Coat Giveaway Is Smash Hit In Newark, Jersey City

NEWARK, NJ — Hundreds of people in North Jersey, including recently immigrated migrants, were able to get a leg up on the winter weather at recent coat giveaway events in Newark and Jersey City.

The Mercy House, a resource and referral center that operates under the guidance of the Archdiocese of Newark, held its annual Winter Coat Giveaway on Oct. 16 in Jersey City and Oct. 17 in Newark.

The giveaway events were a smash hit, organizers said – nearly 300 coats and an array of winter garments were distributed to local families and people in need.

Hundreds of attendees gathered at each Mercy House location, where they were invited to choose a new or gently used coat for themselves and an additional coat for each of their children. They were also encouraged to take one hat, scarf, and pair of gloves: all generously donated by archdiocesan parishes, schools, organizations and employees.

Those in need included migrants who recently relocated to New Jersey from warmer climates … without suitable winter attire.

“This giveaway really makes a difference in the community,” said Cheryl Riley, director of the archdiocesan Respect Life Office and The Mercy House.

“We’ve seen children come in with no coats during the winter, and many families nowadays struggle to heat their homes,” Riley said.

As the need for daily essentials and living assistance within local communities continues to soar, The Mercy House is expanding beyond its current two locations. On Wednesday, it will open a third center at 249 Court Street in Elizabeth. Additionally, the Archdiocese of Newark plans to open a fourth location for The Mercy House in Bogota in spring 2024, thus establishing resource and referral centers in all four counties served by the archdiocese: Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union.

Looking ahead, The Mercy House will host its annual Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway in November and Christmas Toy Giveaway in December.

The Mercy House centers have assisted thousands of individuals since launching in 2018, including roughly 7,800 people in 2022 alone. Currently, the Newark and Jersey City locations offer support to an average of 200 people weekly, with over half of them being migrants from countries around the world. For more information, visit www.rcan.org/mercy-house/.

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