PARSIPPANY — On Wednesday, January 24, 2018, the National Point-In-Time Count of the Homeless took place. The survey counts anyone who is not in a permanent home. Last year, there were over 8,500 persons classified as homeless in New Jersey, with nearly 2,000 being under the age of 18. Nearly 600 of the homeless in New Jersey were veterans. Over 1,400 persons were classified as “unsheltered”, meaning they were living in parks, cars, abandoned buildings, or on the street. The remainder were living in emergency shelters, transitional housing or as temporary guests of others. Approximately half of these homeless individuals were living within a 20-mile radius of Parsippany-Troy Hills. Click here for additional details.
The Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany is dedicated to helping all children reach their full potential. The children that are impacted by homelessness tend to fall behind in school, as the stress of their home situation makes learning difficult. This makes it extremely difficult for them to reach their full potential. Consequently, combating homelessness has become a priority for the Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany. Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany has supported several organizations dedicated to this cause in the past, including Family Promise of Morris County, Homeless Solutions, and Jersey Battered Women’s Service (JBWS).
In honor of the 2018 National-Point-In-Count of the Homeless, The Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany, in partnership with Transforming a Life and The Tangible More, will be distributing winter coats and socks to the homeless this year, and are planning to keep collecting them for the duration of the winter.
Transforming a Life was started in 2016 by Zaki and Loretta Mustafa in Los Angeles, California. Primarily through Facebook donations, they have distributed over 6,500 jackets to the homeless in southern California since forming. This year, they have spread to Oregon, Mississippi, and New Jersey.
The Tangible More was started in January, 2017 by Emily Mulhaul as a positive and non-controversial reaction to the Women’s March. The Women’s March attracted over 3 million people and the marches took place in areas with high populations of homelessness. Emily believed if in one day the Women’s March could attract over 3 million people, that individuals, clubs, and organizations could just as easily accumulate 3 million donations. In 2017, The Tangible More donated over 1,000 items to the homeless to remind them, “we did not forget you when we marched past you.” (Click here for more information)
Donations are welcome, and can be made at Parsippany IHOP Restaurant, 792 Route 46, Boiling Springs Bank, 66 North Beverwyck Road or Synergy Chiropractic, 125 Madison Street, Boonton. New or gently used coats and new white socks only please.
Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time. It is not religious based or partisan in any way. The Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany meets every Thursday at 7:15 a.m. at the Empire Diner at 1315 Route 46. We are 60 members strong and growing. New members are always welcome. (Click here for more information on Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany)
