Livingston Philanthropies Inc.: Helping Those Whose Lives Have Gone from Bad to Worse

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By Jeff Friedman
Editor’s Note: Livingston resident Jeff Friedman, founder and director of Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI), explains, in his own words how his charity works to aid the homeless of Essex County.
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Not too long ago, before the unfortunate pandemic that won’t really go away, conditions for the homeless and very poor were beyond challenging. Cue the pandemic and then send in the worst inflation seen in a decade. The result for families living below the poverty line or folks existing out on the streets is not surprising… their heartache has progressed in sync from terrible to worse and finally worst. Life is a nightmare for populations with no means at all.
Before continuing with Livingston Philanthropies, Inc.’s (LPI) ongoing story, I am compelled to salute our philanthropic Livingston residents, service organizations, religious institutions, civic organizations and businesses who have stepped up to provide basic human needs for families living way below the poverty line. 
Thanks to all for helping LPI re-invent itself and grow since March, 2020, when COVID-19 erupted. Our non-profit almost immediately morphed into a distributor of food items, clothing, baby needs, diapers, toiletries, and other unattainable basic human existence needs. And we continue to grow as another “giving season” gets rolling, beginning our 11th year of service thanks to Livingston’s altruism. 
LPI delivers regularly to our Newark distribution partners and ships to them directly, too. It’s all made possible by Livingston’s generous contributions and by our partner since day-one, the West Essex Tribune, and through our affiliation with Livingston’s Healthy Community/Healthy Youth (HCHY) initiative, our umbrella 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.
I invite consideration of allocating a portion of one’s individual, family, corporate and other holiday giving to Livingston’s local, home-grown charitable organization. Livingston Philanthropies is run and administrated by local volunteers. Although some neighbors may think that LPI enjoys a large cadre of staff, there are just five of us making it happen, while having fun at the same time. Three are LHS graduates from 1967, ’69 and ’70, and three of us continue to live right here in Livingston. LPI’s volunteer website designer, Allison Eglow, is a more recent LHS alumna and NJIT computer studies graduate.
Tax-deductible contributions to provide for those who are not in a position to provide for their families or themselves may be mailed to LPI, 8 Country Club Road, Livingston, NJ 07039 or facilitated easily through PayPal, credit or debit card at paypal.me/njhomeless or by visiting njhomeless.org, LPI’s website. Or, please send me an email to njhomeless@aol.com to explore potential partnerships or local collection initiatives.
While contributions allow LPI to do the shopping for you, charitable Livingston neighbors may enjoy personally purchasing diapers in all sizes with emphasis on sizes 4 and 5, baby wipes, cases of food items, men’s socks, men’s and women’s underwear, hotel-size toiletries, warm clothing in sizes large and extra-large themselves. It’s all good, because the homeless, profoundly poor and disenfranchised need everything imaginable. Literally.
LPI’s Newark distribution partners speak out:
“The number one priority for us is produce for our monthly Free Grocery Give-aways,” said Amina Bey, executive director at LPI distribution partner Newark Emergency Services For Families (NESF). 
“Diapers, wipes and Enfamil formula are always in huge demand,” she emphasized. “The prices for diapers have gone up and we have a lot of babies born to families during COVID-19 who need immediate assistance. We give out diapers every day.”
Lisa Cherokee Raine Booker, who runs the baby’s and children’s operation at Willing Heart Community Care Center, offered, “I am making up baby gift bags with the hand-knitted sweaters, blankets, and baby bottles donated by Livingston Philanthropies. We can really use new or gently used shoes and boots for children of all ages. Thank you so much.”
Monique Kelly, kitchen and Clothing Barn manager at the Bessie Green Community, another long-time distribution partner on the other side of town, said, “Thank you so much for your blessings. We appreciate Livingston Philanthropies.”
I would like to close with the beautifully philanthropic thoughts of two icons: “Love cannot remain by itself — it has no meaning. Love must be put into action and that action is service.” – Mother Teresa; and “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth,” – Muhammad Ali.

Photo: Through the work of Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI), Livingston’s continued contributions facilitate the purchase of fresh produce to help fulfill LPI’s mission to “provide for the homeless, profoundly poor and disenfranchised.” Shown here, LPI founder and director Jeff Friedman, left, loads produce with LPI volunteer Alan Wishengrad of Livingston. LHS alumni Alan and Rick Levin were on hand as well, volunteering their time and muscle to help folks living below the poverty line.

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