Michael Swayze's Community Resources

Category: Nonprofit

  • Energy Assistance Tips

    The application period to apply for home heating assistance is now half over as the application period is November 1 through April 30, 2010. There have been a few things that should have been presented earlier but better late than never. Let me try to keep this short and to the point. Here are a few things you probably didn’t know.

    1. Instead of calling the local application agency to inquire about a LIHEAP application (for example in Union County the local agency is PROCEED) there is a statewide LIHEAP hotline number that applicants and food stamp clients can call instead of calling the local agency which just makes them take time out from processing hundreds of applications. The hotline number – which by the way is open on SATURDAY’s – is 800-510-3102.
    2. USF portability is probably a term you never heard about. Portable can be defined as carried or moved with ease. In energy assistance terms, when a utility customer who is receiving USF benefits moves to a new address, their USF eligibility can be re-evaluated by a phone call to the utility. The customer tells the customer service rep they are receiving USF benefits but they are moving to a new address. The company will evaluate the energy usage at the new address and then the state of New Jersey will determine eligibility for USF at their new location. A simple phone call. Portability.
    3. Every year the staff at NJ211 compile an energy guide. The 36 page 2009-2010 publication titled New Jersey Guide to Meeting Basic Utility Needs gives useful information on programs and agencies.

    You can also access the New Jersey Community Resources energy assistance programs webpage which contains an eligibility chart of various programs and links to forms. If you have other useful energy assistance tips or information let me know.

  • Veteran and Spouse Career Fair – Teaneck Armory – December 1

    A few days ago I received an email from the G.I. Go Fund, announcing a Veteran and Spouse Career Fair. It will be held at the Teaneck Armory, 1779 Teaneck Road in Teaneck, New Jersey on Tuesday, December 1, 2009 from 10am – 2pm.

    Veterans and family members can register online by going to
    http://gigofund.org/exposignup.html and filling out the registration form. For additional information contact Alex Manis at the G.I. Go Veterans Transition Center of Newark, 973-802-1614 (phone) or 732-377-8032 (fax).

  • Statewide Winter Outerwear Clothing Drive

    The Trenton based nonprofit Homeless To Independence is conducting their 4th Annual Statewide Winter Outerwear Clothing Drive. Although collection activities ended in north Jersey about November 15, clothing collection efforts continue in central and southern New Jersey through December 13.

    The information about their clothing drive is contained in their November newsletter which reads as follows:

    Hello Everyone In New Jersey!

    HOMELESS TO INDEPENDENCE’S 4TH ANNUAL WINTER OUTERWEAR CLOTHING DRIVE
    IS NOW ON!!! WE NEED CHILDRENS COATS OF ALL SIZES!!!

    We are collecting coats/jackets, hats, scarves, gloves/mittens and blankets for women, children and men that are homeless, working poor, our veterans and those have just lost their belongings due to fires (manmade) and natural disasters and have been transplanted here in New Jersey. Our Northern New Jersey dates run from now through November 15th. Our Central and Southern New Jersey dates run now through December 13th – anywhere in the State of New Jersey call me for your items to be picked up. Some counties will offer drop off location dates and times also for your convenience. Please call me at: 1-609-575-8048 or email me at: ann@homelesstoindependence.org. ALL items will be given away freely – we DO NOT charge anyone for anything that is donated. Any houses of worship or organizations that would like to make your location either a drop off or distribution site contact me ASAP! Let’s work together!!!

    For those not familiar with Homeless To Independence let me give you a brief rundown. The Founder and Executive Director is Ann Martin-Frey. I became aware of her work several years ago when I read a newsarticle somewhere. A recent Trenton Times article (October 2, 2009 by Matt Fair, Staff Writer) provided the following: “With Homeless to Independence, Frey, 48, works day-in and day-out through a thickly woven network of contacts developed over the course of her life on the road gathering information on employment agencies, local job openings, government programs, food banks, shelters, or any other resources the homeless can take advantage of, and disseminating it all into the homeless community.”

    Ann is a true grassroots activist and my hat goes off to her. If you want to contribute to the winter clothing drive you can contact her at 609-575-8048. Homeless to Independence can also be reached at PO Box 22124, Trenton, NJ 08607. Checkout the website which has the feel of a community bulletin board. You can also join her on Facebook by looking for Ann MartinFrey.