By Peter Elacqua
Staff Writer
For 19 years, Barbara Kenas has been reaching out to the residents of Covenant House New Jersey in Newark, doing what she can to bring cheer into the lives of people who call Covenant House home.
Covenant House has been providing services to homeless young adults since 1989.
Development Director Janette Scorzzo said Covenant House is the largest state provider for homeless, runaway and trafficked youths. Covenant House provides residential services and comprehensive services to young adults between the ages of 18 and 21 and to any blood children those individuals may have.
Each year, Kenas and her neighbors in Marlboro’s Rosemont adult community and her co-workers at Re/Max Central spend a day wrapping Valentine’s Day packages for the residents of Covenant House. The packages include candy, stuffed animals and personal hygiene items that are distributed to the young adults and their children.
Kenas said she began donating items to the residents after she met Marveen Barnes, who worked at the residence. Kenas said Barnes told her the residents needed clothes.
Kenas, who lived in Matawan at the time, began collecting clothes from her neighbors and her clients and donating them to Covenant House
“It was a life-changing event for me,” she said. “I was so taken aback by the (residents) and how they were so appreciative of getting a new pair of gloves or underwear.”
Kenas eventually came up with idea of giving valentines to the residents. Initially, she and her friend, Sharon Silver, went to Newark to deliver the packages. Later, stuffed animals, candy and toiletries were added as gifts.
This year, 136 children received gifts at the divisions of Covenant House, which include Crisis, Rights of Passage, Nancy’s Place, Raphael Life House and independent living children.
Each child received a stuffed animal and a gift bag with goodies. Some residents received toiletries and the independent living youths received toiletries and a gift for their apartment.
Kenas said 176 stuffed animals and 200 gift bags were distributed. Her neighbors baked cupcakes, brownies and cookies so that everyone at Covenant House would have what they needed for a Valentine’s Day party.
“My house was like Santa’s workshop, only filled with valentines,” Kenas said. “It was a huge organizational task with all the different divisions. It was wonderful to see all the volunteers so happy putting the packages together and adding the ribbons to make everything look so festive.
“A highlight was having Gwendolyn Ross (former matriarch of Covenant House) and Satrice Thomas (a Covenant House graduate) at my home helping to make the packages.
“The best part was pulling up to Covenant House and unloading three carloads of teddy bears and the gift bags and seeing the smiles on the faces of the kids!
“One girl asked, ‘Is there one for me?’ and I was proud to answer, ‘Of course there is.’ To see the smile on her face, that is what it is all about. Valentine’s Day is all about love and that is what I wanted the kids to know, that they are cared about and loved,” Kenas said.