(PASSAIC, NJ) -- On Saturday, May 21, United Passaic Organization hosted a National Community Action Month kick-off celebration and resource fair. Three days later, UPO hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its full-service food pantry - equipped with a community refrigerator and free Saturday meals from a food truck - at Mt Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church.
“I am so overjoyed because the residents of Passaic finally have a rebirth of UPO,” Hall said. “For over 41 years, UPO has been in the City of Passaic. To have this rebirth of innovative and creative resources is astonishing. It’s so refreshing to be a part of this.”
An estimated sixty families attended the National Community Action Month kick-off. The City of Passaic Mayor Hector C. Lora highlighted the event by presenting UPO with an official proclamation to make May Community Action Month in the City.
“Since Dr. Hall has taken over, there has been so much work put in behind the scenes in order for us to host events and have services like this,” UPO Board Secretary Howard Pujols said. “As the official Community Action Agency of the City of Passaic, I’m proud to be a board member. UPO is providing the action to help combat the issues we face against poverty.”
Tuesday’s ribbon-cutting debuted a suite of services that will actively combat food insecurity. Inside a crowded Mt. Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church common area, Hall explained to the community all of the resources they will be benefiting from.
Every Tuesday and Friday from 9:30am - 2:30pm, UPO and Mt. Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church will open their food pantry to the public to provide free groceries upon meeting qualification guidelines.
“We are not frying the bacon or putting it in the pan but every Tuesday and Friday, people will be able to come in and find dignity restored,” Mt Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Rev. Pamela Sallie said. “We can reimagine how we continue to feed and serve a community that needs us.”
Residents won’t have to go far to find that reimagination.
In that same pantry, a community refrigerator offers personal meals prepared by local restaurants at no cost. The UJAMAA Mobile Cafe Community Refrigerator is stocked with healthy forward restaurant-quality comfort food thanks to the Coalition for Food and Health Equity. It will be operational during pantry hours.
“UJAMAA is a practice of community care and economics through supporting neighborhood revitalization at the direct intersection of health and food equity,” Coalition for Food and Health Equity Executive Director Dr. Leeja Carter said. “We can’t build communities of health if everyone is not taken care of.”
The final pillar of Hall’s approach to combating food insecurity in the City of Passaic is Saturday breakfast and groceries provided by the UCC Cafe Mobile Feeding program. United Community Corporation, the Community Action Agency of the City of Newark, retrofitted a food truck into the UCC Cafe and provides hot meals to those in need. UPO has partnered with UCC to bring this service to the heart of Passaic on Saturday mornings starting June 11 at Mt Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church.
“The UCC Mobile Café will provide a sense of dignity for those in need while removing the stigma of asking for food,” Hall said. “Individuals will be able to walk up to a regular food truck and have their needs met in a way that will sustain their sense of integrity. This collaboration will ensure those in need will receive one hot healthy meal throughout their travels.”
Hall may still be in her first year at UPO, but she is making a lasting and important impact on the City of Passaic and its community action agency.
"To see the programs coming forth in Dr. Hall's first few months here have been phenomenal,” UPO Board Chairperson Diane McNair. “She has come in with a fire that was unforeseeable. She is so passionate about helping others. When we hired her, she came in with a 90-day plan and surpassed that plan. To see the partnerships that she made like the one with UCC, she has gone beyond what we could've imagined."
UPO is actively seeking partners, funders, and volunteers to best serve the City of Passaic. If you are interested in partnering, donating, or volunteering for United Passaic Organization, please contact info@unitedpassaic.org or call 973-472-2478.
Photos are Courtesy of United Passaic Organization
