91��Ƭ Harmony House – 91��Ƭ

91��Ƭ Harmony House Embraces Self-Care

Michelle Lang — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 15:00:13 +0000

Residents of Harmony House, 91��Ƭ’s shelter facility for homeless families, hosted a vision board party for residents on Feb. 7 where they looked through magazines and cut out images or inspirational words and phrases to glue on a vision board for themselves, reminding them of their goals and dreams. Residents and staff members also created hearts with sayings to display in the hallway during the month of February.

Volunteer Hosts 10th Annual Christmas Party for 91��Ƭ Harmony House Families

Michelle Lang — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 21:01:04 +0000

Volunteer Sally Milad organized and hosted her 10th annual Christmas party for the children and families at Harmony House, 91��Ƭ’s transitional housing facility for homeless families. The event took place on Dec. 22 and included presents and a visit from Santa. We thank Milad for making the holidays bright for our families. Photos courtesy of Sally Milad.

91��Ƭ Thanks Its Holiday Donors

Michelle Lang — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 21:23:21 +0000

Each year, 91��Ƭ receives donations that benefit those we serve for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. 91��Ƭ Outreach Coordinator and Board Member Ex-Officio Madge Wilson organizes and oversees a drive to ensure that children receive presents for Christmas. She also collects Thanksgiving meal donations and arranges for donated Christmas trees to bring holiday cheer to 91��Ƭ buildings.

Harmony House, 91��Ƭ’s transitional housing facility for homeless families, also received donations during the holiday season to benefit its families.

We are deeply grateful and thank the following groups and individuals for spreading the spirit of joy during the 2023 holiday season:

, Newton, N.J. – Brother Jee and Brother Bernardo Lee, coordinated the donation of Christmas trees
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Carelli and family
Weichert Realty, Short Hills, N.J. – Bobbi Ostrow, Rebecca Berenson, Victoria McMurrian and Joanne Tedesco-Kloud, coordinators
, South Orange, N.J. – Ann Moore, coordinator, and parishioners
, Milburn, N.J. – Fire Chief Robert Echavarria and coworkers
, Westfield, N.J. – Marilyn Ryans, coordinator
, Summit, N.J. – Brian Topping, coordinator, coworkers and students
, Short Hills, N.J. – Betsy Guarnieri, Andrea Mansfield and Rosemary Mattson
, North Caldwell, N.J. – Donna Zarros, coordinator
and – Father Nicholas Gengaro, coordinator, and students
, Bloomfield, N.J. – Lorraine McMillian and Judy Nitkowski, coordinators
, Summit, N.J. – Margaret Strong, Theresa Sweeney and volunteers and parishioners
, Short Hills, N.J. – Jessica Marinoff, Leslie Elible and Liz Sherman, coordinators
, Emerson, N.J. – Sandy Johnson, coordinator
, Verona, N.J. – Barbara Yates, coordinator, and parishioners
, Cedar Grove, N.J. – Brenda Pereira, coordinator
– Cindy Oliveira Oswald, coordinator, coworkers
Mr. and Mrs. Desfardins, Maplewood, N.J.
, Maplewood, N.J. – Marcia Hicks, coordinator, and students
, West Orange, N.J. – Maggie Macias, coordinator
, Franklin Lakes, N.J. – Elizabeth Harakins, coordinator

Thanksgiving Turkey Donations:

, Short Hills, N.J. – Michael Roberts, coordinator, and parishioners
Office of Youth Ministry at , Ramsey, N.J.
Kathryn Grifonetti
Anthony Falco
Brother Travis Gunther
, City of Newark

Harmony House Donors:

, Pastor Oliver Coleman – Thanksgiving dinner and toy giveaway
, Pastor Lawren Monroe – Holiday celebration
– Free shopping for families of children who attend Newark Public Schools
, Lumane Metullus – Thanksgiving baskets and household supplies
Sally Milad – Harmony House Christmas Party
– Christmas gift donations
Loretta Borronat – Christmas gift donations
– Christmas gift donations
, Bria Beaufort – Christmas gift donations

91��Ƭ Harmony House Families Enjoy Christmas Party

Michelle Lang — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 19:16:42 +0000

Volunteer Sally Milad organized the annual Christmas party she hosts for the children and families at Harmony House, 91��Ƭ’s transitional housing facility for homeless families. The event took place on Dec. 17 and included presents and a visit from Santa. We thank Milad for her efforts to make the holidays bright for our families. Photos courtesy of Sally Milad.

Harmony House Children Enjoy Educational Hiking Trip

Michelle Lang — Tue, 09 Nov 2021 21:20:07 +0000

Children who live in Harmony House, 91��Ƭ’s transitional housing facility for homeless families, had the opportunity to go on an educational hike at the South Mountain Reservation in South Orange on Oct. 29 thanks to a partnership with Newark Academy in Livingston. Newark Academy Senior Classman Will Crall and Director of Communication Sarah Fischer collaborated with 91��Ƭ Harmony House Director Yonette Fredericks to arrange for the children of Harmony House to have an opportunity to explore nature while being educated about the various species of plants at the South Mountain Reservation. Harmony House children and staff were joined by Crall, Alexandra Mahoney and several other students of Newark Academy. Photos courtesy of Alexandra Mahoney.

NESF Day of Service: Recognition of World Homeless Day

Michelle Lang — Tue, 12 Oct 2021 13:30:32 +0000

Newark Emergency Services for Families (NESF) acknowledged World Homeless Day on Friday, Oct. 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Lincoln Park, Downtown Newark. The annual event was coordinated by NESF and co-sponsored by Newark Central Ward Councilwoman LaMonica McIver.

Among the NESF partners was 91��Ƭ Harmony House and Family Service Bureau (FSB). Yonette Fredericks, Director of Harmony House, was present to inform the community about Harmony House, NCC’s transitional housing for homeless families, and about the FSB Hope and Healing Program for COVID-19 resources.

Fredericks had a table loaded with housing resources and socks for individuals and families who were interested. “The event went very well,” said Fredericks.

NCC Family Resource Center Director Joann Williams-Swiney speaks to a community member at Newark Emergency Services for Families Event in Newark on Oct. 8. Photo courtesy of Yonette Fredericks.

Community members visit vendor tables at Newark Emergency Services for Families Event in Newark on Oct. 8. Photo courtesy of Yonette Fredericks.

Hundreds Of Students Go On Free Back-To-School Shopping Spree

Michelle Lang — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 14:54:40 +0000

Each student got to pick out a backpack at the Back 2 School Store.

Back-to-school shopping is a typical summer activity for families, but it can be a stressful time for those who struggle financially.
That’s where the Back 2 School Store steps in. The National Council of Jewish Women, Essex County Section (NCJW/Essex) organizes the annual event and asks local social service agencies, including 91��Ƭ, to identify economically disadvantaged students in Essex County.
The children go on a shopping spree with a personal shopper where they receive brand new items for free in a one-day pop-up “department store.”
Victoria and Elijah Oluwatodimu participated in this year’s event July 30 and each had a large bag of items to take home with them.
Victoria, 8, enjoyed shopping. Among the items in her bag were a pink coat (her favorite color), shoes and a backpack.
“My favorite thing I got today is my clothes,” she said.
Elijah, 6, didn’t have just one favorite item. “My jacket and my book bag. And my shoes,” he said when asked what he liked best in his bag.
The siblings live in 91��Ƭ Harmony House, a transitional housing facility for homeless families in Newark, along with their mother Oluremi and two younger siblings.
Oluremi said it was the first time her family participated in the Back 2 School Store.
“I’m so happy,” she said. “It really saved me money.”
This year, nearly 800 children got to pick out clothing items and shoes at the ninth annual Back 2 School Store. They also received personal care items like toothbrushes, hair brushes and lip balm; school supplies like pens, pencils and tape; and winter wear including hats and gloves.
91��Ƭ Outreach Coordinator Madge Wilson identified more than 100 children to participate in the event and arranged for buses to transport families to and from B’nai Shalom in West Orange, where it was held.
Ikenna Offiah Jr., 7, went to the Back 2 School Store through 91��Ƭ. He showed off the new coat, shoes and backpack he’ll be taking with him to the second grade.
Ikenna Offiah Sr. thought his son would get pencils and books but was pleasantly surprised by all the items he was going home with.
“It was beyond expectations,” he said.
While the children shopped, their parents took advantage of a variety of services offered, including health screenings and financial advice. Members of the Bloomfield Police Department were also on hand to fingerprint children.
All the items provided to the children were bought new with donations NCJW/Essex received. Five hundred volunteers gave their time for the event, which ran from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Additional Photos:

Hundreds Of Needy Students Receive Free Items For Upcoming School Year

Michelle Lang — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 18:30:05 +0000

WEST ORANGE (July 31, 2017) – Excitement was in the air Sunday as children from throughout Essex County got paired up with personal shoppers to help them navigate the Back 2 School Store, a one-day pop-up “department store” that provided new clothing, shoes and school supplies to children identified by local social service agencies, including 91��Ƭ, as being in need.
Nearly 800 economically disadvantaged Essex County students went on a shopping spree where they received brand new items for free, including Victoria and Elijah Oluwatodimu who live at 91��Ƭ Harmony House, a transitional housing facility for homeless families in Newark.
Victoria, 8, enjoyed shopping. Among the items in her bag were a pink coat (her favorite color), shoes and a backpack.
“My favorite thing I got today is my clothes,” she said.
Elijah, 6, didn’t have one favorite item. “My jacket and my book bag. And my shoes,” he said when asked what he liked best in his bag.
Children also received personal care items like toothbrushes, hair brushes and lip balm; school supplies like pens, pencils and tape; and winter wear including hats and gloves.
Mom Oluremi said it was the first time her family participated in the event, organized by the National Council of Jewish Women, Essex County Section (NCJW/Essex).
“I’m so happy,” said the mother of four. “It really saved me money.”
Oluremi participated in the services available for parents while her children shopped. She took an eye test and got her blood pressure and blood sugar checked.
Members of the Bloomfield Police Department were also on hand to fingerprint children.
This was the ninth year for the Back 2 School Store, which was held at B’nai Shalom in West Orange. All the items provided to the children were bought new with donations NCJW/Essex received. Five hundred volunteers gave their time for the event, which ran from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
91��Ƭ 91��Ƭ
91��Ƭ (www.newcommunity.org) was founded in 1968 in Newark, N.J., by Monsignor William J. Linder and a small group of community residents during a time of civil unrest that was spreading throughout urban communities across the United States. It has grown to become one of the largest and most comprehensive community development organizations in the country, providing services ranging from housing and health care to education and banking services. 91��Ƭ’s mission is to “help residents of inner cities improve the quality of their lives to reflect individual God-given dignity and personal achievement.” Included in the network is more than 2,000 units of housing for families and seniors, a Workforce Development Center, a 180-bed capacity nursing home called the Extended Care Center? a One Stop Family Resources Success Center? a transitional housing facility for the homeless called Harmony House, Adult Learning Center, a federally insured Federal Credit Union, two early learning centers and after school, recreational and summer camp programs for youth.
91��Ƭ National Council of Jewish Women, Essex County Section
The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is a grassroots organization of volunteers and advocates who turn progressive ideals into action. Inspired by Jewish values, NCJW strives for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children and families and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms. With more than 3,200 members, Essex County Section is the largest of the more than 100 NCJW Sections around the country. The Section was founded in 1912 and maintains offices in Livingston, N.J. For more information, log on to .
Photos from the event: