes to staff at Fulfill to help them serve the mission more effectively.
"As President of Brookdale Community College, I am deeply honored to receive the Collaborative Changemaker Award from Fulfill NJ. This award acknowledges our joint efforts to address food insecurity. At Brookdale, we're dedicated to supporting our students' holistic needs. Our partnership with Fulfill ensures no student goes hungry by supporting initiatives like our monthly Mini-Resource Fair and the RWJ Barnabas Health Nutrition Hub. This recognition is a testament to the power of collaboration in making a tangible difference in the lives of our students and our community." - Dr. David M. Stout
Mission Sustainer Award - Woodhaven Lumber & Millwork
Alan and David Robinson are the owners of Woodhaven Lumber & Millwork, a third-generation building materials supply company headquartered in Lakewood, New Jersey. Their father, James T. Robinson, founded Woodhaven in 1977 with the goal of offering a comprehensive selection of building supplies at competitive prices, along with the friendly, knowledgeable, go-the-extra-mile service that only a family-run business can provide. Since then, Woodhaven has given builders of all types - from small contractors to custom home builders to large developers - a better building experience.
Alan and David continue to build Woodhaven's reputation for being dedicated to creating long-term relationships with customers - relationships based on trust, industry knowledge and expertise, fair prices, quality products, and unequaled personalized service. They, now along with David A. Robinson, Alan's son and David's nephew, take pride in providing both building professionals and homeowners with a wide range of building products and services from the finest lumber and millwork to windows and doors to cabinetry and design and much more.
The family-run business has been generously supporting Fulfill for over 20 years. From stepping up to be our Title Sponsor at Fulfill's Inaugural Golf Outing in 2021, to the purchase of hundreds of Fulfill's fundraising holiday cards over the years, to their deep generosity during the Covid 19 pandemic, Woodhaven has never ceased to be a steadfast supporter in our fight against hunger at the Jersey Shore.
Strategic Service Award - Fahey Restaurant Group
Fahey Restaurant Group, founded in 2007 by brothers Bob and Chris Fahey is New Jersey's premier restaurant group. With four locations in two counties, Fahey Restaurant Group is committed to expansion and providing a fun, delicious, and safe dining experience for family and friends.
Community oriented, Fahey Restaurant Group is constantly in touch with local communities to improve quality of life for patrons and neighbors. This has been proven time and time again with the Fahey's partnership with Fulfill; Over the last five years, Bob and Chris have been reliable, dependable, and generous supporters of Fulfill.
During the Covid 19 pandemic, the group stepped up and helped launch Fulfill's Restaurant Program. When soup kitchens, pantries, and schools shutdown, Fulfill immediately partnered with local restaurants to meet the growing demand for food, keeping restaurant employees working while feeding those in need. The Fahey Restaurant Group was an integral partner during those difficult months.
The pandemic ended, but the Faheys' support did not. They continue to choose Fulfill as their charity of choice by running a golf outing to benefit us each year, donating their catering services for many of our staff, board, and volunteer events. Fahey Restaurant Group offers the vital support that allows Fulfill to continue providing food, hope, and services to so many Monmouth and Ocean County families.