About Us – Gateway Community Resource Center

Empowering people through essential programs and resources
to enrich their lives and engage more fully in the community.

ABOUT GATEWAY

Gateway Community Resource Center (GCRC) provides help, education and enrichment for the community by partnering with human service organizations. We are committed to a climate of diversity, dignity and respect for all.

Our Vision, Mission, and Purpose

The GCRC’s vision is to be the premier resource center and provider of programs for the community with a mission to open pathways of support, education, and enrichment. Our purpose is to promote the well-being of our neighbors.

Gateway Community Resource Center is a new nonprofit opened in October of 2022 in Boonton, NJ, spawned by and affiliated with Loaves & Fishes Community Food Pantry, a successful 3-year 501(c)(3) operation now serving over 125 families weekly.

OUR LEADERSHIP

Gateway’s Leadership Team is comprised of five hard-working volunteers, each are residents of the greater Boonton area. The team brings decades of work experience and volunteerism.

Marilyn Ward

President

A transplanted native of Kingston, Pennsylvania, Marilyn has lived in Boonton for 61 years. After teaching in Boonton Public Schools for 30 years, she retired and moved on to a second career which encompassed 16 years as the owner of a flower and gift shop. Recently widowed, Marilyn’s genes of commitment to public service are mirrored in three daughters. For the past 5 years, she has been focused on a vision. With the dedication of hundreds of planners, workers, volunteers, financial supporters and the invaluable help of the Boonton Presbyterian and Methodist Churches, the vision became Gateway Community Resource Center and Loaves and Fishes Community Food Pantry. Recently, the Boonton Town Council voted her 2022 Citizen of the Year.

Harold Johnson

Chief Administrator

A Philadelphia native, Harold came to New Jersey for his graduate education, and remained to complete 40 years’ service as a Presbyterian pastor in Essex and Morris Counties, retiring in 2003 after completing 25 years as pastor of Boonton’s First Presbyterian Church.

In retirement, he finds his skills and experience fit well with offering his time in volunteer leadership of non-profit organizations: Highlands-Nairobi Presbyterian Partnership; Boonton Main Street, Inc.; and now, Gateway.

Jane Cook

Program Director

Recently retired from 30+ years in global financial services, Jane has turned her focus to the local community. She is excited to source meaningful programming for the community and grow awareness for Gateway. She is building a network of local experts and community leaders to cultivate pathways of growth for the local community.

Amy Hartman

Volunteer Coordinator

Amy joined Gateway in February 2024, stepping into the Volunteer Coordinator role. She has been in Corporate Finance for most of her working career, and is looking forward to spending more time volunteering when she retires. Amy is thrilled to be involved with Gateway, learning about the needs of our community and the connections that Gateway offers, and excited to be a part of the Gateway Leadership Team.

The Gateway Story

5 years ago when the leadership of the First Presbyterian Church saw the close of a nonprofit nursery school it housed in two ground floor rooms for over 50 years. They decided the space would be dedicated to hands-on mission programs for the local community.

INTERNSHIP

Gateway offers internships for students to gain experience, build their resumes and sharpen their skills. We partner with Morris County Votech and other area schools to help students complete their requirements and contribute to our community. Opportunities exist for individuals in the roles of webmaster, marketing, social media and much more!!

Photo on the right (L-R) are interns Kaitlyn Duca, Suchi Borkar, Kyran Park and Caitlyn Parish-Lewis, who offer their enthusiasm and talent in this relationship to the school year’s end.

Empowering people through essential programs and resources to enrich their lives and engage more fully in the community.