The dawn of a new year offers the opportunity to reflect on the benevolence showered upon Project Self-Sufficiency during the 2020 Season of Hope Toy Drive. During the autumn, the call was put out to a community already wracked by financial and health concerns from the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic that help was needed to provide a meaningful holiday season to thousands of local children and teens. From then on, hundreds of families, businesses, schools, organizations, churches, and individuals rose to the challenge. Each day brought a parade of donors carting thousands of new toys, gift cards and funds. Never have we witnessed such a manifestation of hope in action. The need to maintain social distancing upended business as usual at the Season of Hope Toy Shop. Volunteers and patrons were not allowed inside the buildings, and every item, no matter how small, was thoroughly sanitized before being displayed. Instead of choosing to...
Project Self-Sufficiency is a non-profit organization which has been serving individuals and families in northwestern New Jersey since 1986.