We maintain a well stocked food cupboard that provides over 300 families three meals a day for a week. Many volunteers work at least once a month preparing groceries for clients referred by the Hudson State Service Center, and a referral or two from local churches. Distribution of food from the Food Cupboard shows the continuing need to feed the hungry. Contributions of food from local churches and collection boxes from various businesses aid in the supply of the Cupboard and, as always, are extremely timely. The volunteers who are involved in the purchase of perishable foods, meats, breads, and the overall distribution of food from the Cupboard on a daily basis are to be commended for their untiring efforts to be part of "Neighbors Helping Neighbors."

We spend over $69,000 annually to assist families or individuals in the Newark Area who are in need of immediate financial help. Our clients are referred by caseworkers at the Hudson State Service Center who determine the need of families and their inability to get sufficient aid elsewhere.

Because of our timely aid, hundreds of people are not without temporary shelter nor forced to live in homes without utilities nor denied other critical needs. We help pay several hundred utility bills yearly thus restoring service or avoiding shut-off of power, fuel, or water. We also assisted many families needing help with rent or mortgage payments, homeless families needing temporary lodging in motels, and families needing prescription medicines.

Many thanks to hundreds of Newark area families, thousands of school children, their teachers and school staff, churches and employees of local businesses and agencies. In December, each year we are able to put together and give away hundreds of large boxes of food to local families in need. Generous neighbors share food, time, abilities, equipment and facilities to make a successful community project feed approximately 1,500 people each year. Volunteers from the community, churches, businesses, service clubs and scouts help assemble the boxes that contain canned and fresh foods, as well as a frozen turkey.

We sell our Good Neighbor Bean Soup Mix at various locations in Newark: Herman's Meat Market, Kirk's Flowers, Sinclair's Cafe, Salon by Anthony, Gallagher's Jewelers, Village Imports, Minster's Jewelry Store and Newark Co-Op. We also sell our bean soup mix to friends, neighbors, and at churches. They make great gifts! Each October, members conduct a fund solicitation "Good Neighbor Day" by selling our soup mix at local businesses.

The Shoe Committee spends over $12,000 for the purchase of new shoes for children each year. We purchase shoes for over 365 children in need. The Wilmington Flower Market generously assists in this program, as well as cooperating merchants such as Kmart and Payless Shoe Store in College Square Shopping Center.

Our major fund raisers include Good Neighbor Day, our annual appeal letter, and bean soup sales. The State of Delaware, NewCastle County, and the City of Newark also provide grants. The Newark Social and Charitable Club, The Christmas Shop and The Wilmington Flower Market provide annual grants. There are countless individuals, churches, businesses and other organizations who help all year round. The Newark Community has been most generous in its support of our services to those in need by donating time, energy, food and/or financial assistance.

Val Nardo started his Needy Family Fund in 1968 and has been feeding the hungry ever since. His fund is now part of NAWC and his legacy and memory will continue to inspire others in helping those less fortunate. He supplied us with over $5,000 worth of canned goods, fruit and bread yearly for our Holiday Food Box Program. He supported the Meals on Wheels program at the Newark Senior Center, as well as providing assistance to many, many other local families in need. Val's shoes will be very difficult to fill yet his acts of kindness and inspiration of others makes all of us realize how much is possible.