Legal service provided to thousands of immigrants, offering hope through expertise and justice.
Big news from our community! Catholic Charities of Newark has made a difference in the lives of thousands of individuals by providing legal services to an impressive 2,202 immigrants.
This is not just about legal assistance, it’s about offering hope, creating opportunities, and building a stronger, more diverse community. Each person helped represents a story of resilience, courage, and the pursuit of a better life.
Let’s take a moment to celebrate this significant achievement and its positive impact on our community. It’s a testament to what we can accomplish when we come together to support each other, no matter where we come from.
Remember, every act of service contributes to a larger narrative of compassion and understanding. Here’s to continuing this important work, breaking down barriers, and uplifting our neighbors.
In a heartwarming display of compassion and generosity, a group of employees from KPMG has made a significant donation to Catholic Charities. Their contribution of 75 Sweet Cases will directly benefit the children in CCAN’s programs, in collaboration with Foster Love.
Customized Comfort and Inspiration
Each Sweet Case is thoughtfully customized, ensuring that it carries not only tangible items but also motivational messages and phrases. Inside these cases, children will find a cozy blanket, a cuddly stuffed animal, a coloring book, and crayons. These items aim to bring much-needed comfort, joy, and inspiration to the young recipients.
Gratitude and Appreciation
On behalf of Catholic Charities, we express our sincere thanks and gratitude to the compassionate employees at KPMG and the dedicated team at Foster Love. Their support and generosity are making a profound impact on the lives of these children, providing them with moments of happiness and hope during challenging times.
Join the Movement
You too can make a difference today by contributing to the Holiday Fund, a proud supporter of Catholic Charities. Donating is simple and can be done through the official website at holidayfund.org. Your generous contribution will help create more Sweet Cases filled with love, warmth, and encouragement for deserving children.
Together, let’s continue to spread compassion and brighten the lives of those in need. Join the movement and make a lasting impact today.
Raise kids who give and offer them a valuable gift for a fulfilled and enriched life.
Instilling generosity and a spirit of giving in our children is one of the most meaningful gifts we can provide as parents. With so much focus in today’s world on materialism, individualism and self-interest, nurturing values of compassion, service and community provides a moral compass for our kids.
As parents, our example shows children what really matters. By modeling generosity, allowing kids to donate their own money, applauding acts of kindness, and providing engaging giving opportunities, generosity becomes second nature to them. Helping others starts to bring greater fulfillment than possessions.
Here are impactful ways to foster giving hearts and helping hands in our kids.
10 Creative Ways to Raise Kids Who Give
1. Model Generosity Yourself
“Example is not the main thing in influencing others, it is the only thing.” – Albert Schweitzer
Since children learn best by observation, our own day-to-day actions as parents have tremendous influence. When you make generosity and giving a regular habit, your kids are much more likely to absorb these virtues.
Ways to model generosity include:
– Donating money to causes you care about and allowing your children to witness this. Explain why you chose to support certain charities like Children’s Aid & Family Services or FAMILYConnections, both of whom are supported by the Greater Newark Holiday Fund, which aid local families in need.
– Volunteering your time for organizations like Family Service League and having your kids participate too. This demonstrates selfless service in action.
– Going out of your way to help neighbors, friends and strangers in need. Let your children know about it and praise acts of kindness.
– Speaking positively about the importance of compassion and community, not just material wealth.
– Buying gifts for charitable gift drives that your children can help pick out.
– Avoiding excessive focus on possessions, status and getting ahead of others.
Kids are always observing our real priorities. By making generosity an obvious one in your daily life, children will see it as a core value, not just a lecture.
2. Allow Them to Give Their Own Money
As soon as your children start earning money from an allowance, gifts or jobs, encourage them to use a portion to benefit others.
Even small donations can instill big giving habits over time. Ways to facilitate kids donating their own funds:
– Have them allocate a percentage of any money received to give away before their own spending. This builds in generosity as a habit.
– Help them pick a cause, charity or person in need to regularly support. Let them connect directly to how their funds help others.
– Have them research and select gifts for toy and goods drives that their donation money will buy.
– Allow them to choose occasional small donations like dropping change in a charity box or volunteering to pay for a stranger’s coffee as a “give forward” act.
Giving from their own pocket, no matter how small the amount, helps children feel invested in generosity and compassion as personal values.
3. Point Out Acts of Kindness
As you go about your daily life, try to regularly point out examples of other people demonstrating generosity, sacrifice and giving. This raises awareness of these virtues and positively reinforces them.
You can highlight acts of kindness in a variety of ways:
– When you observe someone going out of their way to help another person in public, point this out to your child as a real-life example of compassion.
– Read books and watch movies that depict characters displaying generosity and discuss the motives and impact.
– Share news stories about donations and volunteers helping communities in need. Check out (and share!) updates and newsletters from some of our partner agencies, like Family Service Bureau of Newark.
– Praise your child’s kind behaviors. Thank them for actions like including others or sharing their toys.
Drawing attention to giving acts, both big and small, helps shape your child’s perception. Generosity becomes something to aspire to, not just lecture about.
4. Encourage Philanthropy Projects
Provide hands-on opportunities for your children to actively participate in philanthropy projects supporting causes they care about. Experiencing generosity in action can light a lifelong passion for helping others.
Ideas for engaging in charity projects:
– Together, pick a cause important to your child like hunger, poverty or sustainability. Research organizations, like those supported by the Greater Newark Holiday Fund, that address your chosen issue.
– Brainstorm ways your child can fundraise or volunteer to help. Bake sales, car washes, donation drives and more let kids see giving in action.
– Create care packages, artwork, cards or other handmade items that charities can distribute to people in need.
– Have your child organize a small event to raise awareness for a cause like a toy drive, food pantry donation collection or recycling campaign.
– Regularly volunteer together as a family with charities addressing social issues, serving meals, visiting seniors, etc.
– Encourage older kids to suggest and lead their own philanthropy projects with guidance.
Engaging your child’s interests and passions through active charity participation makes generosity personal and inspiring.
5. Teach Compassion for Others
Some key traits that drive giving are empathy, understanding and compassion. Nurturing these qualities in children is foundational to raising kids with a generosity mindset.
Ways to cultivate compassion:
– Discuss challenges others face and how small acts of kindness from us can make a difference. Local agencies like the Urban League of Essex County assist families struggling with poverty, homelessness and other issues.
– Read books and watch age-appropriate films about people from different walks of life. Prompt kids to think about how they would feel in those situations.
– When your child shares a problem they are facing, ask how they think their friends or others would feel in that same situation.
– Role-play exercises like having each family member speak from another’s perspective. How would a child with no toys feel on Christmas morning?
– Praise your child when you observe him/her demonstrating true compassion for others’ needs and feelings.
– Avoid judgment of those facing hard times. Be positive about differences and others’ inherent worth.
Expanding your child’s capacity for empathy and walking in someone else’s shoes nurtures generosity that comes from the heart, not obligation.
Don’t just discreetly give to charity without your kids’ knowledge. Let them observe you donating money, goods and time to causes. Ask them to participate in the process with you.
– Let younger kids assist by drawing pictures or picking items from the grocery store that you can donate to a local food pantry.
– Take your child with you when you drop off donated goods so they can experience first-hand the impact even a small contribution makes.
– Talk through your decision-making when faced with a request for charity. How do you decide what and when to give?
– If you volunteer with an organization, discuss the experience together afterward. What did you do? How did it feel? What did it accomplish?
– Share with your child donation receipts and year-end charitable tax statements as examples of real-world giving.
Making generosity visible, instead of discrete good deeds, shows children their parents’ values and why giving matters.
7. Encourage Random Acts of Kindness
Challenge children to engage in “stealth good deeds” by performing small random acts of kindness without expectation of praise or reward. This boosts awareness of how generosity can become second nature.
Fun, under-the-radar giving ideas:
– Provide coins for your child to leave in random vending or arcade machines for the next person.
– Have them pay for a stranger’s coffee, meal or book purchase anonymously at a restaurant or store.
– Let them hand out granola bars, gift cards or other small treats to passersby with a kind note.
– Encourage them to do unassigned household chores and good deeds without fanfare like making someone’s bed, tidying up, feeding pets, etc.
– Suggest they offer sincere compliments to classmates, servers, cashiers and others they interact with just to brighten someone’s day.
These small acts of generosity require little planning but have a big impact. They show children how easy it is to create ripples of kindness.
8. Volunteer as a Family
Seek out opportunities for your family to volunteer together regularly with organizations addressing social causes. Hand-on service cements giving as a core family value.
Possible volunteering ideas:
– Sign up as a family with a charity like Jewish Family Service of Metro West to serve meals, visit seniors, deliver goods or other needed tasks.
– Designate one weekend or evening a month as your regular family volunteer time. Mark it on the calendar to set the expectation.
– Have each child take turns picking a volunteering activity they want the family to do that month like serving at an animal shelter, picking up trash, etc.
– Help out elderly neighbors or other community members in need with yard work, errands, house tasks, rides, etc.
– Organize a neighborhood event like a donated goods drive, park cleanup or card writing campaign that your family spearheads and invites others to join.
– Take your children with you when you volunteer for a cause and discuss the experience together.
Making service and sacrifice a fun family norm trains kids to see generosity as a source of joy.
9. Inspire with Uplifting Quotes
Share inspiring quotes, stories and role model examples that speak to ideals of compassion, sacrifice and giving. Discuss with your children how these values change lives.
– Read classic quotes from activists like Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Susan B. Anthony, and Cesar Chavez and discuss their meaning.
– Share stories of Mother Teresa, Paul Newman, John Wooden and athletes engaged in service. Talk about why they chose to give back.
– Watch TED talks or films about social innovators and community heroes.
– Discuss examples of everyday heroes in your community, family friends or even grandparents/ancestors who led lives of quiet generosity.
– Check out the Holiday Fund on Instagram and Facebook and discover thoughtful quotes that inspire and motivate.
These discussions spark critical thinking on generosity as a virtue that leads to meaning and purpose.
10. Make Generosity Fun
Show children that compassion feels good and giving can be fun. Blend hands-on service with creativity and play.
Some ideas to make generosity fun:
– Frame fundraisers as exciting social events. Let kids organize bake sales, talent shows, read-a-thons and more to benefit a cause.
– Add games and art projects to charity drives. Have children decorate boxes and bags for food and goods collections.
– Encourage them to assemble special care packages, holiday cards or artwork gifts that charities like Newark Day Center or Nutley Family Agency, both Greater Newark Holiday Fund partners, can distribute.
– When donating goods, let your child pick out toys, books or other items they think other kids would enjoy receiving.
– Praise every act of generosity, no matter how small. Celebrate volunteering with a special family meal or treat.
LET’S RAISE WORLD CHANGERS
Giving should feel fulfilling, not forced. Make it rewarding.
The spirit of generosity takes root when introduced early through modeling, engaging projects and consistent value reinforcement. By inspiring our kids to embrace compassion and service, we provide a moral foundation that will guide them for life. Our children’s capacity to change the world starts with how we raise them.
Each figure represents a dedicated effort towards creating a safer, healthier, and more supportive environment for our children and families.
Beyond the numbers, it’s about real people and real changes. Each person served represents a story of resilience, growth, and potential.
Thank you, YCS. We appreciate your significant contribution and its positive impact on our community. 🎉 It’s proof that when we band together, we can make meaningful strides towards a brighter future for everyone.
Keep shining, Youth Consultation Service! Your work is making a difference. Here’s to reaching even more milestones and continuing to uplift our community. 🌟
To join the movement, support the Holiday Fund and its partners with a donation. Together, we can uplift more individuals and families in New Jersey!
Through the intentional reading of books about generosity, you can effortlessly instill this virtue in your children’s daily lives.
Instilling the virtue of generosity into your children’s characters may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. The solution could lie within the simple act of intentional reading. By creating a family culture that integrates books about giving, selflessness, and generosity into your everyday routines, acts of giving can become second nature for your kids.
The Power of Books in Cultivating Generosity
Just as a book can spark a child’s desire for adventure or ignite their courage, books can also inspire children to give generously. Picture this: you’re reading the story of Shoebox Sam, a heartwarming tale loved by children of all ages. The main characters, Delia and Jesse, exemplified respect and generosity. As your child identifies with these characters, they begin to see themselves as individuals capable of those admirable qualities of giving and respect. This vicarious experience can have a profound effect, gradually integrating the spirit of generosity into their identity.
Whether you’re reading books together as a family or encouraging kids to read them on their own, these ideas will help you to incorporate books about generosity into your family culture right away.
6 Simple Ways to Incorporate Books About Generosity Into Your Family Culture
Habit Stacking: Choose carefully selected books about generosity and integrate them into your daily routine. You can read excerpts while your family is engaged in routine tasks. Whether it’s during dinner, on car rides (perfect for audiobooks!), by the fireplace in the evening, or on the patio during summer, these moments are perfect opportunities to share narratives of generosity. Just five minutes of reading can make a difference.
Join a Book Club: Participating in a local book club can be a fun way to introduce books about generosity into your family’s reading list. They offer a great platform for your kids to engage with others and share their thoughts about the books they’ve enjoyed. Plus, book clubs often provide a curated list of book recommendations, saving you time and ensuring a diverse range of material.
Use a Variety of Reading Formats: In today’s digital age, the traditional hardcover book isn’t the only option. Audiobooks and e-books offer flexibility and convenience. In the car or while preparing dinner, an audiobook can keep your child engaged. Some people prefer listening to a story from this kind of format, and this variety can enhance the overall reading experience.
Book-themed Family Discussions: After reading a book about generosity, initiate a family discussion about the story. Ask your kids about their thoughts, feelings, and what they’ve learned from the characters. This not only promotes critical thinking but also helps in internalizing the lessons about generosity.
Create a Generosity Bookshelf: Dedicate a specific section of your bookshelf to books about generosity. Having a visually accessible ‘Generosity Shelf’ will serve as a constant reminder of the virtue you’re trying to instill. It can also make it easier for your children to pick a book whenever they feel like reading.
Incorporate Book-related Activities: Extend the messages of the books beyond reading. For instance, if a book talks about donating toys to less fortunate children, encourage your kids to sort through their toys and choose some to donate. Activities like these help children apply the lessons they’ve learned from the books, reinforcing the concept of generosity.
An important factor to keep in mind as you incorporate books about generosity into your family culture is the diverse reading preferences among family members. Appreciation for the written word can take many forms, and it’s essential to provide options that cater to everyone’s tastes and habits.
E-books, for instance, might be a favorite for some family members. With their effortless accessibility and convenient features like highlighting or bookmarking, e-books can offer an enjoyable reading experience. They also eliminate the need for physical storage and are easy to carry wherever you go, making them an excellent choice for those who value convenience and portability.
On the other hand, audiobooks might resonate more with family members who enjoy auditory learning or those who find it challenging to carve out dedicated reading time. Audiobooks can be enjoyed while multitasking – during a commute, while cooking dinner, or even as a bedtime routine. For an enhanced listening experience, you could consider investing in a pair of comfortable earbuds. This allows listeners to immerse themselves fully in the narrative, absorbing the story without any distractions.
By acknowledging and accommodating these varying preferences, you’re not only promoting a love for reading but also fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels their choices are valued. This, in turn, can lead to more enthusiastic participation in your mission to instill the value of generosity through literature.
Building a Family Culture Steeped in the Virtue of Generosity
Whether you dedicate time every morning, during dinner, or three times a week to read together, these efforts will contribute to creating a family culture that values reading and the virtues conveyed in the stories.
Finding books based on themes such as generosity and selflessness is easier than ever, and they make excellent choices to support your mission of raising generous, giving children.
By fostering a reading culture that emphasizes kindness and generosity, you’re not just raising children who love to read; you’re nurturing empathetic, compassionate individuals ready to make a positive impact on the world around them.
Embark on a journey of cultivating generosity with our handpicked selection of 10 inspiring books that beautifully highlight the virtue of giving. Download the list today and get started weaving generosity into your family’s everyday life.
The Urban League of Essex County works tirelessly to create a positive impact in our community. In a year’s time, they helped 10 families achieve their dream of homeownership! 🎉🏡
But their work didn’t stop there. In addition to helping families purchase homes, they also assisted 77 people in avoiding foreclosure. This means 77 families were able to keep their homes, maintain stability and continue building their lives without the fear of losing their safe haven.
The ULEC mission has always been to empower communities and change lives, and these numbers represent real families who are now living better because of this work. At the Holiday Fund, we are proud to partner with this incredible organization.
As we look forward to the next year, here’s to more dreams realized, more homes saved, and a stronger, more vibrant community for all of us.
Want to make a difference in New Jersey alongside organizations like ULEC? Your donation to the Holiday Fund can help our partner agencies do more. Visit holidayfund.org today.
At the Nutley Family Service Bureau (NFSB) Food Pantry, a remarkable 20,000+ bags of groceries have already been distributed to families in need. It’s a powerful testament to the work being done every day by this dedicated team.🌟
Food insecurity is a pressing issue in our area, with rates that are sadly higher than the national average. However, the NFSB Food Pantry is tirelessly working to reverse these trends.
Thank you, Nutley Family Service Bureau and the many dedicated supporters and volunteers.
We’re thrilled to share some truly amazing news with you all. The Mental Health Association in New Jersey’s (MHANJ) contribution to the New Jersey Hope and Healing Crisis Counseling program has introduced new services, and the results have been nothing short of remarkable.🙌
This initiative has introduced a range of new resources that are aimed at providing immediate and lasting aid to individuals struggling with mental health crises. And we’re proud to announce that these services have already had a profound impact.
To date, 444 participants have been aided through the work of MHANJ, receiving the help they needed when they needed it the most. These individuals were able to access crucial support and begin their journey toward healing.
As we celebrate this achievement, we also look forward to continuing our work supporting MHANJ and 10 other partner agencies at the Holiday Fund. There are many more people who need support, and we’re committed to reaching them. Together, we can make a meaningful difference and bring hope to those in crisis.
Join us! Support the Holiday Fund by donating at holidayfund.org.
The Holiday Fund partners with NJ agencies like Catholic Charities, amplifying their community impact and highlighting the power of giving.
Every year, the Holiday Fund works to support charities across New Jersey. One of these organizations is Catholic Charities of Newark, an institution committed to serving those in need, regardless of race, religion, or ethnicity. When you make a donation to the Holiday Fund, you are directly contributing to the transformative experiences offered by eleven first-class organizations and supporting their vital work within our community, amplifying the power of giving.
A Celebration of Community and Service: The Annual Gala
Recently, Catholic Charities held its Annual Gala, a celebration of community, service, and the power of giving. The event was a resounding success, thanks to the contributions of sponsors, supporters, and attendees. The gala served as a reminder of the profound impact that Catholic Charities has on individuals and families across New Jersey.
During the evening, several partners were honored for their dedication and contributions to the organization. Among them was Scott Fields from Daybreak Express, SPRUCE Industries, Catholic Cemeteries, Ecclesia Ministries, and Holiday Express. Recognition was also given to Pierre Moreau, posthumously, with the Lifetime Achievement Award presented to his family. Patricia Tully and William Markey III were the recipients of the Spirit of the Heart Award. The night was made even more special with a fantastic performance by Chris Pinnella.
The Transformative Work of Catholic Charities
The Annual Gala showcased the transformative work done by Catholic Charities and its partners. From providing assistance to the poor, advocating for social justice, to offering over 100 programs that focus on various needs, Catholic Charities plays a crucial role in the New Jersey community.
However, none of this would be possible without the support of donors like you. Every contribution made to the Holiday Fund goes a long way in supporting organizations like Catholic Charities. By donating, you can help continue the legacy of Pierre Moreau, support the efforts of individuals like Patricia Tully and William Markey III, and ensure that Catholic Charities can continue providing their much-needed services.
When you donate to the Holiday Fund, you’re not just making a financial contribution. You’re investing in the future of our communities, supporting organizations that make a real difference, and helping to create transformational experiences for those most in need.
Join us in our mission to support these 11 critical charities in New Jersey. Your contribution can change lives, foster community development, and create a ripple effect of kindness and generosity across the state. Remember, every donation, no matter how small, helps. Let’s continue the tradition of giving and make a difference together.
Make a difference today by contributing to the Holiday Fund. Your donation will champion the ongoing efforts of transformative organizations like the Catholic Charities of Newark.
Jewish Family Services provides practical information, emotional support, and connects caregivers to local resources and services. Care Consultation, an evidenced based program recognized by the National Council on Aging, is a free telephone-based program designed to serve family caregivers and care recipients. It provides ongoing support, solutions, and referrals to meet unique family needs, and the program’s licensed clinicians can help caregivers understand the physical and emotional needs of the care recipient, share community resources, and learn to manage challenging behaviors.
Your donation to the Greater Newark Holiday Fund will make a meaningful impact on the lives of those served by the JFS.
