Newark Group Uplifts Local Families With Thanksgiving Events

NEWARK, NJ — Local nonprofit Girls; Live, Love, Laugh Inc. (GLLL) recently continued their mission to support single-parent families in the city of Newark with a pair of recent Thanksgiving outreach events.

Earlier this month, GLLL hosted a private event at the Newark ShopRite to provide 15 families with a free turkey for the Thanksgiving holiday. In addition to turkeys, parents with children enrolled at Chancellor Avenue Elementary School received a store gift card and 10 percent off of their final bill.

Having overcome her own challenges – including not knowing where her next meal was coming from – Allison James‐Frison, the group’s founder and CEO, has firsthand experience of what it’s like to struggle with food insecurity.

“With the high cost of groceries and bare necessities, families throughout the City of Newark are struggling more than ever to feed their children on an average day, let alone a holiday with all the extras,” she said.

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BAGS OF HOPE

Meanwhile, the group held another Thanksgiving event – “Bags of Hope” – in partnership with Goya Foods and Mount Pleasant Church last weekend.

On Nov. 19, the church opened its doors to more than 100 Newark families, who received free food packages with sides and trimmings for a holiday meal. GLLL also provided turkeys, Shoprite gift cards, and cleaning supplies through a raffle process.

Another Bags of Hope giveaway was scheduled for Wednesday to benefit families at the South 17th Street Elementary School.

“We are grateful for partners like Goya Foods and Mount Pleasant Church of Newark,” James‐Frison said. “Recognizing a need is essential, but the willingness to step up and fill those gaps is invaluable.”

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