1)  HOUSEHOLD ITEMS:

Linens (new if possible): double bed sheets, single bed sheets, bed spreads, blankets, new pillows for sleeping, towels sets, dish towels.

Cleaning supplies (environmentally friendly): all-purpose cleaner, brillo, dish detergent, sponges, furniture polish, toilet bowl cleaner, laundry detergent, mops, brooms, bagless vacuum cleaners.

Paper supplies: toilet paper, paper towels, plastic garbage bags, aluminum foil, sandwich bags, tissues.

Personal items: shampoo, conditioner, body wash or soap, deodorant, tooth brushes, toothpaste, lotion.

Stationary items: postage stamps, computer paper, pens, pencils, notebooks, backpack book bags, pencil cases, scotch tape, etc.

2) OTHER SUGGESTIONS:

Supermarket gift cards, Target or WalMart gift cards, monetary donations (submitted to the Director to be sued  at her discretion)….or…

Make a Meal: make a casserole dish to be used when we have monthly Hospitality House family dinners, or better yet, come and serve the dinner.  Contact Sister Maryann or Linda for more information.

Babies, babies, babies! A baby boy is expected in October.  All things related to a newborn are needed except a crib.  We also have a 10-month-old boy and a two-month-old girl living in our Hospitality House apartments.  We can always use diapers,  baby lotion, baby wipes, baby powder.

Tickets are just $35 to support the work of the Coalition.  Expect lots of surprises, including  wine and rum tasting, live entertainment, amazing bar-b-q samplings, as well as passed hors d’oeuvres, beautiful desserts, beer and wine.

In addition, bid at our fantastic Silent Auction, for vacation opportunities at a home in Vermont, on the Connecticut seashore, and on Long Beach Island, or for services such as professional laser treatment, specialty catered dinners, professional photography sessions, and a deep-sea fishing trip,  or for prizes such as a fine jewelry package, a Waterman pen, and much, much more!

We will also have over 70 themed Tricky Tray Auction baskets, with irresistible items for the lucky winners.

To purchase your tickets in advance:  please follow the link below to pay via credit card or paypal.  When you review your ticket order prior to submitting it, please first click on the “add special instructions to the seller”  line, and then indicate that your payment is for Block Party tickets.  Your name will be added to our guest list so that you can check in at the door on the night of the event.  You may wish to  print your receipt and bring it as proof of purchase.

CLICK HERE TO PAY VIA CREDIT CARD OR PAYPAL

You may prefer to pay for your tickets by check:  Just mail your check, payable to The Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless, and indicate “Block Party ticket(s)” in the memo line.  Your name will be added to our guest list for you to check in at the door on April 30th.

Mail your check to:

The Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless

118  Division Street

Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201

Any questions?  Call Linda at 908-355-2060!

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!

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!

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.

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”