Following a wonderful turnout for December’s Holiday Express, UCC is kicking off the New Year with a Cookies, Coats & Cocoa distribution event on Friday, January 22 from 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. at Newark’s West Side Park (600 S. 17 Street, Newark).
In addition to cookies and hot cocoa being given out in to-go cups and containers, the event will also provide local families and individuals with free groceries, socks and winter coats.
“It is really important for us to continue having events at West Side Park every month because a lot of people have been struggling,” Yucleidis Melendez, UCC’s director of youth, family and senior services, said. “We’ve been getting a lot of phone calls from people in need of help. We want to make sure that we meet that need and we can support our mission as an agency.”
The event comes just weeks after United Community Corporation gave out over 1,500 donated brand-new toys during last month’s Holiday Express event. Seeing such a big turnout - both by those willing to donate and those in need of help - was something that Melendez will never forget.
“It was such a blessing,” she said. “The community came together to provide not only toys but socks, coats and groceries for families in need. It was so great to see so many agencies to work towards a common goal of helping the community.”
United Community Corporation will continue its strong relationship with its partners during this month’s event. The Cookies, Coats & Cocoa distribution will run in partnership with Amerigroup, Outlaw Apparel, Jersey Cares, Hope Bridges Us, Beauty For Ashes, Saydah's Career Planning Adventure, Chosen Generation Ministries, Outrageous Outreach, Covenant House, Pads 4 a Purpose, Franscian Charities and Soldier On.
“We wouldn’t be able to do this without partnerships,” Melendez said. “Partnerships are the secret to a successful community event. There are some things that our agency might not be able to do, but our partners can. Our partners may also have resources to provide that can help the families that we serve.”
While the event will make sure that no one leaves empty-handed, it also allows for individuals to learn about services that are available to potentially help fill their additional needs.
In addition to its events at West Side Park, United Community Corporation offers delivery services of up to 14 days worth of food to families in the City of Newark that have been forced to quarantine due to COVID-19 exposure/contraction by way of its Champion House food pantry.
For more information about that program contact Champion House manager Maria Torres at Maria.torres@uccnewark.org.
UCC, which has been the Community Action Agency of Newark since it was created in 1964, also owns and operates the Fulton Street emergency shelter, which has operated 24-hours during the pandemic.
UCC’s energy assistance program has ensured that families have heating, air conditioning and power, its youth programs have continued both virtually and in-person, and its housing assistance programs are prepared to help deal with an anticipated influx of evictions and crucial rental/mortgage assistance once the moratorium is lifted.