There was this man who saw a scorpion floundering around in the water. He decided to save it by stretching out his finger, but the scorpion stung him. The man still tried to get the scorpion out of the water, but the scorpion stung him again.   A man nearby told him to stop saving the scorpion that kept stinging him.  But the man said: "It is the nature of the scorpion to sting. It is my nature to love. Why should I give up my nature to love just because it is the nature of the scorpion to sting?"  Don't give up loving. Don't give up your goodness. Even if people around you sting.

The Christian Caring Center will be celebrating its 20th anniversary on May 18, 2003, at the Browns Mills United Methodist Church and we would love to have you and your church participate. 

The festivities begin at 5:00 PM with refreshments followed by a silent auction and a praise and worship service. We have also invited our local businesses to bring samples of their wares.  We want to show off Pemberton Township’s best!

We would be so happy if your church choir, praise team, musician(s) or soloist could be a part of the celebration.  Please give us a call at the Center if you can participate.  

It is gratifying to know that the Christian caring Center has consistently been doing the Lord’s work ministering to the community for twenty wonderful years.  Come fellowship with us on this festive occasion. We are looking forward to seeing you!

Please call 609.893.0700 or email info@christian-caring-center.com for more info

• Emergency Food & Clothing
  

Each income -qualified household receives a supply of groceries. If we have

more donations, they can receive more food. "Farmers Against Hunger" donates fresh fruit and vegetables every Tuesday.

This help is available twice per month, or when an emergency arises.

Along with food, the families get a voucher to shop in our Thrift Store. It is good for one month and we try to get them to shop on Tuesdays and Thursdays as these are "Half Price" days. During the year 2001, we served 11,401 individuals with 115,673 meals and $63,100.00 in clothing vouchers.

• New Jersey Shares Utility Program

  This State funded program helps Low Income Households that make good faith payments keep their utilities on. This program supplied our ministry with over $60,000.00 in aid that went directly to low income households. While this program is still available, the State has drastically reduced the funding. We pray that this changes in the future!

• Community Meals

  The Center served 8,751 lunches in 2001

  Every Monday through Saturday we provide a hot lunch to those in need. Recently, we added Breakfast as well. We have found that many of the area's homeless were coming in when we opened and were hungry. So, we meet this need with coffee, fruit, donuts, and other breakfast items. The Lunch also serves as part of our Job Training Program. Our Community Lunch Manager was once homeless and after coming in for help, she eventually volunteered and when we received our "Faith Based Job Training Grant", we hired her!

• Salvation Army Service Unit
  

  The Christian Caring Center serves as a volunteer service unit of the Salvation Army. They allow us to dispense their funds, over $9,000.00 in 2001, to our needy clients. Each client can receive a voucher for $100.00 once per year for such things as rent, utilities, etc.
  

  
  The Salvation Army also allows us to send 40 children every year to their Christian Camp for a week during the summer. For many of these children, this is the only vacation they have ever had and how wonderful to be worshipping and learning about Jesus...as well as having a great time!
  

• Rural Homeless Outreach
  

  In conjunction with our Community Lunch Program, we take lunch out to the woods every Wednesday and Friday. There is a large population of alcohol and drug addicted men, women and sometimes even teens that congregate there. Some even live in the nearby wooded area. We take the food to them and also minister to them. We average about 15 lunches every time we go out. Yearly we lose an average of three of our woods people to death, but sometimes we lose them to Rehab, PRAISE THE LORD! The Center believes that God has something better for them, so we share the Gospel every time we go out. Sometimes it turns into a real church meeting!
  

• Thrift Store
  

  On the second floor of our building, we have a Thrift Store. This is open to the general public as well as our clients. We are blessed with many volunteers to help sort and sell items. Since we are located near Fort Dix and McGuire AFB, there is a large community of military families here. Many of them are too proud to ask for help but they can purchase items in our Thrift Store and not feel like they are begging. Click here for more info on our Thrift Store
  

• Holiday Basket Program
  

  The Center distributes food baskets at Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Christmas baskets also include gifts. We also have a Back to School Basket which includes school supplies and a gift certificate for Payless Shoe Store.
  

  
  

  During these times, we give away an average of 500 baskets!
  

• Job Training
  

  We train people to re-enter the job market in the areas of receptionist, retail, cashier, food preparation, and warehouse people. Our trainees come from our programs and outreaches, as well as from other government programs like Green Thumb and 55 Plus.

• Jack Stelle Men's Emergency Shelter
  

  
  Our shelter has three beds and one resident manager. We have the privilege of allowing the Lord to use us as He works Jeremiah 29:11 out in each man. Each man can stay up to six months, must attend at least three meetings per week (Bible study, church, etc.) and have a job or be at the Center six days per week.