Middletown Helps Its Own Honors Former Police Chief McCarthy

Former Police Chief Joseph McCarthy was honored with a lifetime achievement award from Middletown Helps Its Own after their recent charity golf outing.

The lifelong Middletown resident helped create the 501(c)3 charity in 1964, after he was approached by a local reporter named Lucille Smith.

"She said, 'Joe, I want to talk to you sometime,'" recalled McCarthy, who was the police chief at the time. "She said, 'Maybe we can start a program to help people around Christmas time and Thanksgiving.'"

Smith, who has since passed away, envisioned a volunteer effort that would support local people struggling financially, particularly over the holiday season, McCarthy explained. 

"It's all about helping people in need," he said. 

Middletown Helps Its Own had modest beginnings, but now provides Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas dinner and Christmas presents as well as clothing year-round. They often partner with other charitable organizations, such as the Middletown Lions, Elks, Police Benevolence Association 124, Veteran's of Foreign Wars Post 2179, North and South High School students, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the First Aid & Rescue Squad and the Township Fire Department.

The charity recognized McCarthy after their annual golf outing because of his dedication to the Middletown community, explained John Marinan, a member of the organization's leadership committee.

"We elected to honor him because of his years of service as a police chief," he said. "He's like a local legend. He's been involved with so much."

McCarthy was appreciative of the lifetime achievement award, but very humble in accepting it. 

"There are so many men and women that do so much and you can't thank them enough for it," he said. "I shouldn't get praise, everybody else should. I would really like to praise the organization and the people that work so hard."

He particularly enjoys seeing children and teens pitch in to better their community. 

"I like when the school kids get involved. It really brings the community together," he said. "New Jersey is a wonderful state and Middletown is a wonderful town. I just like to see everybody working together and being kind to each other and helping out."