Posted October 11, 2019

Caring for Friends — formerly known as Aid for Friends, based in Northeast Philadelphia — marks its 45th anniversary with its new Caring Awards for community leaders working to end hunger and loneliness.

In announcing the award recipients, Executive Chair Vincent Schiavone said they will be honored at a fundraiser on Friday evening, Oct. 10 at 6:30 p.m. It features entertainer Joe Piscopo singing and performing stand-up comedy, and Nick’s Roast Beef food trucks will serve entrees as volunteers serve other foods in the organization’s professional kitchen.

Caring for Friends provides food and friendship to homebound seniors, the homeless and families in need. The organization relies on contributions of time, food and financial support and is supported by more than 10,000 volunteers drawn from faith-based organizations, companies and caring community organizations and schools. Learn more here.

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The Caring Awards recipients include:

Rita Ungaro Schiavone Volunteer of the Year Award: Bartholomew McQuoid is assistant director of operations for CS at SEPTA. The award honors a volunteer with outstanding “up and beyond” commitment to delivering food and friendship to seniors in need. Bart is a Caring for Friends visitor volunteer. He personally delivers seven frozen meals a week to multiple homebound and disabled seniors afterwork, on weekends and often with his own children.

Caring Company of the Year: Reed Tech | A Lexus Nexus Company — This award goes to the employees that have been volunteering for 10 years as part of two days service per year, per employee. Over that time 809 employees have given over 5,000 hours cooking and cleaning in the Caring for Friends kitchen and helping to sort and package food in the warehouse. Reed Tech President Ethan Eisner will be accepting the award.

Caring Community Organization: The Ancient Order of Hibernians | Division 1 — This fraternal organization has been holding large group cooking events, large breakfast and snack bag events and raising funds to purchase food for more than 10 years.

Caring Partner Award: The Word Ministries International — This award goes to a partner organization such as a community cupboard, food pantry or nonprofit (some faith-based) that help distribute food to families and homeless at risk. Rev. Joses St. Phard and Rev. Chantal St. Phard are husband and wife ministers in North Philadelphia (Nicetown) who deliver meals, visit homebound seniors and disabled, host a food cupboard, distribute fresh food, host weekly dinners, serve dinner on the street to the homeless and distribute breakfast and snack bags to the homeless and hungry kids.

Caring Kitchen Award: Good Shepherd Cooking Group — This award goes to a volunteer group that has been preparing meals in our kitchen for years, in this case over 20 years. The Good Shepherd Cooking Group comes into our professional kitchen every Tuesday to prepare meals for homebound seniors and the homeless.