Holiday Donations for Seniors in Need

Project Self-Sufficiency is seeking donations to provide holiday cheer to local senior citizens as part of the agency’s Earth Angels initiative. The agency is soliciting monetary donations and gift cards, along with select items for distribution to home-bound seniors in December. Volunteers will stuff bags with the cards and gifts and hand-deliver the items to seniors during the week leading up to Christmas.

Along with monetary donations, suggested items for donations include gift cards from local retailers such as Harmon’s, Hayek’s, Kohl’s, Marshall’s, Shop Rite, Stop & Shop, Wal-Mart, Weis and the hair salons at the Homestead and Liberty Towers senior residences. Donations of bath, hand and kitchen towels, flashlights, batteries, magnifying glasses, jar openers, nightlights, foaming hand soap, small bottles of dish detergent, postage stamps, crossword puzzles, word searches, first aid items, and tissues would also be appreciated.

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. Although most Earth Angels recipients reside in Newton’s Liberty Towers and Frankford’s Homestead, organizers hope to reach additional senior citizens in other parts of the county as the program grows.

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, gift cards and other items can be dropped off at one of three locations: Project Self-Sufficiency, 127 Mill Street, Newton; the law offices of Elenora Benz, 122 Main Street, Suite 102, Newton; or at Knoll Heights, 39 Trapasso Drive, Sparta.

Project Self-Sufficiency has served families in northwestern New Jersey for more than 30 years. The agency’s mission is to provide a broad spectrum of holistic, respectful, and comprehensive services enabling low-income single parents, teen parents, two-parent families, and displaced homemakers to achieve personal and economic self-sufficiency, family stability, and to improve their lives and the lives of their children. The agency offers a supportive family-centered environment where life issues are addressed through a combination of individual counseling, peer support groups, case management services, parenting skills training, life skills management training, home visits, childcare and early childhood education, family activities and health education.

For more information about the Earth Angels initiative, or any of the other programs offered by Project Self-Sufficiency, call 973-940-3500 or 844-807-3500, or visit www.projectselfsufficiency.org.