The Beloved Project honors law-related agencies, individuals
Police officers are already in the business of service. When they align with The Beloved Project to provide essential personal items and resources for homeless and under-served individuals and communities, they go above and beyond.
“… They don’t have to do this,” said Claudine Archer, who spearheads the nonprofit agency Beloved Project of New Jersey and last month cited 10 people who performed “acts of selflessness” in the community this year. They were recognized at the annual Community Hero Award Benefit Concert on June 29 at the county fairgrounds in Columbus.
This year’s honorees are:
• Sgt. Eric Pew: Burlington Township police
• Det. Joe Wagner: Delran police
• Det. Sgt. Jill Giannini: County sheriff’s office
• Officer Brandon Thomas, Willingboro police
• Fountain of Life Center in Florence
• Sherry Sandler, manager, state parole division
• Dr. Tiffani Worthy, Willingboro councilwoman
• Laura Toliver, P.A., South Jersey Medical Center
• Malikah Morris, deputy director, county Housing Hub Human Services
• Pauline Mullings-Chisolm, The Beloved Project.
Delran Det. Joe Wagner was among 10 “selfless” honorees at this year’s Community Heroes benefit.
The Community Hero Award Benefit Concert is a celebration for The Beloved Project and the public figures who help make its mission a success. Honorees are chosen based on the work they’ve done in the community solo or as part of the mission.
The Beloved Project brings Archer joy and satisfaction, and the name is significant.
“When people say beloved, it means dear one,” she explained. “This is a heart thing, it’s not a head thing. I put myself in other people’s shoes.”
The Beloved Project started out of Archer’s home in 2017. By the following year, she had an office in Burlington City, although an illness set her back a bit. In 2019, the office relocated to Sunset Road in Burlington.
Archer eventually formed an alliance with community police officers in Burlington Township, and the nonprofit picked up steam. Until COVID, that is. But Archer and the officers remained committed to the mission.
“Most police officers want to help, but they don’t really know where to go,” noted Archer, who is aligned with law-enforcement agencies and local churches. “So now, they call us.”
For the future, Archer said she wants her own building for The Beloved Project so she can help more people on a larger scale. She regularly travels to Calvary Church in Delran to reach more people in need.
The organization partners with agencies and colleges such as Rutgers to assist people with getting identification and obtaining social services. On the second Tuesday in September, The Hope One Van will be in Cinnaminson to offer a number of services, including a second chance for people.
For more information, email belovedprojectnj@gmail.com or call (609) 699-6139.
