Core Development Group, a New Jersey-based commercial solar provider, holds employee food drive to benefit The Community Kitchen at Eva’s Village

Eva's village food donation

Core Development Group is making a commitment to the community, with many more to follow. To help the less fortunate enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal, the group launched an employee food drive to donate items to Eva’s Village, a community kitchen in Paterson, N.J.

Founded in 1982, Eva’s Village provides care for people struggling with poverty, hunger, homelessness, and addiction. The community kitchen – a nonprofit, comprehensive behavioral health and social service organization – serves over 400 people per day, with breakfast to-go Monday through Thursday, and lunch to-go every weekday.

Additionally, three meals daily are prepared for the people that reside in Eva’s Village recovery and sheltering programs. Over Thanksgiving weekend, the kitchen expects to prepare 1,600 meals with the support of Core Development Group.

“We want to do our part in ensuring others are not hungry during Thanksgiving,” said Brecc Avellar, Vice President of Solar Development. “We are committed to helping communities and supporting the initiatives to help the less fortunate. We have a corporate obligation to help individuals during times of need.”

Every November, Eva’s Village has a long list of needs to support their initiatives. This year, Core Development Group donated food items and a grocery gift card worth about $1,000. Such donations are essential ingredients for the community kitchen, especially during the holiday season and winter months.

Eva’s Village accepts gift cards to BJ’s, Costco, Stop & Shop, and ShopRite. For food donations, they can only accept dry/boxed goods, as well as commercially packaged frozen items. Before dropping off any food donation, contact Paul Fierro, Purchasing Agent for Eva’s Kitchen, at (973) 314-1358.

Avellar said he and his colleagues at Core Development Group enjoyed helping the community kitchen and are eager to engage in more philanthropic activities.

“We are committed to the areas where we provide renewable, solar energy, and this is just the start of our commitment to the community,” he said. “We’ll also be working with Eva’s Village in the future to help them serve our communities and provide nutrition to vulnerable populations.”

Eva’s Village is a 501(c)(3) organization that has grown from a simple soup kitchen into one of the most comprehensive providers of treatment, recovery, and supportive services in New Jersey. To learn more about Eva’s Village, please see www.evasvillage.org.