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2021 Winter Blessing Drive

Support RU IPO Public Safety and partners 2021 Winter Blessing Drive.

For the past 4 years, they have collected over 3,500 toys for nearly 500 children in the city of Newark, New Jersey. Each year they receive a list of children who have either experienced a hardship or overcome a struggle in the calendar year. We must ensure each child on the list receives a special present to show them they are loved, valued, and supported by their community! This year we will advance our community caretaking call to action by supporting our children, senior citizens, residents of domestic violence shelters, and residents of homeless shelters. Our seniors, veterans, and community families are in dire need of hats, scarves, and gloves as blustery winter weather nears. They also have a list of about 50 elementary schools students in need of winter coats.  

This year’s recipients are:

  • The Safe House
  • The Salvation Army
  • Valor  Veteran’s Shelter
  • Select Newark Public Schools students

How can you help make this year’s drive a success? Please see the below actions steps to ensure you are an engaged supporter! No action is too small! We encourage and ask that spread awareness of this drive amongst your networks!

  • Spread Holiday Hope by Adopting a – Child! Please feel free to contact PO Shantia Stanley or I to gather information on adopting a child from our list. We will provide you with the age, interest, and needs of the selected child. As permissible, we will provide a general summary of why the child’s respective school/ organization has nominated him or her for this drive.
  • Drop a Donation at Your Location: Many of our partners are hosting donation sites for toys, new hats, and gloves. The donations from each site will be utilized to create gift packages for nominated children. Excess toys will be donated to domestic violence and family shelters to supplement ongoing organizational needs.
  • Sharing is Caring! Pass on the Amazon Wish List: Scan the QR code for the Amazon wish list, which contains several items that are needed by local shelters and children on this year’s list. Please share the wish list with your organization, alumni, and overall networks.
  • Wrap it Right!:   Please contact us if you have a gift for gift wrapping. We will wrap sorted presents on December 20th and 21st.
  • Winter Affirmations- The Power of Our Word: The encouragement of a card or handwritten note is immeasurable. If you would like to provide a card to a senior, veteran, parent, or child, please contact us.
We thank you in advance for being a blessing this winter.

 

Jamie S. Hendrix, MPA
Lieutenant

Institutional Planning and OperationsUniversity Public Safetyjamie.hendrix@rutgers.edu   | 973.353.5581