Community Resource

Christian Caring Center

(609) 893-0700
Browns Mills

Christian Caring Center

Emergency food and clothing; thrift store; community lunch program; Salvation Army Service Unit; job training; rural homeless outreach; networking; men's shelter and basket program.

The Christian Caring Center is open Monday-Saturday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. We are closed the 1st Saturday and Thursday of every month.

Emergency Shelter for the newly homeless.
When a services-qualified family becomes homeless in Burlington County, shelter is provided in area motels. Sometimes there is a brief gap in coverage for such clients, for any of a variety of reasons. The Center is able to help such people with vouchers for short period of shelter in participating motels. We also provide emergency short term shelter in motels for other persons, depending on their circumstances.

Code Blue
During the winter, when weather conditions reach a point that is deemed to be potentially life-threatening to people living outside, the Burlington County Board of Health activates Code Blue. Persons at risk are contacted via outreach teams or are identified through EMS or law enforcement personnel and invited to take shelter indoors.First Baptist Church of Browns Mills hosts our Code Blue shelter for up to 14 adults. Guests eat dinner and spend the night on site and return to the Center for breakfast, lunch, an opportunity to take a shower and change clothes. We use these crucial encounters as opportunities to build relationships with our guests and lead them to the feet of Jesus.

Homelessness prevention
The Center provides assistance with rent or mortgage payments in times of crisis, in accordance with state and federal guidelines. Several grants help us with these services, as does support from individuals and churches.We also assist tenants and homeowners who fall behind in utilities payments by negotiations and financial assistance. New Jersey Shares is a vital part of this work.

Groceries
Twice a month, our clients can receive a three-day supply of food, which is distributed in partnership with the Food Bank of South Jersey, as well as with help from many area churches and businesses.Several area food providers graciously donate unsold groceries, which we pass on to our clients and also use for our community lunch.

Community Lunch
We serve a daily hot lunch in the center at noon. Each Wednesday and Friday, we deliver lunch to people who are sheltered in several area motels and to others who live outdoors. This is an opportunity to build friendships, to pray for our friends’ needs and to share the Gospel.

Basket Program
We distribute food baskets for Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas, as well as Back to School baskets containing school supplies and a gift certificate good toward the purchase of a pair of shoes.

Additional Resources
Through our Village Thrift Shop, located at 87 Hanover St. in Pemberton, provides clothing and household goods vouchers for clients in need of basic necessities. VTS is open to the public Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Saturday 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Call (609) 894-5400 for more information.

Salvation Army
The Center serves as the Salvation Army Service Unit for Pemberton Township. Through this remarkable ministry, many area churches provide crucial support to meet needs for which there is no grant funding. This enables us to bridge a complicated gap between church and state.Salvation Army funds are particularly important for assisting our clients with rapid rehousing. Family reunification is a cornerstone of this effort, so we use these funds to help clients travel home.These funds also help clients in crisis with needed medical care, including medications, eyeglasses and small medical equipment.

Recovery, Sobrietym and Job Training
Christian Caring Center operates a four-bed men’s shelter in Pemberton dedicated to helping men in recovery from substance abuse issues. Staffed with an on-site manager, the shelter follows a structured program to provide accountability and Christian discipleship. Through the shelter and our other outreaches to people striving for a life of sobriety, we provide avenues for work experience and job training in retail, food service, maintenance, janitorial and office administration skills.

Community Services
Basic Needs / Assistance
Community
Employment / Training
Spiritual / Cultural

Last Updated: 02/08/23