Community FoodBank of New Jersey to Host Greater Newark Conservancy Gala

Community FoodBank of New Jersey will be the host when friends, staff and supporters gather at Greater Newark Conservancy’s “Making Our City Bloom Gala,” on Thursday, May 15th. The event, which benefits the Conservancy’s programs and services in the areas of environmental education, community greening and gardening, nutrition, job training and environmental justice, will be held at the Community FoodBank of New Jersey’s facility in Hillside.

The Community FoodBank of New Jersey’s founder, President and CEO, Kathleen DiChiara, was on the founding board of Greater Newark Conservancy. To honor the FoodBank’s mission, guests are asked to bring a donation on the night of the gala of canned goods like tuna, soups, chili or stews, plastic jars of peanut butter or boxes of pasta, potatoes, rice and cereal.

Honorees at the event will include the Horizon Foundation of New Jersey, Julien X. Neals, Esq., Business Administrator, City of Newark, the Student/Partner Alliance, Summit, NJ, the late Diane Schwarz, South Orange, NJ, James M. Porter, Mendham, NJ, Earl Scott, Office of Reentry, City of Newark and the late Bakbakkar Yehudah, SWAG Garden, Newark, NJ.

“Through its urban farms and farm stands, community gardens, do-it-yourself garden sites and nutrition education programs, Greater Newark Conservancy is making fresh, healthy food available to Newark’s neighborhoods,” stated Hans J. Solmssen, Co-Chair of the Conservancy’s Board of Directors, and the retired President and CEO of Lincoln Ventures Group, Ltd. 

“The Conservancy’s educational programs enrich the lives of thousands of inner city children from pre-school to high school. Our ‘Newark Fresh’ produce is increasing access to nutritious food for thousands of low income residents of the City, many senior citizens,” added the Conservancy’s Robin Dougherty. “Through our Clean & Green Program, the Conservancy is providing landscaping and horticultural job training for hundreds of recently incarcerated Newark residents, allowing them to contribute to our initiatives as they move towards full-time employment and reclaimed lives. Support for the gala will help us continue to expand our programs and services and make an even bigger contribution to the communities we serve.”

To support the gala as an underwriter, benefactor, sponsor, patron or through individual ticket purchases, contact Brian David at 973.642.4646, ext. 16 or email bdavid@citybloom.org. For more information about programs, services and volunteer opportunities, or to make a donation, contact Greater Newark Conservancy at 973-642-4646 or visit CityBloom.org. You can also follow news from the Conservancy through social media at Facebook.com/GreaterNewarkConservancy and Twitter at @Citybloom87.