The Livingston Coat Drive rolled out its new Personal Shopping for the Homeless initiative last week, "and the special campaign is already off to a strong start," said Coat Drive founder and coordinator Jeff "The Coat Guy" Friedman.
"Generous and innovative Livingston residents recently took advantage of major coat sales, happening right now at area stores," Friedman explained. "They purchased winter coats and family accessories to be distributed by volunteers from our local Coat Drive. Because of their generosity, homeless individuals, mostly men, received these life-saving items outside of Penn Station in Newark, on the streets, and at OAR (Newark Offender Aid and Recovery), a prisoner re-entry program and long-time Coat Drive distribution partner."
Donations are lagging behind last year, noted the Coat Guy. "Naturally, the Coat Drive needs so many more gently used warm coats and winter accessories, along with men’s business attire. But for those who want to take advantage of winter coat sales, which will end soon, and become a member of the Personal Shopping for the Homeless outreach effort, they can do so in two ways.
"Budget permitting, Livingston residents can shop at local stores like Burlington Coat Factory, Marshalls, TJ Maxx and others. Or, while out shopping for other items, a great sale coat or gloves may present themselves. I'm calling this method, 'If you see something, buy it.' Either method is a wonderful way to reallocate our resources to those who truly need them. This is particularly true during the cold weather that we are experiencing right now."
Friedman and Coat Drive volunteer Candi Samansky recently delivered 79 coats to the OAR Counseling Center, a distribution partner engaged in vital community work. OAR has, for 31 years now, been serving thousands of adults "and empowering them to be free of crime and to develop life skills they need to become responsible and productive members of society." OAR, added the Coat Guy, "is a terrific organization, and we are proud to be working with it."
To date, the Livingston Coat Drive has delivered about 1,550 coats and 350 men’s suits to multiple distribution partners, which is slightly off from last year’s total at this time. "We continue to reach out for coats and winter accessories for the entire family," said Friedman. "In addition, our push for men’s large, extra-large and even extra-extra-large coats will continue, at least through the end of the month. Many of the homeless, outside on the ...
