The nonprofit Caring for Friends last week held its annual volunteer awards breakfast at Parx Casino.
Honorees were:
• Caring Faith-Based Organization of the Year: St. Vincent de Paul Society
• Caring Family of the Year: Stacey and Jerry McLaughlin and their children Avery, Elle and Gray, of Washington Crossing
• Rita Ungaro-Schiavone Volunteer of the Year: The Rev. Nancy Jackson, of Zion AME Church, 21st and Tasker streets
• Caring Community Organization of the Year: Mu Beta Phi Military Fraternity Tri-State Kings
• Caring School of the Year: Springton Lake Middle School, of Delaware County
• Caring Breakfast Bag Assembly Group of the Year: The nine-woman A team, represented by Elaine Weglewski and Myra Mallis
• Caring Company of the Year: Burlington
• Caring Office Volunteer of the Year: Anne Dempster
• Caring Kitchen Volunteer of the Year: Gloria Meyers
The Far Northeast-based Caring for Friends was founded 50 years ago as Aid for Friends by Rita Ungaro-Schiavone.
“We want to make it last the next 50,” said CEO Vince Schiavone, Rita’s son.
Caring for Friends delivers some 3 million free meals to more than 300,000 people a year, thanks to more than 10,000 volunteers who share food and friendship with the homebound, homeless and “hidden hungry” in the Philadelphia area. The agency works with about 500 partners.
Ungaro-Schiavone believed, “No one should be hungry or alone in a world of caring people.”
Ron Davis, of Parx, treated the crowd to a rendition of the song You’ve Got a Friend.
Caring for Friends will soon begin a marketing campaign with digital billboards reading, WeCryEveryDay.org. ••
