By Sarah Fertsch
Staff Writer
The old saying goes, “It takes a village to raise a child.” A lesser known truth is that it takes a collection of heroes to raise a village.
Kelly Jenkins had been living in Absecon and working as a bartender for 28 years. After retirement, Jenkins felt the call to give back to her community in new ways.
In partnership with Kate Curry and Marie Kirner, Jenkins volunteers with Sister Jean’s, a mission through the Parish of St. Monica to help folks in need of food, clothing and hygiene products. It was Curry that established the program and together they volunteer their time and seek donations to sustain the program.
Every Wednesday and Thursday, the women set up tables in the church courtyard, filling them with goods donated or purchased by them with their own earnings. Folks in need, some regulars, come and retrieve what they need with gratitude.
Jenkins has become well-known at the local Dollar General, where she stocks up on soap, menstrual products, shampoo, wipes, lotion and combs. Jenkins focuses on hygiene products while Curry and Kirner cover all clothing.
Kirner has been working with Curry and Jenkins since August 2022. On Tuesdays, the women run the Soap Shop and on Thursdays they do the Clothing Closet. In 2020, Kirner and her husband wanted to get more involved in Atlantic City (they had recently moved to the city) so they started volunteering at the overnight shelter. She found her niche at Sister Jean’s later that year.
“We do all of our own fundraising,” said Jenkins. Schools such as Mainland High School and Atlantic Cape Community College have raised funds for Sister Jean’s, and Jenkins expressed her appreciation for the support.
“Everyone deserves to feel clean and healthy,” said Jenkins. “We do what we can to preserve peoples’ dignity and fill the gaps where we can with a smile on our faces.”
Rashid Abdul has served as a community advocate and is lovingly referred to as the ‘watchdog’ of charity work.
“Kelly is a hoot. She is one of the nicest people I know, and the most unselfish person in the world. You don’t find people like her anymore,” said Kate Curry, a partner of Kelly’s since 2020.
When she isn’t working directly at The Parish of St. Monica, you can find Jenkins volunteering at a food pantry in Egg Harbor City or delivering essentials to the Coast Guard station in Cape May County.
During the pandemic, Jenkins sent her husband, who owns a plumbing business, to help a neighbor in need fix their hot water heater. In the winter, she collects coats and hats and mittens to donate to the Salvation Army.
“We are three independent women who brainstorm together to benefit the community,” said Jenkins.
For more information on Sister Jean’s, visit their website at https://www.friendsofjeanwebster.org/.
