Masquerade Ball And Silent Auction Benefits Somerset County's Needy

By David Milkes

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Somerset Hills hosted a masquerade ball and silent auction to benefit The Giving Network, Saturday, November 15, at Soriano’s at Parkside in Bridgewater. This year’s proceeds totaled over $14,000. One of the Giving Network’s early volunteers, Andrea Bertola Shaw, was honored for her work designing and maintaining their web site.

The Giving Network is an all-volunteer nonprofit charity in its 15th year of service in Somerset County. It is dedicated to recycling items – they accept donated household goods & deliver them to the needy in Somerset County (NJ). The Giving Network started in 1999 with just a few volunteers working to help flood victims of Hurricane Floyd that devastated Bound Brook, NJ and nearby communities along the Raritan River.

Currently there are 25 regular volunteers and many other occasional workers giving their time and effort to help people in need throughout Somerset County. Each year, Giving Network volunteers average 1,000 deliveries to local families, shelters, and food banks.

Individuals and families assisted by The Giving Network are usually referred by social services agencies, homeless shelters, and similar organizations. Small appliances, dishes, linens, and baby items are always useful; small furniture pieces are welcome when an immediate request can be filled.

The Giving Network also delivers produce and bakery items donated by a local supermarket to five homeless shelters, a senior center, and two food banks. Canned and dried food donations are collected weekly at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Somerset Hills and are delivered to the Food Bank Network.

Donations of household items, small appliances, furniture, linens and baby items are accepted from individuals, businesses, religious and other organizations. Volunteers contact donors and arrange to pick up these items and deliver them to those in need in Somerset County. To schedule a collection, please call (908) 927-9001 or go towww.givingnet.org, click How to Donate and click fill out this form (or enter this URL:http://www.emailmeform.com/builder/form/LcARG6e62J).

The Giving Network always has volunteer opportunities to pick up and deliver food and household goods, sort goods, and coordinate deliveries by phone. Emailgivingnetwork@gmail.com for details.