The Interfaith Human Relations Committee of the Cranford Clergy Council, in partnership with the Dr. King Service Fair Committee, would like to thank the greater Cranford community for their continuous support. The committees are preparing to embark upon the seventh annual non-sectarian Dr. King Service Project Fair 2019, held at the Bates Hall Gym in the First Presbyterian Church of Cranford, 11 Springfield Ave, Cranford, 4:30–6:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 21, 2019. Last year, with the community’s help, the Dr. King Service Project Fair collected and donated over 250 personal care packages and toiletries for homeless teens at Covenant House and the YWCA Women’s Shelter, and Community Access Unlimited. Two hundred lunches were donated to Food for Friends in Rahway and St. Joseph’s Mission in Elizabeth. The fair also donated cleaning products to FISH Hospitality Network and Family Promise in Elizabeth. Other projects included bookmarks for Lyons Veterans Medical Center, Raphael’s Life House, Clark Rehabilitation, Cranford and an animal shelter. The proceeds from the snack table exceeded $200, which were donated to: Meals on Wheels in Summit and The Institute for Music’s Children’s Program in Elizabeth.
“We are excited to have the opportunity to be of service to active duty troops and homeless veterans” states project organizer Janice Grevious. We are accepting donations to purchase backpacks for homeless veterans though Backpacks for Life; this organization, founded by Sgt. Brett D’Alessandro, has donated nearly 5600 backpacks in under 4 years! The goal is to help the organization to raise money to manufacture a specially designed backpack for homeless veterans. There are two types of backpacks: the Bowery, which costs $199 and a canvas backpack, which costs $21. Donations can be made at the various Houses of Worship in Cranford, at the Dr King Service Project Fair, or directly through the organization’s website:.Backpacksforlife.org. These specially made backpacks are manufactured by Veterans who are hired through Veteran-American Made. The second project is to assemble food product care packages to active duty troops through the Westfield Armory.
Community members can drop off items at the collection boxes stationed at the Cranford Public Library, Cranford Community Center and the Cranford municipal building. The drop-off end date will be on Monday, Jan. 28, 2019.
Per Grevious, the donation goal is to make at least 50 food boxes to be sent to the Westfield Armory for active duty troops, and to help Backpacks for Life reach their donation goal for 2019. “The Cranford community, adults and children, continues to amaze us with their generosity and dedication to helping people need at the Service Project Fair. It is such a positive non-sectarian event. Everyone is invited.
Donation Goals:
The personal care bags will be assembled at the Service Fair will include the following items: individually packaged toothbrush, toothpaste – 6 -8 oz. (no travel or family sizes), deodorant, soap.
For active duty troop boxes, we will be collecting the following items: Individually wrapped snacks, Granola and protein bars, dried fruit, jerky no pork, tuna packets, instant oatmeal packs, canned fruit, peanut butter and jelly, no glass, microwaveable meals and mac and cheese, protein powder packs, powdered juice individual packs, wipes
The Interfaith Human Relations Committee is also collecting cleaning products, such as: bottles of multi-purpose cleaner, spray cleaners, toilet bowl cleaner, wipes and/or sponges
“This is a community service event for the entire community,” states Cindy Hannen from the Interfaith Human Relations Committee. “If you know of any agencies, individuals or clubs that might be interested in helping to collect the donations, food products and personal care items, please share this information! This is a community event that includes everyone coming together to better our community.”
To learn more, contact Janice Grevious at janicegrevious@gmail.com or call her at (908) 612-5465.
ABOUT THE CLERGY COUNCIL OF CRANFORD: The Clergy Council of Cranford consists of members from all houses of worship in Cranford, and Osceola Church in Clark. The group has sponsored anti-bullying events, service days, and interfaith religious services. To learn more about Clergy Council of Cranford, contact Cindy Hannen at cindy@patwin.com, or call her at (908) 272-9133.
