Paterson’s Oasis feeds 800 women Christmas meal
By Jonathan Greene
Published: December 24, 2016
As many as 800 city women were served a special Christmas meal at the Oasis, a haven for women and children, on Mill Street.
After the meal, women were able to pick out or “shop” for toys for their children and grandchildren for the holidays from the nonprofit’s toy room.
More than 50 volunteers including groups from the New Jersey Department of Homeland Security and Preparedness and alumni from Fordham University joined the staff of Oasis in manning Wednesday’s festivities.
The meals served to the women was donated by the Market Basket of Franklin Lakes.
Even before the meal and toy event, more than 600 adults, teens, and children from many adult education and youth development programs of Oasis received gifts like toys, pajamas, hats, and gloves earlier in the week.
Volunteers also threw parties for them to spread the holiday cheers to low-income families who would otherwise lack toys for the holiday season.
Oasis received more than 5,000 toys from individuals, organizations, and businesses throughout northern New Jersey.
The nonprofit was founded by Ann Wagner and Christine DeVita Breit in 1997 with a mission to provide meal services to Paterson’s poor women and children.