It’s summertime, and while many residents are on vacation, the volunteers of Livingston Philanthropies have been hard at work, said Philanthropies founder and director Jeff Friedman, “donating their time and vehicles for the greater good of society. I’m more than thankful for their participation, as Livingston residents are keeping the donations strong and steady.”
Last week, volunteer and Livingston business owner Neil Greco delivered a huge load of family clothing, including 70 coats, to Willing Heart Community Care Center in Newark. “Neil happily took his large, shiny new pick-up truck, which was just filled with necessities for the ‘poor, homeless, and disenfranchised,’ ” said Friedman.
On Saturday, volunteer and Livingston Philanthropies board member Joyce Friedman, along with her grandson, Will Lombardo, distributed toiletries gift bags to those in the food line at St. John’s Soup Kitchen and Pantry in Newark. “The gift bags were created by Will and his sister, Ella Lombardo. After the bags ran out (we always need so many more), Will and Joyce stocked the shelves in St. John’s Pantry.”
Also being kept busy is volunteer and Livingston High School alumnus Rick Levin. “I got the usual ‘Michael is Drowning in His Office’ email from my longtime friends and partners at the West Essex Tribune,” said Friedman. “The ‘drowning Michael’ is Tribune editor Michael Izzo, and it’s his office where donations are temporarily stored. As usual, our compassionate Livingston residents brought in so many donations that Michael, as he often does, was getting squeezed out of room. Rick came to the rescue with his SUV.”
In addition, board member and volunteer Candi Samansky of Livingston took toiletries and family clothing to Coat Drive Center (a.k.a. Jeff Friedman’s garage). At press time, the load was already gone and the clothes were “on the racks” in Newark.
“As noted in last week’s Tribune, Livingston Philanthropies is in need of volunteers who own an SUV or larger vehicle,” Friedman said. “Please e-mail me at jftv1@verizon.net to explore this fun, necessary, and rewarding opportunity.”
Friedman concluded, “I’d like to close with this quote from H. Jackson Brown, Jr.: ‘Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.’ Harriett Jackson Brown Jr. is an American author best known for his inspirational book, Life’s Little Instruction Book, which was a New York Times bestseller from 1991 to 1994.”
Livingston Philanthropies is requesting hotel/travel sized shampoo, conditioner, soap, tooth brushes, tooth paste, mouth wash, deodorant, razors,
