Source: PRWEB
Paterson-based Rapid Pump and Meter Co. supported Eva’s Village anti-hunger programs as a gold-level Fund-A-Meal sponsor last week, providing critical funding and volunteer support in Eva’s Community Kitchen. Instead of reporting to their jobs on Straight Street in Paterson on a recent Thursday morning, half a dozen employees from Rapid Pump and Meter Services Co., Inc. gathered at Eva’s Village, just half a mile away, volunteering to help feed the hungry. Before heading to the kitchen, the group learned how Eva’s Village grew from a simple soup kitchen 34 years ago into the 20 integrated anti-poverty programs offered today. They also toured Eva’s facilities which span several city blocks. The rest of their morning was spent setting up, serving and cleaning up the hot meal prepared daily for nearly 400 guests in Eva’s Community Kitchen.
The Fund-A-Meal program combines two sources of critical support for Eva’s Village: volunteer service and fundraising. Designed to engage corporate groups, the sponsorship program is organized around hands-on, team-building activities for volunteers. Rapid Pump and Meter’s $5,000, gold-level sponsorship underwrites the cost of approximately two days of hot meals served to Community Kitchen guests and to clients in Eva’s halfway house and shelter programs, a total of nearly 1,300 meals each day.
Partnership with Eva’s Village
Rapid Pump and Meter Service Co., Inc. and Machinery Services Corp. have continuously supported Eva’s Village since the early 1990s, as regular sponsors of Eva’s biggest annual fundraiser. The Paterson-based companies, headed by Richard Taylor, will again sponsor Eva’s Village “Visions of Hope” gala this year with Taylor as Event Chair. The event, which raised over $550,000 last year, is set for Nov. 3 at The Grove in Cedar Grove.
Taylor explains his commitment to Eva’s and to his Paterson neighbors: “We are a Paterson business and we believe in giving back to the community, which is why we support Eva’s Village. Their programs connect our neighbors in need to vital services—food, shelter, medical and recovery support, and job training,” And, he values the sense of community that volunteering gives his employees. “Volunteering regularly to serve in Eva’s Community Kitchen connects our employees to the Paterson community where they work.” he said.
“Volunteer support is just as important as fundraising,” noted Heather Thompson, Director of Development at Eva’s Village. “We are grateful for the many hours volunteers contribute to Eva’s operations. Last year, more than 3,500 volunteers dedicated over 30,000 hours, serving in our Community Kitchen, Recovery Community Center, Medical and Dental Clinic and other programs,” she pointed out. “Fundraising, through annual events, corporate sponsorships and private donations contribute a third of our annual revenue,” she noted. Several Eva’s Village programs rely entirely on private donations, including the Community Kitchen, Eva’s free medical and dental services, and the childcare and education programs for the children living in Eva’s facilities.
More about Rapid Pump and Meter Service Co., Inc. and Machinery Services Corp.
Rapid Pump & Meter Service Co., Inc., was founded in 1960 as Rapid Meter Service Co. to service and repair flow meters. Richard Taylor founded Machinery Services Corp. in 1978. The company provides diverse electrical and mechanical services to a broad industry base. In 1981 Machinery Services Corp. moved to their present location at 285 Straight Street in Paterson. In 1982 Rapid Pump & Meter Service Co., Inc. relocated to the same address. Today, the two companies are leaders in the sales, service, installation and maintenance of industrial and municipal water systems, waste water systems, complex production machinery, and custom products.
More about Eva’s Village
Founded by Msgr. Vincent E. Puma in 1982, Eva’s Community Kitchen began by serving 30 meals a day in Paterson to feed the hungry. In response to the related issues of poverty, addiction, mental illness and homelessness in the community, additional programs and services grew out of the Community Kitchen to become Eva’s Village, a non-profit, social service, anti-poverty organization that is one of the most comprehensive in New Jersey. For more than 30 years, Eva’s Village carried out its mission to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, treat the addicted, and provide medical and dental care to the poor with respect for the human dignity of each individual. Today, Eva’s Village helps thousands of individuals rebuild their lives each year through 20 integrated programs addressing needs in the community for Food & Housing, Medical & Recovery Services, and Education & Training.