Never Alone Again Resource Center's Wellness Fair was a Success

On October 1st at the Never Alone Resource Center, preparations were underway for the community outreach program that afternoon and several upcoming events like the Wellness Fair and handing out non-perishable food. That day, Ms. Johnston, the leader of these programs, went shopping for water and healthy snacks and took calls from several contacts who are helping her with these events. The outreach program provides hot to-go meals for families in need. These are given for curbside pickup every Friday at 5pm from the resource center on 668 American Legion Drive in Teaneck, in collaboration with the Bergen County Food Security Task Force. The Wellness Fair the following Saturday turned out to be a great success. Taking place at Votee Park on Palisades Avenue in Teaneck, it was organized in collaboration with The Hadnott Foundation Incorporated with the intent for free giveaways of backpacks. A guest speaker accompanied the event in the actress and jewelry designer Alysia Joy Powell, along with a book signing from Love & Hip-hop’s MaMa Jones. Vendors for family services, mental health, yoga, dental, prostate cancer, and more were set up as well. Sponsors for the fair included YWCA, BR3 health & performance LLC, BCD Health Partners, Teacher United Methodist Church, Vantage Health System, and 4 Corners Church.

We are also getting ready for the Thanksgiving Toy Drive where, from November 1st to the week of December before Christmas Eve, the center will be accepting donations of new toys for kids ranging from newborn to teenagers. Games, pajamas, underwear, socks, and blankets are accepted and appreciated donations as well. There is the annual Thanksgiving Dinner program where up until November 20th, frozen turkey, trimmings, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and other non-perishable foods will be given out to families in need. Some families have moved to hotels due to being flooded out during Hurricane Ida or are unemployed because of that and Co-vid, so the Thanksgiving Dinner is hoping to help out anyone who requires the support. The center is also having its first annual fundraiser to gather money to continue its operations like these, with gift baskets put on display both virtually and in-person. A person can purchase 10 tickets for $20, 4 tickets for $10, and 1 ticket for $3. The different baskets include the spa basket, inspirational basket, lottery scratch off basket, private moment gift basket, holiday gift basket, and more. Tickets can also be used in a raffle to win a TV.

-- Submitted by Roland Barnes