Help Local Seniors Enjoy the Holidays

 

Project Self-Sufficiency is currently seeking monetary donations and gift cards to local stores to be distributed to senior citizens as part of the agency’s Earth Angels initiative.  During mid-December, students in the New Jersey Youth Corps high school diploma program at Project Self-Sufficiency will stuff festive bags with the cards and gifts; the items will be delivered by volunteers and Project Self-Sufficiency staff to seniors during the week leading up to Christmas.  Along with monetary contributions, the agency is seeking the donation of gift cards from local retailers, including Kohl’s, Shop Rite, Stop & Shop, Wal-Mart, and Weis.  Note cards, postage stamps, pet food, coffee, tea, candy, and packaged cookies are also welcome.

 

Newton attorney Elenora L. Benz, Esquire, originated the Earth Angels program in 1999 by enlisting the support of her staff member Mary Jones, along with clients, business colleagues, and community volunteers.  The initiative was taken over by Project Self-Sufficiency in 2017.  Although many Earth Angels recipients reside in Newton’s Liberty Towers and Frankford’s Homestead, senior citizens in other parts of the county have been added every year as the program expanded.

 

“The Earth Angels program invites all of us to demonstrate compassion for those in our community who may feel overlooked or forgotten during the busy rush of the holiday season,” comments Project Self-Sufficiency Executive Director Deborah Berry-Toon.  “Our vulnerable seniors need our support, and we are extremely gratified by the outpouring of concern shown by those who donate to this valuable service year after year.”

 

“This year we expect to bring holiday cheer to more than 100 senior citizens in our area,” remarked Earth Angels Project Coordinator Alice Prendergast. “This program also gives us the opportunity to meet with our older neighbors, find out what they need, and introduce them to the services we offer throughout the year.”

 

Monetary donations can be made online at www.projectselfsufficiency.org or by making out a check to “Project Self-Sufficiency” and indicating “Earth Angels” on the memo line.  Donations of checks and gift cards can be dropped off Monday – Friday at Project Self-Sufficiency, 127 Mill Street, Newton, through November 21st.  To register to receive gifts from the Earth Angels program, or to find out more information, call Alice Prendergast at Project Self-Sufficiency, 973-940-3500.

Learn about Divorce at Free Seminar

 

Project Self-Sufficiency will host a free, online Family Law seminar on Thursday, October 23rd, 7:00 p.m. Participants will discuss child support, grounds for divorce, court procedures, alimony, parenting time, equitable distribution of assets, and other topics related to divorce.  The presentation, which will be offered through Zoom, is free and open to the public; interested attendees should call Project Self-Sufficiency, 973-940-3500, to register and receive log-in details. 

 

Thanksgiving Donations Needed

 

Project Self-Sufficiency is soliciting assistance for hundreds of low-income families who need a little extra help this season, by asking area residents and organizations to donate traditional Thanksgiving food, or to donate funds towards the purchase of food.  Donors are invited to sponsor a family for only $50 or to make a contribution of their choice.  The non-profit agency is gearing up to distribute complete Thanksgiving dinners to approximately 500 local families this year, so monetary donations are particularly needed.  Individuals and families who need help at Thanksgiving are invited to call Project Self-Sufficiency at 973-940-3500. 

 

The agency will gratefully receive pumpkin or apple pies; canned vegetables, including yams and cranberry sauce; dinner rolls; gravy; stuffing and mashed potato mixes.  Contributions, or notification of the intent to contribute, are requested by Friday, November 14th, to allow ample time to package and distribute the goods to needy families.  Frozen turkeys will be gratefully accepted on Wednesday, November 19^th and Thursday, November 20^th; however, donors are asked to alert the agency ahead of time if frozen turkeys will be offered so that sufficient supplies are available to families in need.  Turkeys cannot be accepted earlier or later due to the lack of refrigerated storage space.

 

“Requests for assistance are pouring in every day, and we expect to serve more than 500 families this year,” explains Deborah Berry-Toon, Executive Director of Project Self-Sufficiency.  “However, our wonderfully generous community has consistently demonstrated compassion towards our participants during the holidays, and we are confident that this year will be no exception.“

 

Thanksgiving donations will be gratefully accepted at Project Self-Sufficiency which is located at 127 Mill Street in Newton.  To donate, or to find out more about the programs and services available at Project Self-Sufficiency, call 973-940-3500, or visit www.projectselfsufficiency.org.