We’re Busting at the Seams
Our greatest desire at the Dream Center is to see others live their God-given dream. Ephesians 3:20 says, "Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us". What is your God-given dream? Someone once said, "If your dream doesn't keep you up at night, it's not big enough!"
Our dream is to own our own facility, a 20-30,000 square foot space in Gloucester County. Why so big? Because we're busting at the seams at our current donated facility! We need a "Marketplace" for our food, clothing, household, baby and personal hygiene items, where struggling families can "shop" for what they need at no cost to them. We need classrooms for our job readiness training, life skills workshops, and Bible classes to help people make lasting changes to their status quo. We need a place for people to come who want to break the cycle of poverty in their lives, find meaningful work, provide for their families, and discover their God-given value and potential. And this is just the beginning!
We are seeking land or a current building that can serve as the new home for the South Jersey Dream Center. We are seeking financial and in kind partners who have a heart for others and want to invest their resources into something relevant and life changing.
This past year, we received/distributed over 200,000 pounds of resources to over 1500 families, had over 100 volunteers, and over 100 food and clothing donors. With our own facility, we could quadruple this amount. There are over 21,000* people living in poverty in Gloucester County, and over 160,000* people in South Jersey overall. The time for a new facility is now! Let's dream big together and make it happen. (*2020 US Census)
Dream Center Partners with County in Disaster Relief
On the Saturday after Hurricane Ida and a tornado ripped through several towns in Gloucester County, we received a call from Gloucester County officials who were meeting to discuss the plans for moving forward. There had been a great outpouring of donations from the community to help those that suffered damage and loss to their homes from the tornado, but the county needed a place to store the resources for distribution. They asked the Dream Center to be the Gloucester County Disaster Relief Donation and Distribution Center. Our response, "Absolutely, it would be an honor". The following Tuesday, all the items that were collected from the drop off sites were brought to the SJDC facility. Over 40 pallets of resources were unloaded, inventoried, and made ready for distribution, as well as generous donations from Target, Amazon, and Verizon. Over 21,000 pounds of food, clothing, water, clean up supplies, totes, tarps, blankets, linens, children's items, diapers, pet food, shoes, and personal hygiene items were received. We couldn't have processed all the donations without the help of more than 40 volunteers from the community, Hoffman Exterminating, and county employees and interns, who served over 200 hours, many of whom were visiting the Dream Center for the first time. All these efforts were in addition to our regular weekly SJDC activities. Resources were then distributed to tornado victims who made online requests through the Gloucester County Emergency Management portal and FEMA.
SJDC Executive Director Among South Jersey Super Women
Congrats to our Executive Director, Natalie Fortunato, for being selected by South Jersey Magazine as one of South Jersey's "Super Women" of 2021. What an honor! An excerpt...Both Fortunato and her husband, Rev. Joseph Fortunato, know what it's like to struggle to make ends meet. Natalie's former husband left her to care for a 10 month-old alone, and Joe was widowed with an 18 month-old. Groceries and meals delivered from neighbors helped get them through, and that experience inspired the formation of the South Jersey Dream Center...In 2010, what began as a food pantry in their church, Faith Fellowship Ministries, the SJDC annually receives and distributes over 120,000* pounds of donated food, personal hygiene products, baby items, clothing and household items...read full article in the November issue of South Jersey Magazine. (*now 200,000)
Pickleball Against Poverty Fundraiser
Poverty is a serious issue in South Jersey, but raising funds and awareness about poverty doesn’t have to be! Please join us for our Pickleball Against Poverty Tournament on Saturday, March 26, at Total Turf Experience in Pitman. This is a round robin, one day, doubles event for up to 3.0 - 4.0+ players ages 18+. You'll enjoy great door prizes, raffles, "dinking" contests, and an exhibition by South Jersey’s own Pickleball Pro Frank Anthony Davis. $45 per player. Registration closes on March 12th, Volunteers and T-shirt sponsors needed! Big thanks to our major sponsors and Chick Fil A in Marlkress on Route 70!
In The News
Columbia Bank Day of Service
Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of Rastelli's, Heritage's, UNFI, and our donors, we were able to provide holiday groceries for over 75 families at the National Park Elementary School. With the help of 10 amazing Columbia Bank employees and our awesome volunteers, we were a "grocery distribution machine"!
Live United Mini-Grant
Thanks to the United Way of Gloucester County, we were able to purchase much needed shelving and clothing racks. These items enable us to access and inventory our resources much easier and get them out to our guests much faster.
Writing for Non-Profits Class
Students from Dr. Tole's "Writing for Non-Profits class visited the Dream Center to learn more about our mission and offer insight for our digital media and marketing. Olivia, Paige, Elijah, Cole, and Justina provided us with excellent recommendations and ideas.
