Local Business Owners Volunteer at Back to School Event

 

Area business owners recently stepped up to give a boost to local students by volunteering at Project Self-Sufficiency’s annual Back to School Fair.  Members from four local Rotary chapters, Branchville, Newton, Vernon, and Wallkill Valley distributed backpacks stuffed with school supplies, and assisted families during the event.  Customarily a one-day affair, Project Self-Sufficiency’s Back to School Fair had to be expanded to four separate events to allow for social distancing among patrons, staff, and volunteers.

 

“This year it is more important than ever to help parents and children to prepare for the new school year, and we couldn’t pull off an event of this magnitude without the extraordinary efforts of our dedicated staff, Board, and volunteers,” noted Project Self-Sufficiency Executive Director Deborah Berry-Toon. 

 

The annual Back to School Fair aims to arm parents with the latest information about school and bus safety, literacy, special needs, childhood development, and healthcare resources.  A wide array of social service and healthcare organizations were on hand to discuss areas of concern with parents.  Volunteers and staff offered games, crafts, and special activities for kids.  Music for the event was provided by Exit 12 duo Craig Evans and Brian Kathenes.

 

This was the first year that the local Rotaries supplied volunteers for the event.  “Rotary’s motto is service above self, and the organization is particularly supportive of education,” explained Cindy Allen, Assistant Governor for the Sussex County Rotary District #7475 which encompasses the Branchville, Newton, Vernon, and Wallkill Valley Rotaries.  “We’re looking forward to supporting Project Self-Sufficiency with more projects and developing a wonderful working relationship for the betterment of the community.”

 

The Back to School Fair is sponsored by the Sussex County Family Success Center and Project Sussex Kids, the Sussex County Council for Young Children, both of which are administered by Project Self-Sufficiency.  Participating healthcare and social services agencies included Atlantic Health System; Caring Partners of Morris & Sussex; Center for Prevention & Counseling; DASI; Family Partners of Morris & Sussex Counties; Ginnie’s House; Project Self-Sufficiency; Safe Kids Northern New Jersey; SCARC; Shop Rite; Sussex County Special Child Health Services; Sussex County Division of Social Services; Sussex County Library; Sussex County YMCA; Youth Advocate Programs, Inc.; Zufall Health Services; and others.

 

Project Self-Sufficiency is located at 127 Mill Street in Newton.  For information about donating, or to inquire about any of the programs and services available at Project Self-Sufficiency, call 973-940-3500 or visit www.projectselfsufficiency.org.

Discuss Landlord-Tenant Issues, Bankruptcy at Virtual Seminars Next Week

 

Project Self-Sufficiency will host free, virtual legal education seminars about Landlord-Tenant law and Bankruptcy on Tuesday, August 24^th.  Both sessions will take place via Zoom and are open to the public; interested participants are invited to call 973-940-3500 for log-in information.

 

The Landlord-Tenant seminar will be facilitated by Shefali Saxena, Esquire, of Legal Services of Northwest Jersey at noon.  Participants will discuss the rights and duties of landlords and tenants, including eviction, security deposits, leases, mortgages, and saving homes from foreclosure. 

 

Michael Nelms, Esquire, will lead a Bankruptcy seminar at 6:00 p.m.  Participants will learn about the process of filing for bankruptcy, as well as the options available to those facing overwhelming credit card debt, foreclosure, or asset repossession. 

 

The free legal education seminars are programs of the Sussex County Family Success Center at Project Self-Sufficiency.  The presentations are free and open to the public; interested participants must call Project Self-Sufficiency at 973-940-3500 to obtain log-in information. 

Get Free Legal Advice about Divorce

 

Project Self-Sufficiency will host a virtual Family Law seminar featuring Jessica Sciara, Esquire, on Tuesday, August 17th, 6:00 – 8:00 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 at 973-940-3500 for log-in details.