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Food Donations Sought for Thanksgiving



Project Self-Sufficiency is soliciting assistance for hundreds of low-income families who need a little extra help this season, by asking area residents and organizations to donate traditional Thanksgiving food, or to donate funds towards the purchase of food.   The agency is gratefully receiving pumpkin or apple pies; canned vegetables, including yams and cranberry sauce; dinner rolls; gravy; stuffing and mashed potato mixes.  Contributions of frozen turkeys will also be greatly appreciated; however, donors are asked to alert the agency ahead of time if frozen turkeys will be donated.  The non-profit agency distributes complete Thanksgiving dinners to hundreds of local families each year. 


“Requests for assistance continue to increase and we are hoping to be able to serve several hundred families this year,” noted Deborah Berry-Toon, Executive Director of Project Self-Sufficiency.  “Our wonderfully generous community has consistently demonstrated compassion towards our participants during the holidays, and we are confident that this year will be no exception. “


Contributions, or notification of the intent to contribute, are requested by Thursday, November 16th, in order to allow ample time to distribute the goods to needy families.  Frozen turkeys can be delivered on Monday, November 20th, between 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.; turkeys cannot be accepted earlier or later due to the lack of refrigerated storage space.  Monetary donations, which will be used to purchase turkeys and other necessary items, can be dropped off at the agency or made online at www.projectselfsufficiency.org.


Non-profit agency Project Self-Sufficiency is celebrating its 30th year of service to families in northwestern New Jersey.  The agency’s mission is to provide a broad spectrum of holistic, respectful, and comprehensive services enabling low-income single parents, teen parents, two-parent families, and displaced homemakers to achieve personal and economic self-sufficiency, family stability, and to improve their lives and the lives of their children.  The agency offers a supportive family-centered environment where life issues are addressed through a combination of individual counseling, peer support groups, case management services, parenting skills training, life skills management training, home visits, childcare and early childhood education, family activities and health education. 

Thanksgiving donations will be gratefully accepted at Project Self-Sufficiency which is located at 127 Mill Street in Newton.  To make a donation, or to find out more about the programs and services available at Project Self-Sufficiency, call 973-940-3500 or 844-807-3500, or visit www.projectselfsufficiency.org.

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