Raise Jersey

Devils are proud to invest in our local New Jersey communities. Every month, Raise Jersey presented by Schindler will highlight community organizations that strengthen individuals, families, and neighborhoods.

December Partner Highlight

Youth Advocate Programs

Youth Advocate Programs is a national nonprofit, with offices supporting Essex and Union Counties, that specializes in supporting individuals and families involved in youth justice and child welfare systems; youth with behavioral health needs, intellectual disabilities and/or struggling with educational challenges. Their services include connecting youth and families with tools to help them heal from trauma, access basic needs support and services, form healthy and stable relationships, meet their individualized educational, build positive and lasting community connections, and develop essential life skills.

Their mission is to deliver and advocate for safe and effective community-based alternatives to residential care and incarceration that empower individuals, families, and neighborhoods to thrive. Their work is built on a foundation of research demonstrating that people do better throughout life when they have support where they live, work, learn, and play. They believe that having access to positive relationships, spaces, opportunities, and services, empowers individuals and families, which contributes to creating healthy and vibrant communities.

To learn more about Youth Advocate Programs, and how to volunteer or support the local Essex and Union County office, please visit yapinc.org.

November Partner Highlight

Essentially Yours From The Heart

Started by Newark resident Mona Thomas in 2020, Essentially Yours From The Heart has grown into an impactful community movement supported by dedicated volunteers, support of Newark Public Schools, and donations from individuals and businesses. Inspired by the belief that anyone can achieve their true potential, Essentially Yours provides vital support and resources to young parents and their families to ensure they have what they need to thrive.

Mona Thomas established Essentially Yours at West Side High School in Newark to serve as safe place for young parents to find essential items for themselves and their children including clothes, diapers, toys, household items, cleaning and hygiene supplies. In addition, Essentially Yours holds monthly distribution events for anyone in the community who needs clothing, baby supplies, household essentials, and food items.

To learn more about Essentially Yours from the Heart, and how to volunteer or support, please visit eyfth.org.

October Partner Highlight

Tree House Cares

Tanya and Matthew Veltz founded Tree House Entertainment Cultural Arts Movement, a Newark based nonprofit that includes Tree House Cares, to uplift residents’ lives by distributing groceries, serving hot meals, provide clothing, personal necessities, and school supplies; and organize free community holiday events, health fairs, and provide resources on health care, job security, housing, and more.

In 2017, Tree House started small with limited groceries and meal distributions, but throughout the years, with various partnerships, supporters, and social media platforms helped grow its services and number of residents served. When COVID hit, the Veltz’s shut down for one week to figure out how to distribute food safely. They set up an outdoor “grab and go” and were the only food pantry open in the area for several months. Financial support from and partnering with CFBNJ helped them get the commercial refrigerators, shelving, and other supplies they needed to greatly expand their services and now they operate six days a week.

A testament to Tanya and Matthew’s commitment, passion, and their relationships with the community, donors, retailers, vendors, volunteers, and the City of Newark, Tree House Cares now operates three community gardens, takes in 10,000-12,000 pounds of fresh produce a week, has received over 24 million pounds of assorted groceries; distributes food three times a week; serves hot meals three days a week; and runs a diabetes prevention program through Summit Health with blood pressure, A1C and cholesterol screenings, to name only a few of the daily and weekly scheduled events!

To learn more about Tree House Cares, and how to volunteer or support, please visit treehouseculturalarts.com