Linking families in need to holiday assistance, helping eager volunteers find ways to help and hosting the center's annual holiday celebration Winter Holiday Free Family Fun Night are among their recent endeavors.
The EmPoWER Family Success Center of Somerset County staff and volunteers worked hard to make this holiday season special for the local community.
Linking families in need to holiday assistance, helping eager volunteers find ways to help and hosting the center's annual holiday celebration Winter Holiday Free Family Fun Night are among their recent endeavors.
First, EmPoWER Volunteers spread holiday cheer at the Nov. 28 Downtown Somerville Holiday Jubilee by handing out free cookies and cocoa to those in attendance. Families were able to learn about the center's services while waiting in line for free carriage rides with Santa.
In early December, EmPoWER Youth Volunteer Jayden Wilson made an impact by turning his eighth birthday party at YESTERcades of Somerville into a donation opportunity. He requested his guests bring holiday gifts for local families instead of presents for himself.
Wilson and his mother, Giovanna Wilson, partnered with the center to ensure the gifts went to families living locally, which is important to Jayden. He hoped to make a difference close to home. The over 35 gifts collected by Jayden went to the annual toy drive conducted by Somerville Baptist Church and were gifted to children of Somerset County Jail inmates.
Finally, on Dec. 10, the center, with the support of Affinity Federal Credit Union Foundation, held its second annual Winter Holiday Free Family Fun Night with Santa at the Hillsborough Township Municipal Building. Over 40 families enjoyed cookies and cocoa, professional photos with Santa by Zen Image Studios of Somerville, and arts and crafts with help from local teen volunteer clubs and organizations such as MADE of Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High School and By Kids for Kids of Somerville High School.
Each family went home with a free 8-inch by 10-inch printed photo with Santa to serve as a reminder of this lovely evening. Two families won raffle prizes including a holiday movie basket complete with holiday movies, popcorn, cocoa, and cookies, and an ultimate holiday gift wrapping basket featuring gift wrap, gift bags, mugs, cocoa and marshmallows.
The EmPoWER Family Success Center is a community gathering place that provides free family fun activities, workshops and connects families to local resources. The center holds at least one free family fun night each month throughout Somerset County. To find out more about the EmPoWER Family Success Center's upcoming events, call 908-722-4400, "like" their Facebook page or visit the website.
The EmPoWER Family Success Center is a program of EmPoWER Somerset, a nonprofit organization that develops and implements strategies to create healthier communities within Somerset County.