Essex County Senior Citizen Writing Contest Returns For 2026

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Are you an older adult with a story to tell in Essex County?

The Essex County Division of Senior Services is bringing back its annual Legacies Writing Contest for 2026. The contest is open to Essex County residents who are 60 years of age or older.

Writers should tell an original story focusing on a special person, life-changing experience, or significant period of their lives. The deadline for submissions is Monday, April 20. Late entries will not be accepted.

Other contest rules include:

• The suggested maximum length is 1,500 words.
• Stories must be typed or legibly hand-written on 8.5-by-11-inch paper.
• Entries must have a cover page with the story’s title, the author’s name, date of birth, address, and telephone number.
• The story title with no identifying information should appear on the first page of the story text. All identifying information about the author is removed when stories are judged by the review committee.
• Seniors may submit only one entry.
• Previously published stories may not be submitted.
• Seniors should keep a copy of the story. Entries will not be returned.

Stories can be emailed to dwertz@seniors.essexcountynj.org or sent to the following address:

Essex County Division of Senior Services

Attn: Doreatha Wertz

465 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Suite 102

Newark, NJ 07102

“Our senior citizens have led interesting lives and I am always impressed by the stories that are submitted,” Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said.

For more information, visit www.essexcountynj.org or call the Essex County Division of Senior Services at 973-395-8381.

The Essex County Division of Senior Services offers a wide range of services to eligible Essex County senior citizens. It offers adult protective services, provides transportation, administers adult day care, offers counseling for caregivers, provides home delivered meals and offers visiting nurse services. For more information about these and other services, please call the Division at 973-395-8375. Individuals with hearing impairments may reach the Division by calling the New Jersey Relay Service (711V/TYY).

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.