Have A Heart This Holiday Season

This holiday season many are out shopping for gifts to give their friends and family members. But some are out shopping for strangers who might not otherwise get the opportunity to open presents this year.

Local charitable group  has organized Have A Heart, an annual campaign where people are encouraged to pick up gifts for those who need them.

The process is easy. You can go to the  and pick up a little pink paper heart off an easel that's on display. The heart contains the age, sex and size of an individual in the area that would otherwise go without a holiday gift. You'll have until Dec. 13 to drop off unwrapped gifts back at the municipal complex, with the original heart taped to it. Volunteers are encouraged to donate wrapping paper and tape with the presents. Other drop-off locations include and the .

Westwood Cares President Sagario Mena said each heart contains a code to identify the family so the gifts are properly distributed, but the recipients remain anonymous to those purchasing the items.

After all the gifts are dropped off, Westwood Cares volunteers will sort through the items and bag them by family for distribution.

Mena said although this is often considered an affluent area, many families do struggle. "People don't realize," she said. "We're in Bergen County and there's not supposed to be any need for it, but there always has been and now even more." 

Kathie Elgert, Westwood's social services director and Westwood Cares first vice president, has been involved with the Have A Heart drive for many years. She estimates the drive will help about 80 families in Westwood this year. She also helps organize a similar drive in Hillsdale through charity group Hillsdale Helping Hillsdale.

Elgert said every person who has a heart made up for them gets at least one present and the children usually get two or three.

She said it's a good cause to get involved in "because it's the holidays and people need help."

Both women said Westwood Cares is a good way for residents to get involved and really help local families who need it.

If you'd like to help, stop by the Westwood Municipal Complex, 101 Washington Ave., or call Jeannine Dineen at 201-666-9740 or Val Finnegan at 201-666-0461.