Christ Church, one of North Jersey’s biggest churches, is starting a $30 million project to build a new community care center on its large campus in Rockaway Township.
This project, called The CARE Center of New Jersey, will offer many different services, such as a food pantry, legal help, healthcare, counseling, and more, to support people and families in need.
Amazingly, all the necessary approvals have been received, and the construction is planned to begin in 2025.
David Ireland, the church’s founder and pastor, is leading this project to support people facing financial challenges and other barriers.
The church’s 107-acre campus in Rockaway was bought in 2003 from a company that made microchips.
Since then, the church has developed a 160,000-square-foot building that welcomes about 2,500 people for Sunday services.
And another 123,000-square-foot building, which has been unused, will be renovated to become the new care center.
Once complete, this space will host 15 programs designed to help people in need across New Jersey.
The center will focus on food access, mental health, financial skills, and job training to help people improve their lives.
Around 10% of New Jersey residents live in poverty and lack access to important resources.
Therefore, The CARE Center of New Jersey aims to address this problem through a comprehensive service model.
In essence, this project aims to break the cycle of poverty by providing integrated support for immediate and long-term needs.
Ireland stressed this mission’s importance, saying it’s time to find new ways to help people out of poverty.
By combining many services under one roof, the center hopes to give people the tools they need to change their lives for the better.
With this goal in mind, renovations for the care center are expected to start next year and will take about 12 months.
The new building will be directly connected to the current church through a shared lobby, allowing for a smooth connection between the church and the care center.
The large space inside the building even requires some staff to use a motorized scooter to get around.
Part of the renovation will include raising the roof to make room for a gym. It’ll be about the size of a high school gym and offer the community another way to improve their well-being.
Currently, 13 of the 15 planned services are already running in some form and will be expanded when the renovation is finished.
These services include a food pantry, counseling, a thrift shop, a special room for children with sensory needs, and more.
The food pantry has already made a big difference, distributing 40,000 pounds of food to about 700 families during Thanksgiving in 2023.
When the new building opens, two new services will be added: a healthcare referral service that partners with local doctors and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes.
Initially, some services will be free, while others will be offered at very low costs.
Moreover, mobile units will help provide services to people who can’t travel to the center.
The center’s services will cover many needs, including:
- CARE 4 Kids: Help children in need through in-person support, mobile care, and virtual programs.
- Counseling Center: Offers counseling for mental and emotional health at a reduced cost through licensed professionals.
- Legal Clinic: Gives free legal advice and referrals for people who have never sought legal help before, offering a 30-minute one-on-one session with a volunteer attorney.
- Vehicle Assistance: Provides donated cars to low-income families and single parents.
- Step It Up: Helps blended families grow and thrive through various support services.
- Financial Literacy Training: Volunteers teach people how to manage their money better and offer personalized coaching.
- Multisensory Room: A calming and interactive space for children with ADHD, autism, and other sensory challenges.
- Belong Group: Offers training and support for leaders, helping them improve their skills in diversity and teamwork.
- Medical, Dental & Eye Referral Services: Works with local doctors to provide medical, dental, and vision care.
- Support Groups: Offers support for people going through difficult times, like divorce or grief, as well as programs for fathers and survivors of trauma.
- Clothing Thrift Shop: Sells affordable second-hand clothing to raise money for other community services.
- Career Pathways: Helps people find direction in their education and career paths.
- English as a Second Language (ESL): Helps non-English speakers improve their language skills and adjust to life in the U.S.
David Ireland describes the mission as more than just giving quick help.
In a nutshell, the goal is to create lasting ways for people to become self-sufficient.
The CARE Center’s approach aims to help people in the community build a better life.
The project is expected to create 30 new full-time jobs when the center opens, boosting the local economy.
Christ Church is a non-denominational church with an annual budget of about $12 million, mostly from donations.
The $30 million needed for this new care center will be raised through grants, donations, and, if necessary, a loan.
They hope to get up to $15 million from grants and another $10 million from church members.
Christ Church has locations in Clifton, Montclair, and Rockaway, with over 10,000 members from 70 countries.
The church’s Rockaway location, which opened in 2009, faced challenges in its early years, including legal battles and residents’ concerns.
After a long process, the campus became a part of the community, and the new care center aims to make an even bigger impact.
The CARE Center is part of the IMPACT Community Development Corporation, a nonprofit linked to Christ Church.
Even before the new building is ready, the existing services are already making a difference, and the expanded center will help even more people.
This $30 million project demonstrates the church’s vision of providing comprehensive care that meets physical, emotional, and economic needs.
The center’s mission is to transform lives through a caring approach that offers immediate help and provides real ways for people to build a better future.
