WARREN COUNTY, NJ – The historic contributions women have made to the growth and strength of the nation were celebrated as the Warren County Board of County Commissioners proclaimed March as National Women’s History Month.
“American women have played a unique role throughout the history of the Nation by providing the majority of the volunteer labor force and have helped in the establishment of many charitable, philanthropic, and cultural institutions,” Commissioner Director Lori Ciesla said, shortly before presenting the proclamation to Debi Natale and Helen Carey, who started Parent to Parent Addiction Services Inc. in Warren County in 2014.
Noting that she comes from a family where all the women have been volunteers serving their communities, Ciesla remarked that women volunteers play a very big part in society.
Ciesla wanted Natale and Carey to receive the proclamation, she explained, because they have taken personal tragedies in their lives and turned it into action. “And they are making a difference,” Ciesla said
Carey’s son tragically lost his life at the age of 20 to an accidental overdose in 2013, while Natale’s son, after many years of suffering from a heroin addiction, is now living in long term recovery since October 2012.
The two women met and, wanting to help other families, decided to found an organization based on a model established more than 20 years ago in South Jersey by four women, three of whom had lost their sons to heroin overdoses. The pair partnered to bring services including support groups, Narcan training, treatment, advocacy and transportation, to Warren County and the surrounding area.
“We’re grateful to the commissioners,” Carey said, noting Parent2Parent receives a human services grant from the county to help fund their work. She also praised the county for starting the Addiction Task Force several years ago.
In their remarks regarding the proclamation, the other two Commissioners also praised Carey and Natale, and other women who have made a difference. Noting that he normally doesn’t participate in identity politics, Commissioner Jason J. Sarnoski said, “I believe that everyone plays a role, regardless of race, sex, class, ethnic background.” But he added that Warren County has a great director of the county commissioners in Ciesla, and two great volunteers who were being honored at the meeting, saying he was pleased to recognize them “for the roles they play and the strong women they are.”
Commissioner James R. Kern III pointed out that two of the county department directors present at the meeting were women, and noted that women throughout county government play an important role, whether they are department heads, professionals, administrative staff, sheriff’s and corrections officers, or in other job titles. “No matter where they work, the women we have in this county do a fantastic job. It’s nice that we acknowledge women collectively,” Kern said.
Pointing to Ciesla’s role as board director – only the fourth in Warren County history and the first in two decades – Kern said, “It’s important people see women in leadership. It’s inspirational for young women.”
