The very dedicated Maple Shade Police Chaplain Corp stayed on the front lines with our first responders during a challenging 2021. Whether it was Covid-19, devastating fire scenes, death investigations or community insecurities with respect to food or mental health issues, our Chaplain Corp was there to meet the challenges.

The Chaplain Corp handled 11 activations for 2021 to include responding out to a major fires to support victims, providing counseling and caring to those struggling with family or personal issues and supporting our residents when family or friends pass away. Covid-19 did not take the Chaplain Corp off-line, they stayed in the fight, cared for our community and continue to do so to this day. We thank them for their selfless service!

The Chaplain Corp also partnered with the Police Department, the Township of Maple Shade, PBA Local #267, the Maple Shade Food Bank, the Maple Shade Business Association and Advisory Board of Commerce, Bentley Trucking, U-Haul of Maple Shade, Maple Shade Youth Groups and Sports Organizations, the Maple Shade School District and the Maple Shade Police Chaplain Association (our non-profit) to host a massive town wide food drive called the “Fill the Truck Event” in September 2021. Unable to host our National Night Out Event due to Covid-19 which is typically held in August, our team mobilized throughout the community to address food insecurity issues and to support our township food bank.

Thanks to the generosity of the Tilghman Funeral Home, McDowell Law, the Maple Shade Business Association, Mohawk Computers, the Maple Shade Moose Lodge and Investor’s Bank, prize money was awarded to our participating youth and sports groups who donated requested items in exchange for an opportunity to win prize money during a time when many groups were unable to do any fundraising. 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.

As we transition into 2022, the Chaplain Corp will remain on the front lines ready, willing and able to care for our community, our first responders and their families as we continue to battle through a pandemic unlike anything most of us have seen in our lifetimes. 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.         

Chaplain’s Annemarie Cook and Mike Stinsman, along with Chief of Police Chris Fletcher and Traffic Officer Matt Shaw, attended the Maple Shade Fire Department Open House on Friday October 8, 2021. The event was well attended and allowed our team to support the members of the fire company as we collectively engage with the community. Our team handed out plenty of give away items and the children present enjoyed them thoroughly. It was a great night and we appreciated the invitation to join in the fun. Thank you MSFD for putting on a great event!

In a partnership between Rest Wood Crafts, the Maple Shade Food Bank, the MSPCA, the Police Chaplain Corp, the Police Department, PBA Local #267, the Township of Maple Shade, Maple Shade Public Works, Teamsters Local 676, the Maple Shade Business Association and Rotary International, we are proud to announce that the Grab N Go Food Box is live and operational. The food box is located inside the lobby of the Police Department adjacent to the Municipal Building located at 200 Stiles Avenue in Maple Shade. The box contains bags of free groceries for those who are experiencing hunger or food insecurity issues. We ask that the public please take only one bag of free groceries to fill their immediate need as we care for not only you, but others as well.

If an additional need exists beyond this, here are several options you can explore. First, you can contact the Volunteers of America – IMPACT Program at #856-298-7741 who are based out of the Maple Shade Police Department. They can help you navigate through issues such as this as well as other challenges you may be experiencing. Second, you can visit the Maple Shade Food Bank on the first and third Wednesday of the month or you can visit NJ Snap at https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/njsnap/ for further assistance.

We are hopeful that this initiative will help to stamp out hunger and is another example of Shaders helping Shaders in need!