Pictured left to right: front row Karen Salemme and Sylvia Martinez; back row Carole Peyton, Susan McClelland, Janice Fusaro, Kathy Sosnowski, Jan Herringer and Ann Ormsby.
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Westfield Service League Announces Grants to 41 Local Nonprofits
More than $90,000 given to civic and service organizations of Westfield and Union County (Westfield, April 28, 2024) The Westfield Service League (WSL) membership voted to approve $90,482 in grants to 41 civic and service organizations serving the residents of Westfield and Union County. The funds are raised from the thrift and consignment shops that the WSL runs in Westfield and donations from the community. “I'm thrilled that because of the devotion of our shoppers, consignors and donors and the wonderful work of our staff and volunteers, we were able to award the largest amount in several years to local nonprofit organizations," said Grants Committee Chair Sylvia A. Martinez. "It is always rewarding to fund tried and true nonprofit and service organizations doing good work in our communities, as well as new organizations, all vetted by our dedicated grants committee members. Not only do customers of our shops help the planet, they help so many people in our community.” This year's grant recipients included organizations helping children with cancer and their families, seniors with Alzheimer's, after school and summer programs for underserved children, arts organizations, a suicide prevention hotline, and other important community services. A full list of the organizations is below. “We are grateful for the ongoing support of the WSL Thrift & Consignment Shop customers and the more than 175 volunteers who work tirelessly in our shops processing the clothing that is donated or consigned, maintaining our house where the shops are housed, vetting the organizations which receive funding and all of the other activities that go into running our organization," said Gigi Tilocca, Co-Chair of the Grants Committee. Each year the 11-member Grants Committee vets the organizations. Vetting includes a meeting with a representative of the organization, usually on site, and a review of the organization’s financial statements and their application. The committee then meets to discuss each organization and makes its recommendations to the full membership for approval. “We want to thank all of the members of the committee for their hard work in making sure that the money we raise goes to the best possible programs in deserving organizations,” said Susan McClelland and Karen Salemme, Co-Presidents of the WSL. Grants were given to nine new organizations this year, including Josephine’s Place which provides workshops to teach women how to start home-based businesses, Trinitas Foundation to provide lymphedema products to patients undergoing treatment for breast cancer, and Valerie’s Soup Kitchen to help them provide meals for the homeless. (The new organizations are denoted with a * in the list.) The complete list of organizations receiving grants follows: The Adult School Caring Contact CASA of Passaic and Union Counties Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation Covenant House New Jersey/ Raphael's Life House El Centro Hispanoamericano Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless Elizabethport Presbyterian Center Emmanuel Cancer Foundation Flintlocks, BSA, Inc., The Friends Of Brightwood Park* Girls on the Run* HomeSharing Imagine Inroads to Opportunities Institute of Music for Children, The Jewish Family Service of Central New Jersey Josephine's Place* Mobile Meals of Westfield Moms Helping Moms Morris Habitat for Humanity New Jersey Workshop for the Arts Newark Bait and Fly Casting Club Petty Love Productions* Preserve Shady Rest Clubhouse* Restore Ministries Inc. Roots & Wings St. Joseph's Social Service Center St. Mary's Sunday Dinner Trinitas Foundation* Union County Connects* Valerie Fund, The Valerie’s Soup Kitchen* Westfield Area YMCA Westfield Community Band Westfield Food Pantry Westfield Historical Society Westfield Neighborhood Council Westlake School Whiskers Rescue* Youth and Family Counseling The WSL shop is located at 114 Elmer Street in Westfield and is open Tuesday through Friday, 9:30 am to 4 pm and Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm. For more information about donations or volunteering, call 908-233-2530 for the Thrift Shop or 908-232-1223 for the Consignment Shop. Visit our website at thewestfieldserviceleague.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for notice of sales and special items. . |
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A brief history of WSL
For 89 years, the Westfield Service League has served Westfield and Union County as a service organization and resale shop.
We offer a mix of new and gently used clothing for sale in Consignment and Thrift. The proceeds from the shops help us help others by awarding grants to other Westfield and Union County nonprofit and service organizations.
We like to say we put used goods to good work.
To find out what sort of treasures you may find in our Consignment and Thrift shops, visit our Weekly News page or become a WSL Insider and be among the first to learn what's new in our shops by signing up for our newsletter below. See shop pages for more information.
Donate with dignity
If, like us, you dream of your closet or your children's closet looking like the one above, where you can actually see what you own, and you've spent your time at home cleaning your closet, please consider dropping off your donations in Thrift. We are seeking items that you would give to your BFF. If you wouldn't give it to someone you love, please don't give it to us. Visit our Thrift Donation FAQs page for more information on how to donate.
Want to earn a little extra cash? Consign with us!
If you hate to part with something that is still in excellent shape but you know you're never going to wear and could use a little post-holiday cash, consider consigning with our Consignment Shop. To find out how, visit our Consignment FAQs page.
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