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.

Record Number of Families Receive Free Thanksgiving Feast

 

More than 500 Sussex County families will be able to enjoy a Thanksgiving turkey with all the trimmings this year, thanks to the generosity of local businesses, churches and individuals who donated voluminous amounts of food for Project Self-Sufficiency participants.  Agency staff and volunteers recently bagged hundreds of frozen turkeys, along with fresh produce, cans of cranberry sauce, vegetables, stuffing mix, dinner rolls, and freshly baked pies and distributed them to local families. 

 

“For many of our participants, food insecurity has become a pervasive and deeply troubling issue. The overwhelming generosity of our friends and neighbors is appreciated now more than ever,” commented Deborah Berry-Toon, Executive Director of Project Self-Sufficiency.  “We have a lot to be thankful for this year.”

 

Thousands of pounds of fresh vegetables were provided by longtime Project Self-Sufficiency volunteer Michael McNamara and his family in recognition of McNamara’s recent birthday. “My whole family is involved in supporting Project Self-Sufficiency all year long,” noted McNamara. “I have been fortunate in my life, and I am honored to be able to use this opportunity to help those in need.”

 

The First Presbyterian Church of Newton Youth Group, along with help from the congregation and members of Girl Scout Troop #98136, donated 216 freshly baked pies.  “The Youth Group and the congregation of the First Presbyterian Church of Newton look forward to baking pies for Project Self-Sufficiency’s Thanksgiving baskets each year. The mission of our church is to be a beacon of light and hope to our community, and pie-baking is just one of the ways that we let our light shine,” said Colleen Duffy, Associate for Family Nurture at the First Presbyterian Church.

 

Ames Rubber Chief Executive Officer Chuck Roberts spearheaded a fundraising drive among members of the Lake Mohawk Golf Club and others to purchase 300 turkeys for donation to the agency.  “We are trying to do the right thing and keep a tradition going,” noted Roberts who has been involved in the annual effort alongside Project Self-Sufficiency Leadership Council member Roy Knutsen for approximately 10 years.  “I have been blessed to live and work in Sussex County all my life, and there are so many people in need.  Giving back to the community is the right thing to do.”

 

Generous donations of turkeys, food, baked goods, gift cards, and funds were also received from a host of other individuals, businesses, and families. Krave Caterers donated five Thanksgiving dinners to Project Self-Sufficiency families. A joint Thanksgiving food drive was conducted by Board member Dee Fernandez and Leadership Council member Kathy Nauta, with the help of their friends, families, and neighbors, culminating in donations of gift cards and funds to purchase bushels of canned goods and fresh produce. Hundreds of pounds of fresh apples were provided by Gulick’s Fruit Farm, and fresh produce was contributed by Valley View Farms. Significant Thanksgiving contributions were also made by Selective Insurance, Kiddie Academy of Sparta, Reverend George A. Brown Memorial School, Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, and Perfect Pointe Performing Arts Studio.

 

Deliveries to homebound families were provided by parishioners of the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, a tradition which has been in place for approximately 40 years. 

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.