Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI), the Livingston-based charity that runs a seasonal coat drive and a year-round collection of toiletry items for the poor, has shifted its focus during the coronavirus pandemic.
“LPI has re-invented itself during the current crisis.,” said founder and director Jeff Friedman. “Rather than volunteers personally delivering items to Essex County’s homeless and profoundly poor, we are now ordering cases of food items, in bulk, for direct delivery to our distribution associates.”
Some agencies, Friedman explained, have reached-out to LPI because they are running out of food in their pantries. “All types of food items are needed, more than ever now,” said Friedman. “LPI is reaching out to Livingston’s civic organizations, families, and individuals for emergency funding to help feed those living below the poverty line.”
As an example, this week, LPI shipped cases of boxed and individual portion food products to the Bessie Green Community in Newark. “Others are waiting for LPI to help them. But we need immediate funding to make it happen,” Friedman said.
The “quickest and most direct way to help,” he continued, are donations made via PayPal, at paypal.me/lpinj. Checks may also be mailed to LPI, P.O. Box 247, Livingston, NJ 07039. Contributions are tax-deductible. “Our generous Livingston neighbors are invited to send me an email at njhomeless@aol.com to discuss partnership opportunities,” noted Friedman.
Photo: Willing Heart Community Care Center staff members Lisa Cherokee Raine Booker, Carla McCain and Luis Martinez receive cases of needed items from Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI). “We are soliciting emergency funding to keep the shipments flowing,” said LPI founder Jeff Friedman. “It’s so much worse now for both those living below the poverty line and the agencies who are doing their best to serve them during these challenging times.”
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