In his report this week, Livingston Philanthropies Inc. founder and director Jeff Friedman notes, “Whether generous Livingston neighbors have made monetary contributions or purchased badly needed items online or in-person, the outcome remains the same: LPI, now in its 11th season of operation, continues to provide for the ‘homeless, profoundly poor and disenfranchised.’”Since September, Livingston residents have donated cases of Enfamil baby formula; multiple pallets of fresh produce and non-perishable food items; clothing, nail clippers, and toiletries; men’s and women’s underwear, socks, and handbags; face masks; diapers, baby wipes, baby food, baby bottles, and baby clothes; gloves, hats, scarves, and mittens, both store-bought and hand-knitted; new stuffed animals for children; and, of course, coats.Donations have gone to a variety of social service agencies, including the Willing Heart Community Care Center; the Bessie Green Community; Newark Emergency Services for Families; the New Jersey Re-Entry Corporation, a prisoner re-entry agency; and the Baby Love Academy. Items have also been distributed at the World Homeless Day event, and, earlier in the fall before the omicron variant-driven resurge in COVID-19 cases, to homeless individuals at Newark’s Penn Station.New Toiletries Drop-Off PointIn addition, friends of the late Trish Duffy at Livingston’s Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, where Duffy worked as a broker, have volunteered to help collect toiletries in her honor. Going forward, the office, located at 2 East Mt. Pleasant Avenue, will serve as a collection point for LPI’s Trish Duffy Toiletries and Cosmetics Challenge.“Trish Duffy was a lifelong Livingston resident, known and beloved by many,” said Friedman. “She suggested that LPI do a toiletries and cosmetics drive and made the first donation. Now, residents can email or call me as usual to drop donations here, or drop them at Coldwell Banker.”Helping Car Wash Employees LPI has also begun distributing thermal gloves, winter beanies, warm socks and masks – purchased with Livingston’s contributions – to employees of several local car washes. “We have found that many of these workers are, despite their employment, still living below the poverty line,” said Friedman. At one car wash, he recounts, “two employees had no gloves at all, and a couple immediately put on their new winter beanies. Now that I’m staying outdoors and not venturing to inside distribution points like Newark’s Penn Station, I plan to expand the car wash initiative to more towns. Most towns have car washes, and I expect their employees will also need help.”“Individual ...
