1. Unique Silent Auction (bid on a vacation home in Vermont, a beach house in Connecticut, an outdoor movie night, a beach house at the Jersey Shore, professional laser treatment, a spectacular jewelry package, and lots more!)
2. Exciting Tricky Tray auction
3. Cooking demonstration and wine tasting

PLUS enjoy live music, passed hors d’oeuvres, beautiful desserts, beer and wine…

AND hear the success stories from some of the 800 families the Elizabeth Coalition serves every year.

Price per person:  $35

For tickets, call 908-355-2060

Thanks to the top notch final match-up, which was highly anticipated among sports fans and college scouts, the Coalition was able to raise significant funds so that we can continue to provide services to our homeless friends in these difficult times.  Special thanks go out to all of our volunteers, including the Elizabeth High School Rotary - Interact Club,  the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity from New Jersey City University, and the many friends of the Coalition who volunteered their time to make this event a success.

The Coalition dedicated this event to the memory of longtime friend and supporter Neil Patrick Boyle,Sr.,  who passed away on December 16, 2009, at the age of 75.

it can't happen without our volunteers!

This year’s event will include a line-up of exciting and unique prizes, open to both live and silent bidding.  From safaris in Africa to Broadway tickets…from beach houses to golf foursomes…from toys and video games to iPods and televisions…from cocktail parties for 40 to romantic dinners for two…the Auction offers guests unique opportunities to bid on wonderful prizes while helping support the Hospitality House Program here at the Coalition.

What helps this event stand out are the many “service” prizes donated by the very generous volunteers.  From landscaping and yard work to tax returns…from babysitting to tutoring…form gourmet meals to handyman jobs…form home decor to music lessons…residents of the Westfield area donate their expertise in the form of valuable services that underscore the “helping hand” spirit of the event and truly reflect the pride of “community” that makes the Service Auction such a success each year.

Ticket Information: Tickets are $25 per person, $250 for a table of 10, and include a dinner of sandwiches, salads, soft drinks, wine, beer, cookies, auction paddle, prize brochure, and one free Door Prize raffle ticket.  To reserve your tickets or table and/or to donate a prize or service, or to underwrite a portion of this charitable event, please send an e-mail to:  service.auction@yahoo.com

We hope to see you on November 14th!

One of our Hospitality Houses

8 sets of twin sheets; 4 sets of double (full) sheets; quilts or bedcovers for a bunkbed, 2 double beds, and two twin day beds; 8 complete sets of bath linens; laundry baskets, dishes for 12 persons, silverware, pots and pans, cooking and serving utensils.  Additionally, we need a toaster, coffee pot, teakettle, microwave, plastic storage containers, basic baking pans, mixing bowls, wet and dry measuring cups and spoons, mixing spoon and scraper, etc.  Small decorating items like lamps, pictures for the walls and area rugs are also needed.  Please cal Sr. Maryanne Tracey at 908-355-7094 for details.

Additionally, we are welcoming Kathleen Murphy as our House Host.  She brings her experience with the Catholic Worker in Arizona — a perfect match, as our program is premised on the work of Dorothy Day, who founded the Catholic Worker.  She will be moving in during the month of October.  Kathleen is an artist and teacher, and will be working at Bernice’s Place with Susan Castillo, the coordinator of our children’s program.

Interior renovations at Vincent's House

This year’s summer day camp program at Bernice’s Place was filled with fun, excitement and great learning experiences.  The camp provided thirty-seven children with the opportunity to make new friends, broaden their knowledge, and learn while enjoying the summer.  The summer day camp was divided into two 3-week sessions, ages 5-9 (session one) and ages 10-12 (session two).

The camp had structured daily activities to keep the children entertained and always wanting to return.  On Mondays, we had various arts and crafts activities, such as building pinatas and creating and decorating masks from plaster.  The older campers also participated in a journal-writing project thanks to volunteers from Cranford, and their writing was compiled in a Camp Journal for them to take home.  Tuesdays and Thursdays were swimming days.  These were highly anticipated days and the children were always very excited to learn how to swim and play safely in the water.  Wednesdays we embarked on journeys to different locations throughout New Jersey.  Finally, on Fridays the children had the opportunity to learn about science in a fun, hands-on way, and also to learn about conflict resolution in a weekly workshop.

Our field trips provided the campers with unforgettable experiences.  For some it was and exciting trip to the beach or their first time on a nature trial.  Others enjoyed their first experience on a college campus.  the children also had magical journeys viewing sea creatures at the aquarium, and finding fossils from millions of years ago.

Through our “Bernice Dollars” reward system, the children learned how to work hard and manage their money in order to “buy” items at our Bernice Store.  They obtained Bernice Dollars by working on age-appropriate workbooks which included math, science, social studies and grammar sheets.  The children were more than willing to learn more and work harder in order to obtain the “dollars!”

All of these wonderful activities would not have been a success without the help of our dedicated volunteers.  Students from the Westfield High School swimming team dedicated over 150 combined hours teaching the children how to swim.  In addition, several other high school students from Cranford, Clark, Westfield and surrounding communities volunteered their time throughout the summer.  Also, college students from Union County College and Rutgers University were a valuable asset to our program and provided much joy to the children.  Thank you, volunteers!

Vincent's House: "before"

Vincent’s House was named for St. Vincent de Paul, known for his work with the poor that continues to inspire the Sisters of Charity and many parish societies to this day.  The second and third floors will be named for Anne E. Tracey and Stephen J. Davis at the request of the benefactors.  Both were committed to serving the poor and to the value of hospitality.

Contact Sister Maryanne at 908-355-7094 OR by email:  coalition118hh@optonline.net
for reservations.

Kevin Boyle and Ray Kostyack

Those who attended the Liberty Hall Evening Garden Party enjoyed fine food, wine, music (by Coalition Board member Maria Politano and Kevin Hagen) and tours of the historic mansion.  The tricky tray and silent auction were a huge success, and the gathering of Coalition  supporters had a wonderful evening.  Congratulations to Ray Kostyack and Kevin Boyle!

a large crowd turned out for the event

the silent auction was a huge success

Many thanks to our Garden Party Event Committee, including chairpersons Donna Grozuczak and Pat Vogler, and committee members Pam Bonifacio, Alan Coen, Susan Coen, Margie Donohue, Emily Fromm, Nancy Gordon, Patti Jones, Ellie Lesperance,  Cathy Maravetz, Ken Richuso, Pamela Sachs, Sister Mary Eleanor Thornton, Claudia Volk and MaryRita Williams.

On June 4th at 6:30 p.m., the Coalition is hosting an Evening Garden Party at the historic Liberty Hall Museum Carriage House and Gardens.  The evening will include docent tours of the 18th century Liberty Hall Mansion, as well as food, drink, music and silent auction.

Our guests of honor will be  Coach Kevin Boyle, varsity basketball coach of the St. Patrick High School team, ranked number three in the nation, and Raymond Kostyack, Vice President - Investments, of  Wells Fargo Advisors in Westfield, New Jersey.  We honor both men for their steadfast commitment to our work, and to the many homeless individuals and families whom we serve.  Their loyalty and dedication to our annual High School Basketball Classic fundraising event has directly and positively impacted the lives of thousands in our community.

For tickets or further information, contact event coordinator Donna Grozuczak at 908-251-7545.  Click here for directions to Liberty Hall.

crowds gather at 118 Division Street for Homeless Connect service fair

On January 28, 2009 the Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless hosted our annual Homeless Connect service fair.  The cold and rain did not deter 150 people from coming out to seek ways to improve their housing situations and get information on many related services.  Eighteen local social service agencies hosted tables and were able to quickly give information on how to obtain assistance.  At the same time, folks were able to get medical services such as eye exams from an optometrist, nursing assessments, diabetes checks and even posture checks from a chiropractor.  Three women donated their time to give haircuts, and Hope Center gave out soup, bread and hot chocolate.  Everyone received a backpack from the Salvation Army, filled with items including a personal care kit and clean, warm socks.

This year’s Homeless Connect Service Fair was held in conjunction with the bi-annual homeless count mandated by HUD (the federal Housing and Urban Development agency).  Every other year, Union County organizes a street count of the homeless, providing each homeless person found with a night of shelter.  Typically, between 1,500 and 1,800 homeless people are counted in Union County.  While most of these people are located in Elizabeth or Plainfield, there have been no municipalities in Union County without homeless persons.  The numbers for 2009 are not yet in, but we anticipate that this year will see more homelessness than ever.

Volunteers offering information and services at the Homeless Connect Service Fair

Take a look at the press coverage of our Homeless Connect Service Fair:

Star-Ledger

Suburban News

Kevin Boyle accepts award from Mayor Bollwage on behalf of his brother, Neil Boyle

On January 24, 2009, Neil Boyle, a business agent and political director for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 102, was honored by the Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless at our 15th Annual High School Basketball Classic fundraiser.  Like his father before him, Neil has been responsible for the important contributions to the Coalition from the IBEW and their friends at many of the area’s labor and trade unions. In addition to generous financial contributions, Neil and his fellow union members were helpful in the construction of the St. Joseph’s Food Kitchen,  as well as donating and serving Christmas dinners and collecting presents for Elizabeth’s less fortunate children for many years.  Neil also raised substantial funds for Hospice of Union County and, along with the other unions, helped construct the Hospice’s new facility, where he is now in their loving care.  His brother, Kevin Boyle, the head basketball coach for the  perennial national powerhouse St. Patrick’s High School basketball team, received the award for Neil.

enthusiastic crowds cheer St. Pat's to victory

We invite you to participate in our efforts, browse our programs, read about our mission and let us know what you think!

Linda M. Flores-Tober
“May peace prevail on earth”