‘Adopt-A-Mountie’ Program Helps Montclair Teens Headed To College

MONTCLAIR, NJ — A fundraising campaign has been launched to aid graduating high school seniors from Montclair who need a little financial help moving into their college dorms.

Organizers hope to put “comprehensive dorm room care packages” together for up to 20 seniors, leveraging items procured through Amazon with financial contributions, according to a statement from Montclair Councilman Peter Yacobellis, community leader Aminah Toler of Montclair Mutual Aid, Donna Montague and Daniel and Megan Roberts.

In order to be eligible:

• The applicant must be a graduating senior from Montclair High School as of June 2022.
• The applicant and parent/guardian must be residents of Montclair. Proof of residential status must be included in the application.
• The applicant must show proof of acceptance to a college/university as a full-time student.
• The applicant must show proof of on-campus housing documentation.

High school seniors or families of seniors can request an application by emailing mhscollegedormkit@gmail.com. Applications for aid will be open until July 1.

Want to help? Members of the community are invited to contribute monetarily through a GoFundMe launched by Yacobellis and Toler: https://gofund.me/c0423534 or assist these high school seniors by shopping directly from an Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/27CIRPNG914BV/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_2. Items can be delivered or dropped off to: Tony’s Laundromat, 84 Maple Ave., Montclair.

“Many families have exhausted their finances with end-of-year high school expenses and additional college expenses, including tuition and books,” Toler said.

Toler added that many families are coping with “little or no resources” to help their teens pull together the basic necessities needed for a dorm room.

“Aminah Toler is someone who – when she asks you for something – it’s because there is a real need in the community that she’s identified that many not otherwise get attention,” Yacobellis said.

“So, I’m hoping to be as helpful as possible,” the councilman added. “I want all of our Mounties getting the best start they can without worrying about having some basic essentials that they might not be able to afford with all of the upfront costs of going to college.”

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