The very dedicated Maple Shade Chaplain Corp stayed on the front lines with our first responders during a challenging 2020. Whether it was Covid-19, protest marches or community insecurities with respect to food or mental health issues, our Chaplain Corp was there to meet the challenges.

            The Chaplain Corp handled 18 activations for 2020 to include responding out to a major fire 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 2020. 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 support our township food bank.

Thanks to the generosity of the Tilghman Funeral Home, McDowell Law, the Maple Shade Business Association and Carol-Ann Peacock 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 2021, 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.         

Deacon Mike Stinsman of the Maple Shade Police Chaplain Corp is seen heading out to a call in the newly appointed Chaplain Response Vehicle. The Chaplain Vehicle is a repurposed previous Maple Shade PD Detective Car. The Maple Shade Police Chaplains will use the Response Vehicle when they respond to calls and events in the community alongside the Maple Shade Police Department.

A special thanks goes to recently retired Ptl. Michael Anyzek for designing the graphics package and Acerbo’s Auto Trim and Lettering of Medford, NJ for installing the graphics.

The Maple Shade Police Chaplain’s Association would like to thank everyone that came out on Tuesday March 3rd, 2020 to the Carrabba’s Cares fundraiser event. Your generous support will be used by the MSPCA to fund the 2020 National Night Out event on August 4th, 2020.