westfield charities Archives - Luxury Homes/Top Towns

Westfield Clothing Drive for AGAPE Community Kitchen

May 8, 2020 by Scott Gleason

Expect to see cold, wet weather this weekend. It might not be the best time for yard work or projects to boost your curb appeal. But, forget the binge-watching for a moment. Instead, tackle some spring cleaning chores by clearing out your closet. Then, bag up your stuff for our local Presbyterian Church’s Westfield Clothing Drive. Money raised from the sale of donated items benefits the church’s AGAPE Community Kitchen program.

Do some spring cleaning at your house this weekend and help those less fortunate by donating your gently used clothing, linens, stuffed animals, and accessories to the Westfield Clothing Drive for AGAPE Community Kitchen on May 17th-20th, 2020.

What: Westfield Clothing Drive
Where: Presbyterian Church in Westfield (140 Mountain Ave)
When: May 17th to 21st
Contact: Janet Smith, Event Coordinator via email

Westfield Clothing Drive

Towards the end of March, the Presbyterian Church in Westfield followed the same protocols put in place for restaurants. They suspended their weekly Wednesday dinner program due to public health concerns from COVID-19. As of the writing of this post, the kitchen remains closed. However, when officials OK their reopening, they plan on firing up the grill and serving hot meals again.

To get ready for their reopening, they are hosting a clothing drive. What do clothes have to do with feeding hungry people? The money raised from the sale of your donated items helps the kitchen purchase food to feed these hungry people. All you have to do is bag up your gently used clothing, bedding, pillows, towels, shoes, curtains, ties, belts, and even stuffed animals that your children outgrew or don’t use anymore. Bring these bags down to the church between March 17th and 21st. Toss them into the white van with the church’s name on the side located in the parking lot. Volunteers handle the rest. Practice safe social distancing while helping your less fortunate neighbors.

AGAPE Community Kitchen

The Presbyterian Church in Westfield’s AGAPE program actually takes place in nearby Elizabeth. Volunteers meet every Wednesday afternoon in the Westfield church’s parking at 3:15 pm. The church’s van shuttles these wonderful volunteers to the kitchen in Elizabeth where they prepare a delicious hot meal for dinner guests. They end up back in Westfield around 7:30 pm every week. If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact the church. Students in grades 6-12 may also sign up to volunteer.

Scott Gleason, CRS at RE/MAX Select, Luxury Homes

Westfield Used Linen Drive

March 6, 2020 by Scott Gleason

We consider Westfield to be an affluent community. But even here, approximately 2.66% live below the poverty line. While that’s significantly lower than the national average, some of our neighbors still need our help. This month, donate your old linens to the Westfield Used Linen Drive.

Drop off your used sheets (any size), blankets, towels, shower curtains, and bath mats at any of the participating locations during business hours by March 28th for the Westfield Used Linen Drive benefitting Furniture Assist and local animal shelters.

Westfield Used Linen Drive

I know it’s still winter, but do you plan on doing any spring cleaning soon? Start now and help those less fortunate in the community. Two local Westfield residents (Emily Root and Amy Flax) found out that Furniture Assist, a local non-profit that assists residents in need, often ran out of linens for the families they served. They just couldn’t seem to keep enough in stock for the demand. So, they took it upon themselves to talk to several Westfield businesses about joining in a linen drive. Now in its third year, the ladies’ used linen drive continues to collect these items for Furniture Assist to dispense where needed.

Between now and March 28th, they ask that anyone with extra items such as sheets, blankets, towels, shower curtains, bath mats, and crib sheets drop them off at any of the five different locations listed below as well a Furniture Assist itself (24 Commerce St, Springfield, NJ). Even if you have old, stained blankets and towels, take those in, too. They’ll be given to local no-kill animal shelters to make their stay more comfortable.

Drop-Off Locations

Feel free to drop off your used linen donations to any of the following locations during regular business hours:

Caldwell Banker (209 Central Ave)
Keller Williams (188 Elm St) – ask for Laura Brockway
Ron Banksy & Associates Allstate Insurance Agency (502 E Broad St)
Westfield Eco Laundry (341 S Ave E)
Westfield Memorial Library (550 E Broad St)

And, of course, Furniture Assist accepts donations at their Springfield location from 12 pm to 2:30 pm any Sunday of the year. They also accept used furniture and other household items during that time. So, if you find yourself with extra pots, pans, dishes, chairs, tables or couches, take them to Furniture Assist for “re-homing”.

Scott Gleason, CRS at RE/MAX Select, Luxury Homes

Westfield Food Drives for November 2019

November 1, 2019 by Scott Gleason

After the sugar rush of Halloween, it’s time to take a breath and take stock of all that we have to be grateful for in our lives. Thankfully, most of us count a roof over our heads and food on the table among our many blessings. Unfortunately, not everyone in our area can say that. One thing that makes me proud of the community in which I live is that we never shy away from a chance to give back. The Boys Scouts and our local firefighters both hold Westfield food drives this month. Please give generously to both.

Westfield Food Drives

Scouting for Food

On November 2nd, members of our Westfield Boy Scout troop plan on leaving donation bags at local residences. Place non-perishable food items inside. Then, leave them out on your front porch for pickup between 9 am and 12:30 pm on November 9th. This counts towards the scouts’ community service badge.

All food gathered during the Scouting for Food event goes directly to Holy Trinity’s food pantry. Once the scouts deliver these food donations, sorting begins at the church. If you’d like to volunteer for sorting duty, contact the church at (908) 232-8137 today.

Westfield Firefighters’ Food Drive

Between now and December 1st, our firefighters will be collecting food donations for their Westfield food drive. Simply drop off non-perishable food items at their North Ave West headquarters or Central Ave fire station between 8 am and 8 pm any day of the week. On the 1st, they deliver these donations to local churches and other organizations. In turn, those groups distribute to families in need in time for the holidays.

What to Donate

Some of the items our food pantries need include:

Beans
Broth or stock
Canned meat of any kind (chicken, beef, tuna)
Cereal
Dried fruit
Milk (powdered or boxed, shelf-stable)
Honey
Olive or Canola oil
Pasta
Pasta sauce
Peanut/almond/cashew butter (any nut butter will do)
Rice (white, brown, wild)
Rolled Oats
Seeds
Soup
Stew
Vegetables

Make sure all items are either canned or dry. Nothing perishable, please. Thank you.

Scott Gleason, CRS at RE/MAX Select, Luxury Homes