Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI) “is mega-busy this time of year,” said founder Jeff Friedman. LPI, which has already delivered 1,000 warm coats and jackets to the homeless and profoundly poor, also accepts winter accessories, toiletries, cosmetics, diapers, women’s products and more.
Donations may be dropped at LPI’s partner, Livingston’s West Essex Tribune, located on South Livingston Avenue next to ShopRite.
“To make other arrangements, explore volunteer opportunities, or discuss keeping one’s monetary donations in Livingston, send me an email at njhomeless@aol.com,” Friedman said. Contributions are tax-deductible.
“I’m privileged to share LPI’s flurry of activity with our altruistic community,” Friedman continued. He reported on the successful donation drives by school and religious organizations, and the efforts to keep up deliveries to distribution partners in Newark and East Orange.
Religious Organizations:
The Men’s Club of Temple Beth Shalom held its annual coat and clothing collection to benefit Livingston Philanthropies. “Loaded SUVs kept arriving at LPI ‘World Headquarters,’ (my garage),” said Friedman. The synagogue also donated ten frozen turkeys, which were delivered to Bessie Green Community in Newark by Livingston volunteers.
The Reverend Richard Vossler, pastor at Livingston’s Grace Lutheran Church and his wife, Lyn Vossler, visited LPI World Headquarters to deliver 51 toiletry kits, 24 children’s backpacks stocked with school supplies, and an array of clothing and coats. “These badly needed items are the yield from Grace Lutheran’s annual community outreach project for Livingston Philanthropies,” commented Friedman.
The Synagogue of the Suburban Torah Center, for the second year, ran a major collection effort on behalf of Livingston Philanthropies. Once again, four loaded SUV’s provided family clothing, warm coats and winter accessories to provide for those in extreme need. “It was like a veritable parade coming down my street,” Friedman said.
Schools
Jonathan Dayton High School in Springfield, a valued and multi-year Livingston Philanthropies collection partner, donated its first load of winter coats of the season. The school’s Volunteer Club, under the direction of faculty advisor and science teacher, Jenn Hess Mortensen, provides several hundred warm jackets and coats every year.
The early childhood students at JCC MetroWest in West Orange donated 180 winter coats from another highly successful coat drive for LPI. The drive is part of the school’s “Mitzvah Moments” initiative.
“‘Giving Season’ doesn’t need to end when the new year begins,” said Friedman. “Collins School, which will begin its annual coat drive for LPI in January, is emblematic of Livingston’s 12-month philanthropic opportunities.”
Numerous Deliveries
“The continued generosity of Livingston residents facilitated ...
