Back to School Supporters Bring the Joy

Back to school for most children means the anticipation of new clothes, shoes, backpacks and supplies. Fortunately, this excitement was also felt by every child and teen in our Main Shelter, Transitional Housing and Family Supportive Housing Program, through the generosity and kindness of our supporters and volunteers. 

The opportunity for our children to shop for clothing, shoes and other school necessities with Target gift cards was generously provided by the West Morris section of the National Council of Jewish Women. Organized by longtime HSI volunteer Kim Kramer Ganz and her NCJW colleagues Melanie Levitan, Kay Salzman and Karen Secular, this group of women have been “Back to School Angels” for our young guests since 2017. The gift card donation began as an actual Back to School in-person shopping experience that the group organized and fundraised for. After receiving lists completed by the parents in our programs, the NCJW members personally shopped by sizes, favorite colors, sports teams and characters for each child. The items were set up as a “store” and each child received a personal shopper-volunteer to help them choose clothing and shoes so they’d be back-to-school ready. The amount of time, thought and care from these volunteers was immeasurable and Kim says it was worth it to see the excitement and gratitude from the children: “I’ll never forget watching a young autistic boy being able to pick out items for himself with one of our volunteers. His mother nervously watched, but you could see the joy he had with that bit of independence and ability to keep things of his own. It’s something I’ll always remember about this experience.”

Covid unfortunately ended the in-person shopping experience, but the NCJW knew there was still a need for our children. They continued to fundraise and pivoted to providing Target gift cards to each child; thus keeping the shopping experience alive by being able to pick their items at the store. The NCJW annually raise about $10,000 in gift cards for the children in all three of our programs, ensuring that their basic needs for a successful school year are met – and we are so very grateful.

A total of 49 children in our programs received gift cards, along with backpacks filled with all of the necessary back to school supplies, thanks to additional local organizations and dedicated volunteers.

No child in our programs has to worry about not having weather appropriate clothing or shoes that fit or a backpack that they can carry all their school items in because of the care YOU, our supporters, invest in our families.

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