The Community Care Food and Clothing Pantry in Gloucester Township hosted an event last week at Sicklerville’s Absolutely Fabulous Hair Salon to benefit needy families during the holiday.
Kalieb Bey – CEO and owner of the salon – joined Mario Partee, the pantry’s executive director, in the collaborative effort. Bey, a South Jersey native who also owns the Sea Bar Grill and Spirits, dedicates significant time to community service, volunteerism and community sports.
Partee, who co-founded the pantry with his mother more than a decade ago, spoke about the tremendous growth of the volunteer initiative, which now privides 2,000 to 3,000 donations annually to the community.
The pair’s joint efforts resulted in $120 gift cards for families to Snipes Sneakers and for toys, books and snacks. Partee ensured that families could pick out essential groceries at the pantry.
Recipient Dayquan Ireland – known as Quan among friends and family – shared his experience with Bey after a devastating fire at his home. The latter expressed his commitment to giving back, with particular attention to school-age kids. .
“I can see this becoming an annual event,” Bey remarked, emphasizing that every small contribution and sustained support matters in supporting the community. “Donate, even if it’s just 10 cents. We’ll continue this initiative to give back.”
Duane D. Myers, board chairman of Camcare Health Cooperation, also attended the pantry event, underscoring his four decades of involvement in similar initiatives and affirming his support in the future.
