Jaclyn was working full-time to support herself and her 3-year old, but it wasn’t enough to keep her apartment. She received help from the Children’s Aid and Family Services, and began studying cosmetology while living at Zoe’s Place, a facility for young mothers like her. We’re so happy for her, seeing how far she’s come!
Original story taken from NJ.com
In these uncertain times, we can all relate to the feeling of fear or anxiety.
But for some, it is a daily occurrence after surviving a violent crime, especially when sometimes the source of that fear lives under the same roof.
Sadly, more than 1 in 4 New Jersey men and women will experience a violent assault in their lifetime.
And in 29% of these cases, children are involved.
But they do not have to suffer through its aftermath alone.
At the Greater Newark Holiday Fund, we are grateful that our partner agencies – like Family Service League of Essex County – are there to help.
They provide confidential and respectful trauma responses to individuals and families across New Jersey.
Last year, NJ.com reported on a college freshman who was attacked by their classmate:
When a college freshman ended up in ER after being assaulted by another classmate, a compassionate advocate from Family Service League was called to help. The advocate provided information, referrals, and support to the survivor.
FSL advocates also provide tangible resources like clothing, water, food, and toiletries to replace what is collected as evidence. They may be small items, but they are crucial to restoring the dignity of victims.
Like FSL, our other allied agencies are acting for survivors of assaults. They include Family Connection’s Domestic Violence Services and the Jewish Family Services’ Rachel Coalition.
With one step at a time, we can work to reduce the fear and uncertainty that victims of assault feel every day.
An unwanted trend as of late is that depression and anxiety is increasing among adults in the United States. How can we support those closest to us who may be struggling?
Keep reading as we explore programs and practical advice to help you support those you love who are struggling with anxiety.
When someone you love is suffering, it can be hard to know the right thing to do. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to know all of the answers. There are experts who are trained and equipped to help.
Thankfully—for those in the NJ area—there are proven, helpful, and accessible treatment options for you, no matter your background or income. Many of the agencies supported by the Holiday Fund serve individuals living with mental illness. Here are a few of the programs offered:
In addition to reaching out to professionals, take this great advice that’s been published by NFSB for families who are loving someone who struggles specifically with anxiety.
Read more: A story of healing—Meet Isaac and Hillory
Instead of accusing someone of anxiety, a kinder approach could encourage someone to express their emotions more freely. Anxiety can occasionally be relieved by just talking to a friend or family member.
Considering the close relationship between one’s physical, mental, and emotional health, taking better care of oneself is beneficial for almost every ailment. Find ways to engage individuals in activities that not only include physical activity but also nurture their souls and promote peace.
People who struggle with anxiety, depression, or any other form of mental illness, are buoyed by routines. Remind your loved one to establish a pattern once more by encouraging them to get up at a certain time, eat breakfast, get the kids ready for school, eat lunch, exercise, etc.
Just connect—whether it’s by phone, text, or Facetime. Be sensitive to your loved one’s preferences since “live” discussions can sometimes provoke anxiety. The point isn’t to fix them, it’s to connect in such a way as to express interest and care.
When families combine the professional help made available with the practical steps outlined here, individuals who are living with anxiety can begin to experience healing and hope.
“You didn’t feel homeless, you didn’t feel different. You were just a person.”
When Yvette Alexander suddenly fell ill with seizures and syncope, she could no longer work.
Her savings and pensions could only sustain her for so long before she became homeless and had to seek refuge at a shelter.
She shares a room with 30 other people but doesn’t mind it at all. Given her seizures, the company makes her feel that she’s looked out for.
Through the shelter, Yvette lives an otherwise normal life in spite of her health condition.
Being treated with dignity has fueled her desire to get back on her own two feet.
On the topic of her future, Yvette said, “3 months from now, I see myself in my own apartment, paying for my own food and grocery shopping. Although I can’t go out and work because I am totally disabled, I want to be able to help other people find their own destiny.”
“I’d like to come back here and help others find their potential… qith a shoulder, a smile or a kind word… the same way the people here helped me.”
Would you join us in showing compassion for those who have fallen on hard times?
Original story taken from Hudson County View
Practical ways to detect and reduce anxiety for kids, and direct families to helpful resources.
Mental health struggles were already at an all-time high in 2019. But since the onset of the COVID pandemic, those numbers have skyrocketed—particularly among kids.
For example, according to Mental Health America data:
How can we help those who are struggling? What about those closest to us? Keep reading for some very practical advice.
Do you know the signs of depression and anxiety in kids of different ages? Both can look like crabbiness, fatigue, or extreme excitement. But whose kids aren’t all of these things at one point or another?
As explained in this article published by the University of New Hampshire, the difference is that “we all get these feelings every now and then. But if these feelings are persistent, it could suggest anxiety or depression, which are often related, especially among children.”
According to the Mental Health Association of New Jersey, one of our partners, here are the signs to look for when considering whether or not the child in your life could benefit from mental health services:
If the youth in your life is exhibiting any of these signs persistently, please contact one of the certified agencies listed on our Greater Newark Holiday Fund website, like Mental Health Association in New Jersey, FamilyConnections, Nutley Family Service Bureau, or Catholic Charities of Newark. They are prepared to give you the direction needed.
In the meantime, Nutley Family Service Bureau has shared some practical advice for helping to reduce the anxiety of kids in your life. Here are some wise points shared in the article How You Can Help Kids Overcome a Two-Year Buildup of Covid Anxiety.
Inspiring stories: Catholic Charities worker inspires client’s sister to pursue social work
The most crucial thing parents and other adults can do to reduce children’s worry is to improve their anxiety management. Children’s environments have a big influence on them. They can sense the emotions of the adults in their immediate vicinity.
Establish routines and structure at home to create a sense of normalcy. For example, institute or keep routines that include:
By managing what is under your control, routines produce a predictable sense of safety.
Even while technology is a part of our lives and may keep kids in touch with peers, setting screen time limits can be beneficial. Parents may stop their children from becoming engrossed in what they see on social media and other platforms by setting a reasonable time limit for screen use. For instance, worry frequently arises from comparing oneself to what others do and how they appear.
Instead, find opportunities for your family to come together. Play games, go outside, or watch a movie with your friends.
You might be saying, “But the kids always fight, or the family disagrees on which activity to pursue!” Our advice is: do it anyway. There will naturally be arguments and confrontations during these interactions, but it’s crucial to be mindful of your language, tone, and volume. Children should learn that disagreements can be handled amicably and respectfully.
Did you know that hanging out together as a family is key to reducing anxiety and depression in children? Yes, togetherness can bring tension and disagreements, but this is OK! Handled respectfully, this is a good lesson for kids to learn,… Click To TweetEXPERIENCE HELP AND HEALING FROM MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES
We hope that you seek out help for yourself or those in your life who are struggling with signs of depression or anxiety, no matter their age or situation.
At the Holiday Fund, we are proud to have seasoned partners we can point you to so you can begin your healing journey. Contact them and begin your journey to healing.
Every December, the white door of Ridgewood resident Jim Gibney’s garage opens to reveal a treasure trove: over 200 donated gifts, wrapped and tied with bows, packed in bags, ready to bring joy to children with special needs.
You can call Jim the “Chief Elf” for Youth Consultation Service (YCS), just one of the ELEVEN charities that the Greater Newark Holiday Fund supports.
Since 2012, Jim and his wife Cheryl have participated in the annual YCS gift drive. They enlist scores of friends and relatives to donate toys, books, and games for the children of YCS.
Jim became involved with YCS at a charity dance at In the Spotlight at Waldwick, in which his children danced. He started off as a mentor at the YCS-affiliated Holley House in Hackensack.
When he heard about the gift drive initiative, he immediately knew it was his calling.
He saw YCS kids as no different than his own, only that they had “been thrown a curveball that’s a little hard to hit.” And he wanted to help them.
He began cold-emailing anybody that he knew in any capacity for gifts and donations. Classmates from elementary school and middle school, remote Facebook friends – nobody was off-limits. He even enlisted his boss!
And each year, the number of gifts multiply.
They overflow from Jim’s garage into his kitchen and dining room, snaking through the hallways. Every gift is tagged with a child’s name who the donor has previously met.
The gifts are then transported to the YCS facility and personally delivered to the children.
To know that what he is doing goes directly towards the happiness of a child is what drives Jim. “Charity is local, that’s what’s so special about it,” he says.
No matter how much you give or when you give, you should be confident that your donation brightens the lives of people in your community.
That’s where the Greater Newark Holiday Fund comes in.
Your gift is multiplied ELEVEN TIMES to support all the charities that make up the Holiday Fund alliance.
Somewhere in New Jersey, there’s a child, adult, parent, or senior who has a reason to smile all because of your donation.
There aren’t any qualifications to become a helper like Jim. You just need compassion for the people around you.
Here’s an example of an amazing pairing. It’s the story of how a soft-spoken caseworker inspired a teen in foster care to pursue her passion of working with young children.
After a childhood in and out of shelters and foster homes, it was Debbie McCrae, teenaged Carnita Tyler’s case worker, who took her in as her own. Today, Tyler refers to McCrae as “Mom” and can’t say enough about her positive influence:
“My mom showed me how to be a woman…How to step out of myself and be a good person and do for others. She is a generous person and that makes me want to be more generous.”
You, too, can have an influence on the lives of kids, teens, and young adults like Tyler. When you support the agencies we partner with, like Youth Consultation Service, you are impacting kids in foster homes, residential programs, educational programs, and much more. Learn about YCS and other Holiday Fund agencies at https://holidayfund.org/agencies/ or ‘at the link in our page ➡️ @holidayfundnj’
Original story taken from Youth Consultation Service‘s website.
Newark-native Lloyd Wilson has always wanted a business of his own. Now at 40 years old— and after two strokes, cancer, and even being shot— he is making his dreams come true through the Newark Paper Company.
Wilson and 2 other employees learned about the opportunity to become business owners through the Urban League of Essex County. He started the company after noticing a great need in the city:
“You have multiple Fortune 1000 companies in the City of Newark as well as a large city government, a large school district…they all use paper,” Hall told NJ Advance Media. “They all use office paper, they all use sanitary paper. This is something that you’re going to buy anyway, so why not make it or produce it right here in the City of Newark?”
Newark Paper Company is warehouse distribution center for office supplies and janitorial products. When the business first opened during the pandemic, they faced supply chain issues and didn’t have enough paper to produce tissues and disposable gloves. Now, things are back on track.
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Lloyd said, “My four-year-old daughter is the reason why I make sure my stake in the company stays. Especially after I build it up. You can’t build something up and walk away from it.”
Original story taken from nj.com.
Your donation to the Holiday Fund helps individuals and entire communities thrive. Thank you for your support!
My friends and colleagues at work and church tell me that I am always trying to be super woman, trying to carry the world on my shoulders. As a mom and wife, I strive to protect and care for my family of seven and provide my children what they need.
Unfortunately, circumstance has brought my family to a point that what I could do was not enough. My husband lost his job last year and since then has been working temporary jobs with brief gaps of unemployment. This created a snowball effect of never catching up to bills, being in danger of losing our apartment, and the quandary of how we were going to get our oldest to college — our oldest who had more than earned her share of achievements in school. It was a very stressful time and being a working professional, I felt embarrassed and humbled to ask for help. But God intervened, and I am so glad I did ask.
The help we have received from Nutley Family Service Bureau has given my family a moment to catch our breath, a safety net for the times we needed some food, school supplies and gifts for the children. It is quite something to see the relief in your child’s eyes when they see you come home with backpacks filled with supplies for the school year, or when you take them shopping from gift cards you received from “The Three Kings” at Christmas. My children know we work very hard and thus expect just what they need. It is a huge joy when they are able to once in a while receive what they want.
And my children, being older, know that help comes from this organization. My husband breathes a sigh of relief when there is one less thing to worry about, one more thing to be grateful for.
It shows them that kindness is very much alive and this, I hope, inspires them to do great things one day that will leave another family with that glimmer of hope we received.
Thank you for all you do.
Original letter taken from nj.com
Your gift to the Greater Newark Holiday Fund helps keep families afloat during challenging times. We are grateful for your partnership!
It’s the weekend, and Michael is driving 2 1/2 hours to Connecticut to see Billy, his soon-to-be foster son.
It was a few years ago when Michael first met 13-year-old Billy, who was being fostered by Michael’s business partner. At the time, Billy had already lived with 4 different families in the span of 9 years. It was a challenging time for the young boy.
But Michael and Billy formed a special bond. It was then that Michael made a drastic change. Prior to this, he had lived life only for himself. Then, he started to think about becoming a father to Billy.
Michael decided he wanted to foster Billy with the eventual goal of adopting him. With the help of Children’s Aid and Family Services he became a licensed therapeutic foster parent. Billy moved to New Jersey a year later. With his foster dad’s help, Billy overcame his anxiety around making friends. He became a more confident and independent student, even making the honor roll at school.
Children’s Aid and Family Services is able to provide intensive support services to bring foster parents together with children, thanks to the generosity of the Greater Newark Holiday Fund.
Your gift makes a lasting difference in the lives of foster families like Michael and Billy. Thank you.
Share this story with a foster parent or child you know!
Original story taken from nj.com.