The most wonderful time of the year is not necessarily the most wonderful time for everyone, especially those lacking basic comforts.
“There are so many people, between storms and the economy, who are really struggling and need assistance,” Shari Levy said.
Levy volunteers her time to the food bank at Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in South River, and with some help from fellow volunteers, set out to reestablish another charitable effort at the church — a coat drive.
“I believe that people should not be hungry and that people should be able to be warm,” she said. With those beliefs in mind, Levy reinstated the church’s coat drive last year. Coats are accepted by donation and are in turn donated free of charge to local families.
“It’s wonderful to see little kids and parents coming in and trying on coats,” she said.
In another charitable effort, students in the dry-cleaning program in the School of Career Development at Middlesex County Vocational and Technical School’s (MCVTS) East Brunswick campus will clean and prepare donated coats before they are passed on to the church, which will distribute the coats to people in need.
Last year, MCVTS students dry cleaned about 500 coats.
Distribution of the coats will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 7 at Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church Hall, 9 Jeffrie Ave. in South River.
For more information, contact Shari Levy at 732-238-2944.