WESTFIELD AREA Y GIVING TREES BRING HOLIDAY CHEER TO COMMUNITY ACCESS UNLIMITED

This holiday season, the Westfield Area Y successfully launched the nationwide and volunteer-led community service project called, “Togetherhood”. The Y partnered with Community Access Unlimited to provide holiday gifts to local residents in their Runaway & Homeless Youth Shelter. Paper angels with their gift wishes, which included toys, toiletries and winter-wear, were placed on trees at four area merchants.

Jersey Mike’s in Westfield, Hilltop Bicycles in Cranford, The Westfield Running Company and The Juice House in Garwood all hosted Giving Tree’s. Community members picked all the angels off the Juice House’s tree overnight and within the week gifts were being placed under all tree locations. A Y member and her Johnson & Johnson colleagues teamed up to make toiletry bags for the CAU residents, according to Ben Nanna, Assistant Director of Special Programs and Events at the Westfield Area Y. Nanna had the pleasure of delivering 160 gifts to CAU, which were distributed to approximately 100 residents this holiday season.

Community Access Unlimited provides community access through a broad array of
person-centered support services for adults and adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities and at-risk youth aging out of the child welfare system. To learn more, visit www.caunj.org.

For more information or to get involved with “Togetherhood” community service projects, contact Ben Nanna at (908) 233-2700 x279 or email bnanna@westfieldynj.org.

The Y is the nation’s leading nonprofit committed to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Visit westfieldynj.org to learn more about Westfield Area Y programs. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify.

Pictured here: Arielle Cassidy, owner of The Juice House, one of four local merchants that hosted “giving trees.”