By MADDY VITALE
For many families, the holidays mean planning, food shopping and preparation that culminate with sitting down with loved ones to share a meal and memories.
And to others, holidays mean getting to work to make fond memories for strangers, those with food insecurities amid the COVID-19 pandemic and tough economic times.
This Easter, volunteers will help out from OCNJ CARE, a charitable organization headed by Ocean City resident Drew Fasy, Bill McGinnity, of Nobil Catering, and the food ministry at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church with Jen Bowman at the helm.
Fasy said McGinnity gives of his time to prepare the meals at his cost. McGinnity also donates his van and packaging for the dinners.
But, Fasy emphasized, OCNJ CARE needs a bit more help from the community to feed those in need.
“There are costs involved with providing a quality meal and we are bearing that cost at a time when funding is light,” Fasy said. “OCNJ CARE is a 100 percent volunteer organization. All of the initiatives are done through the donations.”
He continued, “There are no funding sources for the organization — except the goodwill of Ocean City residents and businesses who support us.”
Over Thanksgiving and Christmas, Fasy and the community team provided dinners to residents of the city’s low-income housing complexes, Pecks Village, Bayview Manor and Wesley by the Bay.
Fasy’s family, along with other Ocean City families, the Youngs and Wisnefskis, delivered more than 150 meals over Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The families will do it again on April 3 for Easter, Fasy said.
McGinnity, owner of Cousin’s Restaurant, located at 104 Asbury Ave., said in a recent interview that he may be preparing as many as 200 meals this time around.
And what is on the menu is sure to please.
Some savory menu items are honey baked ham, candied sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes and green beans.
“It really is a full meal,” McGinnity noted. “We will do as many meals as they need. It is part of being in the community. Christmas went well and I am sure Easter will go well.”
While McGinnity prepares the meals, Bowman said she, along with others at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church involved in the food ministry, are collecting donations from the community of plastic eggs filled with candy and Easter cards, which will add a personal touch to the meals.
People may drop off the candy-filled eggs and cards at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church, located at Eighth Street and Central Avenue. There are donation boxes inside both doors at the church.
Bowman said the dinners would not be possible without the generous support of the community and the hard work of the volunteers.
“Easter dinner gives our elderly Ocean City friends in need a hot meal and some Ocean City love,” Bowman added.
To donate go to www.ocnjcare.org
