Bringing ‘New Hope’ in Prospect Park and Haledon, New Jersey

One in ten residents in Prospect Park and Haledon lives below the poverty line. Situated on the border of Paterson, New Hope Community Ministries is working to change this by meeting residents’ immediate needs and also by investing in their futures.

The ministry’s mission statement reads: “Through the love of Christ, we build restorative relationships with individuals and families in our community, empowering them to move from crisis to self-sufficiency.”

This happens through justice and reconciliation, networking with other agencies and individuals, and by developing leaders.

New Hope Community Ministries is led by Executive Director Phil Beverly, a native of Prospect Park. Since 2005, the organization has offered professional counseling, mentoring, parenting classes, couples’ enrichment, immigration clinics and assistance, and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. In addition, New Hope offers “Women of Hope,” a support group for women, and social groups for teens and children. Other resources include a low-cost Christmas Market and Back-to-School Supply Depot (with free backpacks) for program participants.

New Hope Community Ministries is currently focused on doubling the amount of participants in its leadership program and launching a food co-operative to increase the reach of its current food program, which provides five meals a month to more than 600 residents.

“As an organization, we have decided to move away from the food pantry and toward a food co-op [as it] better embodies our core values of empowerment and leadership development, as well as our mission of helping people become self-sufficient,” Beverly said. (story continues below)

In addition, New Hope Community Ministries is working towards a renovation of its facility and is expanding its base of support through “The Builders” program (www.newhopecmnj.org/thebuilders).

To find out more about the ministry or to volunteer or donate, call (973) 942-4059 or visit www.newhopecmnj.org.