Edison Housing Donates Gifts & Holiday Meal Boxes To 170 Families

EDISON, NJ — It's been a tough year for many families in Edison, who suffered job losses and faced food insecurity due to the economic fallout of COVID-19.

Since the pandemic began, the Edison Housing Authority (EHA) said it has seen an increase in the number of people seeking food assistance. And like every year, the EHA continued with its tradition of providing families in need with food and gifts for the Holiday season.

On Dec. 18, EHA staff members and volunteers from the tenant association donated gifts and meal boxes to 170 families.

With the number of COVID-19 cases rising across Edison, volunteers donned PPE and practiced social distancing. “This is an event that the community looks forward to experiencing every year,” Deborah Hurley, executive director of EHA, said in a statement.

“This is always a special time of year for our staff, commissioners, and families, as we enjoy banding together to ensure the children living within the Edison Housing Authority experience a magical holiday season,” she said.

Martin Luther King Elementary School, commissioners of the EHA, and Sergeant Donald Ship, Officer Jennifer Iorio, and Officer Shirley Dong of the Edison Police Department, helped in providing the gift-wrapped toys. Edison council president, Joyce Ship-Freeman, donated gift cards for senior citizens living within the EHA.

“We truly could not have made Christmas extra-special without the Edison Police Department,” said Hurley.

Meanwhile, the Northfield Bank in Westfield held a toy drive, and donated more than 50 toys to the EHA.