Livingston Philanthropies Announces New Partnership with Wayne-Based Baking Co.

Wed
05
Aug

Livingston Philanthropies Announces New Partnership with Wayne-Based Baking Co.

Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. has announced a new partnership with Bimbo Bakeries, headquartered in Wayne. “Generous Livingston residents have kept the donations flowing, so I have kept the food purchases flowing,” said Jeff Friedman, founder and director of the Livingston-based charity. “Now, I’m pleased to announce a partnership with Bimbo Bakeries in Wayne. This is huge development for LPI, our Newark distribution partners, and most importantly, disenfranchised populations.” The organization, which used to collect coats, clothing, toiletries, and other items for the homeless, had to re-invent itself in March. “And now, just months later, we have a major food products partnership,” recounted Friedman. “It happened quickly. While LPI provided almost everything except food since 2011, we switched over quickly when it became impossible to deliver regular items with our new truck. Through the immeasurable support and donation of editorial space by the West Essex Tribune each week, LPI began asking for financial contributions to facilitate our new and already growing ‘Shipping to the Homeless’ initiative. “A Livingston friend, Jason Declet, has read the Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI) articles in the West Essex Tribune for years. He and his wonderful wife, Liz, and two daughters have generously donated family clothing for years. Now, Jason has taken his philanthropy to the next step.” Declet works for Bimbo Bakeries, which is a large distributor of name-brand baked items, Friedman noted. “In June, Jason sent the all-important email that started LPI’s partnership process with Bimbo Bakeries. He wrote to me, ‘Do you purchase bread? I may be able to help with bread donations. Please let me know.’ He put me in touch with Walter Syracuse, who coordinates sales and deliveries at Bimbo. It took one phone call to explain that we ship food to the homeless and profoundly poor. I also sent along our website link and YouTube video for his review. Done deal! “When offered the opportunity of Bimbo’s huge availability and willingness to help, Newark Emergency Services for Families’ (NESF) executive director, Amina Bey, said, ‘We would love it! Bread, cakes, muffins, all of it! Especially for our seniors and families. Our provider agencies come to us to pick up groceries for their clients. This would be such a blessing. We’ve also been providing food to the youth and their families in the summer youth employment program. That’s an additional 2,000 people, so we can definitely use everything.’ ” NESF’s first pick-up from Bimbo took place last week,

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