Church youth take heart in helping others
BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer

FARMINGDALE - To slap a piece of meat between two pieces of bread means nothing, but to make a sandwich with the aim of fighting hunger for at least one day is admirable.

On Nov. 16 a group of about 25 teenagers who are members of the St. Catherine of Siena Church youth group will assemble 600 bagged lunches consisting of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, snacks and boxed drinks.

On Nov. 17 the youths will distribute those lunches to individuals at the Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen Cathedral of St. Mary in Trenton.

St. Catherine of Siena Church serves about 500 families from Farmingdale, Howell and Wall Township.

The 25 youths are carrying out their mission which is Faith and Work in Action, under the direction of Deacon Vinnie Rinaldi.

According to Rinaldi, the initiative is part of the church's mission to "love one another and help the needy. This is a great group of kids and they have all got a great heart. Although this is the Thanksgiving season we instill in our children (the need) to think about the needy all year round.

"This idea came about in one of our meetings and since we have been volunteering at this particular soup kitchen for about six months, we thought it would be nice for the hungry to bring home a bag lunch in addition to the hot meal they will receive," Rinaldi said.

Jennifer Muscarella, 14, of Farmingdale, has been a member of the church's youth group for two years. She said she is excited about this project and will do her part to help out other people.

"I feel very blessed and fortunate to celebrate the holidays with my family," Jennifer said. "I am doing this because I feel the need to give back. It makes me feel good and besides, if it can make at least one person happy, then why not?"

Volunteer Mickey Kleinhans has been assisting Rinaldi for more than three years. Kleinhans said she hopes her daughter, Katrina, 14, and the other youngsters who are taking part in this initiative gain a sense of community from the experience.

"I hope the children realize that by giving to others they will receive so much back, by knowing it is a good thing," Kleinhans said. "I also want them to be aware of the world and its many cultures and to know that everyone is the same, they all want to eat and have a good Thanksgiving, just like you."

Rinaldi said the members of the youth group work hard toward their mission. He said that in the past month the youngsters have reached out to the troops in Iraq with a card writing campaign and held a blood drive which yielded 22 pints of blood.

"We are nondenominational in a sense. We serve anyone. It does not matter who they are. It is all about helping those in need," the deacon said.