Earth Angels Holiday Support Program for Seniors Underway

 

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 gift cards and holiday items; the bags 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, the program has expanded every year to include senior citizens in other parts of the county.

 

“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 Chief Executive Officer 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 20th.  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 Parent-Child Bonding, Get Free Baby Items

 

Expectant parents and those with young children are invited to receive useful advice about bonding with their children at a free Baby Beginnings Fair offered by Project Self-Sufficiency, Thursday, October 22^nd, 1:00 p.m. Attendees will also be able to access the resources they need to be successful, including free and reduced cost activities for families, information about early childhood health and development, and other topics. Lunch will be provided along with free baby items, prizes and unique giveaways. The Baby Beginnings event is part of a Family Connects NJ program which supplements Project Self-Sufficiency’s robust programs for pregnant women and parents of young children, including home visitation programs, monthly Mommy Parties, and Parent Cafes. Pregnant women and parents of young children are invited to call 973-940-3500 to register.

 

“Accurate information about healthy relationships, early childhood, and development is crucial for the success of new parents and we are grateful to offer this information session to the community,” explains Deborah Berry-Toon, Executive Director of Project Self-Sufficiency.  “In addition to free items for baby and family, the Family Connects NJ Baby Beginnings Fairs allow pregnant women and new parents to engage with area experts and meet others in similar circumstances.”

 

To register for the Family Connects NJ Baby Beginnings Fair, to discuss your early childhood parenting needs, or to find out more about other programs and services available at Project Self-Sufficiency, call 973-940-3500. 

Help Vulnerable Families at Thanksgiving

 

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; contributions made in honor of a loved one are also encouraged. 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 13th, to allow ample time to package and distribute the goods to needy families.  Frozen turkeys will be gratefully accepted on Wednesday, November 18^th and Thursday, November 19^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.