ALLENTOWN – A nonprofit organization based in Allentown wants to help out when individuals face a difficult situation in life. Toward that end, the Give Back Foundation will host a fundraiser in the fall.
At 6:30 p.m. Oct. 3, the foundation will open the doors at the New Egypt Elks Club, 105 Lakewood Road, New Egypt, for an evening of “tricky tray” style auctions.
“People like to walk away with stuff … so we will have some nice things,” Allentown resident and Give Back Foundation Director Kelly Owens said.
Since the foundation’s creation in 2005, its members have worked to help residents in Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean, Burlington and Middlesex counties who find themselves in sudden need of assistance.
Owens said the foundation has a temporary involvement in the lives of the people it assists. She said potential recipients of aid apply to the foundation’s board, which reviews each request and determines if and how help can be provided.
In one case an individual was provided with a car so he could drive his disabled son to and from work, she said.
“If we think it is a chronic issue where we are just giving someone money and it is not going to help them get back on their feet in the long run, then that is not really what our focus is,” Owens said.
The foundation, which was founded by Ron Dunster, Ivan Olinsky and Michele Lawrence, hosts two annual fundraisers. A Bingo fundraiser was held in April. Next up is the Oct. 3 event in New Egypt.
“We are going to have some nice things for the auction,” Owens said, listing food baskets, gift cards at area restaurants and retailers, and a new bicycle from Bruno’s Bicycles in Allentown as items that will be available.
Tax deductible monetary donations to the foundation are accepted and go directly to services and items that are provided to those in need. For more information, email [email protected] or visit www.thegivebackfoundation.org