Skip to main content

Back-to-School Fair Helps Hundreds of Families

 


Hundreds of parents and children recently turned out for a Back-to-School Fair hosted by the Journey Family Success Center at Project Self-Sufficiency.  Designed to prepare the entire family for a successful academic year, the event featured numerous workshops, children’s activities, information from local social service agencies and healthcare organizations, mobile gaming, and more. Children and families received new backpacks filled with school supplies and were invited to enjoy free pizza and snacks while being serenaded by local teen musician Sol Mars. Transportation for patrons was provided by the Stocker Bus Company.

 

“We are pleased to be able to help both parents and children to prepare for a successful school year at the annual Back-to-School Fair,” commented Deborah Berry-Toon, Executive Director at Project Self-Sufficiency.  “We commend all of the social service agencies, healthcare organizations, businesses, and volunteers who have taken the time to lend a helping hand to local families in need.”

 

In addition to games, refreshments, school supplies, and children’s activities, the Back-to-School Fair featured seminars about early childhood development questionnaire and introduced parents to the services available at Project Self-Sufficiency’s Career Center.

 

Informational exhibits and interactive activities for parents and children were provided by Abilities of Northwest Jersey; Behavior Bee Solutions, LLC; Brain Alliance of New Jersey; Care Plus New Jersey Kinship Navigator Program; Caring Partners of Morris & Sussex; Center for Family Services; Center for Prevention & Counseling; Child Mind Institute; Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center Burn Unit; Crossroads 4 Hope; DASI; DAWN Center for Independent Living; Family Promise of Sussex County; Ginnie's House Children's Advocacy Center; Mental Health Association, NJ4S; New Jersey Department of Health/Office of Minority & Multicultural Health; New Jersey Pediatric Psychiatry Collaborative; Newton Volunteer First Aid & Rescue Squad; NORWESCAP Child & Family Resource Services; Sussex County Special Child Health Services; Sussex County Community & Youth Services; Sussex County Library; Sussex County YMCA; Zufall Health Center; and others.

 

Patrons also learned about household safety and burn prevention from the Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center Burn Unit, toured the Newton Volunteer First Aid & Rescue Squad ambulance, enjoyed the Triple A Mobile Gaming Truck, and were invited onboard the Sussex County Library System’s bookmobile.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

High School Diploma Program Launches in March

  Enrollment for the next session of the New Jersey Youth Corps program at Project Self-Sufficiency is underway.   The sixteen-week program launches in March and is currently being offered as a hybrid of virtual and in-person curricula and activities.   The New Jersey Youth Corps gives those who have not completed high school the opportunity to boost their literacy skills, prepare for the high school equivalency exam, obtain on-the-job work experience, and transition into a career, college or the military.   Interested participants are invited to attend virtual Open House hosted by Project Self-Sufficiency to learn more about the New Jersey Youth Corps and to complete an application.   Virtual Open Houses will be held on Tuesdays at 5:00 p.m., January 19 th , 26 th , February 2 nd , 9 th , and 16th, as well as Thursdays at noon, January 21 st , 28 th , February 4 th , 11 th, and 18 th . In addition, Project Self-Sufficiency is offering a $100 gift card to t...

Little Sprouts Recognized for Excellence

  The Little Sprouts Early Learning Center was recently awarded a four-star rating from Grow NJ Kids , the state-sponsored initiative to raise the quality of child care and early learning throughout New Jersey.   The rating is based on a rigorous process which considers documentation, classroom environment, in-person observations, and other factors. The Little Sprouts Early Learning Center is an expansive childcare and preschool facility which offers space for 83 youngsters, ages 6 weeks to 6 years, and is operated by Project Self-Sufficiency at 127 Mill Street in Newton.     Jennifer Blohm is a Technical Assistance Specialist from the Central Jersey Family Health Consortium , one of three agencies assigned to provide technical assistance and support to programs participating in Grow NJ Kids.   Blohm was so impressed by the quality of the Little Sprouts Early Learning Center environment, that she decided to enroll her own child in the preschool.   “...

Hackettstown Welcomes PSS Journey with Grand Opening Celebration

  Hackettstown’s Trinity United Methodist Church was the site of a festive grand opening celebration for Project Self-Sufficiency’s mobile services vehicle, PSS Journey .   The renovated recreational vehicle is outfitted with refrigeration, computer workstations, counseling, and classroom space, and is now bringing free wi fi, food, diapers, and access to essential resources to Hackettstown twice a month.   The retrofitted RV allows Project Self-Sufficiency services to be brought to locations where residents may not have easy access to personal vehicles or public transportation; in addition to the Trinity United Methodist Church in Hackettstown, the rotating schedule includes stops in Franklin, Hopatcong, Netcong, and Vernon.   PSS Journey, and its smaller companion, the refrigerated Food Project van, are stocked with food, diapers, and limited personal care products for those in need.   Launched nearly five years ago, PSS Journey was the brainchild of ...