The Livingston Coat Drive, now commencing its fifth season, has already “blasted-off” to a great start. A number of winter coats, along with men’s dress clothing, have been dropped at the office of coat drive partner West Essex Tribune. Coat Drive organizer Jeff Friedman, known locally as the “Coat Guy,” plans to build on the success of last year’s collection of 2,200+ warm coats, along with hundreds of scarves, hats and gloves. “All signs and forecasts for 2015-16 indicate that a banner year is ahead,” Friedman said.
“It’s inspiring that the mission of the Livingston Coat Drive is a close match to the strong message recently delivered by Pope Francis in Washington, New York and Philadelphia,” continued the Coat Guy. “Our mission is providing warmth to the poor, homeless and disenfranchised. Pope Francis has called for charity and compassion toward the homeless and less fortunate. In a speech to the United Nations, he scolded world leaders for ignoring the poor as part of a growing ‘culture of waste.’ The poorest, he said, ‘are those who suffer most from such offenses… they are cast off by society, forced to live off what is discarded and suffer unjustly from the abuse of the environment.’ ”
The Pope’s strong advocacy for the poor and homeless, opined Friedman, “is a universal message which has little to do with religion. Francis has focused on economic justice, social justice and working together for the common good. Our exceedingly generous neighbors, who continue to dig deep into their closets and storage, offer an excellent example of how we can bring his words home – immediately.”
Returning Coat Drive volunteers, known as the “Coat Guy Dream Team,” are joined this year by two community members who have stepped up for the cause. Livingston residents Bob Gebroe and Candi Samansky are back to do some heavy lifting for 2015-16. Joyce Friedman of Upper Montclair, the Coat Guy’s sister-in-law, will once again provide private pick-up in her town. West Orange Jewelers, located at 16 Eisenhower Parkway in Roseland, will be a drop-off point for the drive again this season.
Two of the Coat Guy’s old friends, both originally from Livingston and now residing in neighboring communities, have joined the Livingston Coat Drive effort this year. Debbi Riccardello, Livingston High School class of 1974, and Laura Sheppard, LHS class of 1971, are on board for Coat Drive 2015-16.
Riccardello commented, “I would love to use some of ...
