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.

April Partner Highlight

Branch Brook Park Alliance

Branch Brook Park, located in Newark, is the nation’s first county park, established by the Essex County Park commission in 1895. The Park is noted for the largest collection of cherry blossom trees in the United States. The 49th annual Branch Brook Park Cherry Blossom Festival will run from April 5 to April 13, showcasing over 5,300 cherry blossoms in 18 varieties.

The ongoing preservation of the Park is provided by the Branch Brook Park Alliance. The Alliance is a public and private partnership organized in 1999 to restore, safeguard and enhance the Park’s 360-acre landscape masterpiece and host annual activities and events.

To learn more about Branch Brook Park Alliance, and how to plan a visit to the Park, volunteer or support, please visit branchbrookpark.org

March Partner Highlight

St. James Social Service Corporation

St. James Social Service Corporation (SJSSC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting families and individuals in need across Newark and Essex County, New Jersey. Founded in 1996, SJSSC's mission is to improve the quality of life for low-income families, the homeless, and the working poor by providing essential services that promote economic and social empowerment, self-sufficiency and financial independence. Known as the “Small agency that does BIG things”, SJSSC serves over 30,000 people annually, offering programs such as the St. James Food Pantry, the Christian Café Soup Kitchen, and homeless prevention services. With a strong commitment to the community, SJSSC has earned a reputation as one of the leading social service providers in Essex County.

To learn more about St. James Social Service Corporation, and how to volunteer or support, please visit stjamesssc.org.

February Partner Highlight

Newark Emergency Services for Families

Newark Emergency Services for Families (NESF) is a non-profit organization that has been serving the Greater Essex County community for over 40 years. NESF is dedicated to providing compassionate, responsive, and high quality services to individuals and families facing crises. The organization offers critical assistance with emergency food, clothing, shelter, rent, and other basic necessities during times of hardship.

When there is nowhere else to turn, individuals and families can rely on NESF for support. Their mission is to empower individuals to regain their self-sufficiency and improve their overall well-being, ultimately fostering a community where all individuals are valued, nurtured, and supported. NESF's goal is not only to address immediate needs but also to help people move toward long-term stability, making a lasting impact on their lives and the greater Essex County community.

To learn more about Newark Emergency Services for Families, and how to volunteer or support, please visit nesfnj.org.

January Partner Highlight

Community FoodBank of New Jersey

More than 44 million people in the US are food insecure. Nearly 1 million of them, including over 260,000 children, reside in New Jersey. The Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ), a member of Feeding America®, serve as a champion for addressing root causes of hunger. CFBNJ started almost 50 years ago and is now the largest anti-hunger organization in the state, distributing over 90 million nutritious meal annually. Their hunger-relief program addresses the need by delivering after-school meals and supplemental food for children, providing job training to those seeking a second chance, and teaching people how to eat healthy on a budget.

The Community FoodBank of New Jersey nutrition policy focuses on offering food that is healthy, meets different dietary needs, and respects the cultural preferences of the people they serve. By following these principles, CFBNJ aims to provide accessible, nutritious, and appropriate food that positively impacts the well-being of their community.

To learn more about Community FoodBank of New Jersey, and how to volunteer or support, please visit cfbnj.org.

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