The Maple Shade Police Chaplain Corp continued into their 8th year of service to the Township of Maple Shade. Even though the group has grown smaller over the years since their formation, their dedication has only increased!
The Chaplain Corp handled 6 activations for 2023 to include responding out to death investigations, providing counseling and caring to those struggling with family or personal issues and supporting our residents when family or friends pass away. Their calming presence and support are much appreciated by all during the grieving process.
As far as community engagement goes, the 2023 National Night Out was held on Tuesday August 1 at the new location known as “Aces Field” or John F. Kennedy Memorial Field located on Broadway Avenue. It also saw a new person at the helm with the appointment of Community Affairs Officer Corporal Misty Weiss. Misty was the organizer for the event with assistance from Chief Christopher Fletcher. The event itself is sponsored by the Chaplain Corp, our non-profit the Maple Shade Police Chaplain Association (MSPCA), MSPD, PBA Local #267, the Township of Maple Shade, the Maple Shade Business Association, the Advisory Board of Commerce, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, McDowell Law and our professional service providers. Thanks to their collective generous support, we were once again able to provide the community with a FREE FAMILY FUN EVENT which included free food, an activity zone for the kids, an entertainment zone for our performers, static displays by our first responders and military members, as well as music provided by DJ Tony Egner (our official NNO DJ). It was a wonderful night for all and a great chance to return to a sense of community!
The Chaplain Corp also partnered with Corporal Misty Weiss, PBA Local #267 and our MSPD family, along with our non-profit the Maple Shade Police Chaplain Association (MSPCA) and the Maple Shade School District to host the 2nd annual Shaders Feeding Shaders school wide food drive. Yocum School took 1st place and was the winner of a pizza party sponsored by PBA Local #267 and the MSPCA. All food collected was donated to the Maple Shade Food Bank and transported there from the various schools thanks to the assistance of the Maple Shade Public Works Department.
Further, the Chaplain Corp partnered with MSPD, the Township of Maple Shade, PBA Local #267, the Maple Shade Business Association and Advisory Board of Commerce, Bentley Trucking and the Maple Shade Police Chaplain Association (our non-profit) to host a massive town wide food drive called the “Fill the Truck Event” during October into early November 2023. It was the largest event we have ever held in the history of the food drive and proved to be a huge success with the addition of new business partners in Eastern Lift and Stonhard.
Alongside of this food drive was a separate food drive competition for all sports and youth groups in town to compete against one another for prize money based upon the total donations that they made to the Maple Shade Food Bank. It was a win-win for all involved and we appreciate the efforts of our children and their parents for working with us in caring for our community by helping to stamp out hunger.
As we transition into 2024, the Chaplain Corp will remain on the front lines ready, willing and able to care for our community, our first responders and their families. The Chaplain Corp remains resilient and grounded, knowing full well that the power of the human spirit will emerge victorious and there will be a better collective future ahead for us all and the town that we care so much about.
