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.

Holiday Stress Management Workshop Offered

 

Parents and community members are invited to learn techniques for managing holiday stress at a virtual meeting of the Project Sussex Kids General Council, Wednesday, October 14^th, at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom.  Participants will also receive an update on Project Sussex Kids activities.  The presentation will be facilitated by author, therapist, and life coach Diane Lang.  The meeting is free and open to the public; interested participants are invited to call Project Self-Sufficiency at 973-940-3500 for log-in details.

Project Sussex Kids, the Sussex County Council for Young Children, has been designed by the New Jersey Department of Children & Families to address the needs of local families who are expecting or who are parenting young children.  County Councils for Young Children have been established in all 21 New Jersey counties to bring together parents, caregivers, as well as health, education, and social service professionals to enhance communication, coordination, and collaboration of services.  Additional information is available at www.projectsussexkids.org.