Highlighting Livingston Philanthropies’ Partners: LPI and Willing Heart Community Center: A Long-Time Partnership to Aid the Homeless

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02
Jul

Highlighting Livingston Philanthropies’ Partners: LPI and Willing Heart Community Center: A Long-Time Partnership to Aid the Homeless

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In a continuing series of articles focusing on the distribution partners of Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI), this week LPI founder and director Jeff Friedman highlights the Willing Heart Community Care Center in Newark. “As I’m often asked about the final destinations of generous Livingston donations, I’m pleased to share this profile of the Willing Heart Community Care Center, one of Newark’s most prolific non-profits,” said Friedman. “Willing Heart’s hands-on mission is to feed, clothe and counsel the homeless and extremely poor.” Willing Heart’s roots are based in Metropolitan Baptist Church, which has been serving Newark for over 75 years. In June of 2008, the church expanded its goal of “revitalizing and rebuilding” the lives of its congregants to also encompass the citizens of Newark that live beyond the church structure. “In keeping with its mission, vision, and commitment for the community, Metropolitan created the Willing Heart Community Care Center as a separate, non-profit, 501(c) (3) tax-exempt corporation to consolidate and enhance the church’s outreach efforts,” explained Friedman. “Since then, the Willing Heart Community Care Center has become a beacon of hope for residents of Newark and its surrounding communities.” During LPI’s recently completed 2018-19 season, Friedman continued, “LPI delivered to Willing Heart some 18 times, utilizing volunteers’ personal vehicles. Livingston’s donations ran the entire gamut of coats, family clothing, toiletries, cosmetics and more, including a stuffed animal giveaway during Willing Heart’s free holiday ‘gift shopping event’ for families in dire need.” Friedman added, “I see a continued and deepening relationship with our friends at Willing Heart as LPI embarks on its ninth season of ‘providing for the poor, homeless, and disenfranchised.’ ” Donations of travel-size toiletries, men’s dresswear, socks and other items may be dropped at the offices of LPI partner, the West Essex Tribune, located at 495 South Livingston Avenue, next to ShopRite. In addition, tax deductible donations to help LPI purchase a vehicle for deliveries would be greatly appreciated, and may be sent online at paypal.me/lpinj or by mail to LPI, P.O. Box 247 Livingston, NJ 07039. Friedman concluded, “Let’s close with the words of actress/producer Roma Downey, who said, ‘If you have donated, children may never know your name, but they will never forget your kindness.’ ” Photo:     For the Willing Heart Community Care Center’s 12 “Ladies of the Boutique,” it’s all about unpacking, examining, folding, hanging and stocking their newly expanded boutique facility to service the homeless and those families living below the ...

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