Strategic Community Partnerships Make Way for Huge Community Blessings

What began as a lofty goal to help 500 families with gifts for Christmas resulted in a remarkable community event that blessed over 700 families, which includes close to 2,000 children this holiday season—through the combined efforts of St. Stephen A.M.E. Zion Church, Community Karma, and The Asbury Park Little League, the Asbury Park Toy Drive proved to be a tremendous success. This event was the culmination of months of hard work, planning, fundraising, and organizing. It also represented the third community event sponsored by the three organizations. Rev. Quavon Newton, Pastor of St. Stephen, spoke about the importance of establishing relationships with community partners, “Last year, we were able to provide gifts for every child that came to church on the Sunday before Christmas. While that was a blessing, just a year later, we are still going to give gifts to the children in our congregation, but we have also provided presents for almost 2,000 children in the community. Everyone can do something, but when you create strategic community partnerships, your reach can extend beyond what you can even imagine.”

The power of these partnerships has helped St. Stephen to grow not just in numbers, but the church community has grown stronger, serving together to help make a difference in the community. Volunteers spent the two weeks leading up to packing close to 600 gift bags for families that had pre-registered. Each bag included gifts for each child in the family, handpicked according to their age and interest, a grocery store gift card for the family, and wrapping paper to make sure that the parents or caregivers had everything they needed to ease the financial burden during the holiday season. Sister Dottie Stevens was able to encourage her employer to adopt a family and in doing so, her job was able to work together to collect all the items on a family’s wish list. Sis Stevens was glad to connect her church family, ministry, and her job “I am so proud to be an employee of Coral Harbor Rehab, a local nursing facility in the community. Like my church, they’re always ready to support, and when I asked our administrator to support St. Stephen and adopt a family for Christmas, she immediately jumped into action. The assignment was completed with extras.”

Volunteers from St. Stephen and the community, along with helpers from all over the Camden District, were also present on Saturday to help register families, pass out gift bags, and prepare bags for families who registered on the spot. When asked what it was like to be a part of such an event, Sis. Karen Shorter, a member of St. Stephen, said, “Giving back to the community always warms my heart. The teamwork was like no other. From gathering 586 bags off the truck on Friday evening to listening to families in line on Saturday say, ‘thank you because we didn’t know how we were going to provide this year,’ we are blessed to be a blessing.” Presiding Elder Laticia Hill Godette, who, along with her husband, First Gentleman Dante Godette, adopted five families, each having six members in the family, echoed those same sentiments. “I am extremely proud of Pastor Quavon Newton, his beautiful wife, and his faithful church family. Pastor Newton is an asset to the Camden District and a loyal team member. Pastor Newton specializes in forming strategic community partnerships to reach the masses. Pastor Newton is innovative and serves God with a spirit of excellence. He is making a difference in Asbury Park, New Jersey, as he focuses on kingdom building. Teamwork makes the dream work.” The 7 am Prayer Line also came together to support an additional five families of six. Members of the congregation adopted families, donated toys, and did whatever was necessary to help ensure that members of the community, which included members of the church, received the help they needed. As one member who received gifts said, “It is hard for everyone this time of year, especially this year. I am thankful to be able to be here serve but also here to receive gifts that will make my kids Christmas.”

The continued support of the Kiwanis Club and the Church of Philadelphia, as well as the support of local businesses who hosted fundraising events, held benefit concerts, and encouraged their customers to drop off toys in the collection boxes throughout town, helped to make the event an astounding success. In addition to the community partnerships, Ja’ Sir Taylor, NFL cornerback for the LA Chargers who is a native of Asbury Park and former AP Little League player, made a generous contribution that helped purchase additional toys so that there would be toys for every family and child who needed them. The collaboration between St. Stephen, Community Karma, Asbury Park Little League, in collaboration with all the community partners is making a huge difference and support grows with every event. The combined totals of Community Day in August, Community Thanksgiving and The Asbury Park Holiday Toy Drive, this partnership has helped close to 3,500 families. The strength of these partnerships made the Toy Drive an enormous success and planning for next year will begin shortly after the new year.

On Saturday, December 16, 2023, during the toy distribution, members of St. Stephen’s Hospitality Team were on site, sharing information about church service times, online availability and offering prayers. Families accepted prayer on site and there were visitors in church on Sunday that said they were there because of the Toy Drive and the warm reception they received. One new family joined the church and others accepted salvation. Bishop Dennis V. Proctor, Presiding Prelate of the North Eastern Episcopal District summed up the weekend’s events by saying “This is major ministry!!!”