Project Help to launch summer drive

SUSSEX BOROUGH — About eighteen months ago, Project Help was the inspiration of Sandy Mitchell of the Lions Club in Wayne. The first year was a big success with the help of Lions Clubs from the area, the American Legions, Knights of Fire, VFW and private donors. Truckloads of new and used clothing were collected and donated the Catholic Charities SOS Vets closets in four counties.
Additionally, Project Help was able to purchase many new articles of clothing for backpacks containing survival gear for homeless vets and their families.
In 2016, Project Help was incorporated as a nonprofit organization and as such, the launch of the Summer Drive has begun. Project Help is dedicated to serving the homeless, impoverished and disenfranchised veteran community as it relates to non-medical needs. It acts as a clearing house of services available to the veterans and their families and is provider for emergency needs and works with other nonprofits to benefit veterans and their families.
For the convenience of those wishing to donate clothing, there a several drop off locations Sussex County with more opening all the time.
They are: Extreme Energy Solutions, 17 Main St., Sparta N.J. Sam Burlum, 973-209-3450. Weekdays 9 am – 5 pm after hours, call first; Holiday Inn Express, 8 N.P. Drive, Newton, NJ, any time.
More and more locations are coming on board and will be posted on www.ProjectHelp.US as they are confirmed. If you have a business, or are a church member or civic organization and would like to be a drop off point please contact Sandy @ 973-875-2068 or email Sandy@mitchellclan.com to make it happen. It’s a win, win for both sides. Your business gets feet through the door and you help to make it convenient for folks to make a donation.
Articles needed for the summer drive are summer clothes for men, women and children. Only very gently used or new articles will be accepted. If you wouldn’t wear it then it shouldn’t be donated to the vets closets. Used articles should be clean and in good repair. Shoes, sneakers and dress shoes as well as professional attire and accessories for job hunting are needed. Toiletries, combs, dental care products, sunscreen, baby wipes and diapers.
Tailors, hairdressers, seamstresses, barbers are also needed for any occasional hair cut or minor alteration such as hemming, for the job interviews.
“We are also doing an outreach for alternative healing modality professionals, as well as HR professionals to help with jobs and resume preparation”, says Sandy Mitchell, president and founder of Project Help. The needs are massive and many volunteers are needed. We have a couple of board positions available, anyone interested in volunteering for committee work or a board position should contact us at 973-875-2068.