Christmas is a time to help the less fortunate and perhaps make someone else’s holiday merry and bright. Here is a rundown of some of the ways people in Jersey City can help in the days leading up to the holidays:
Through Friday, Dec. 17, the Hudson County Animal League will collect Coats for Kids. Please drop off your new or gently-used coats in the big red box at the main entrance of the Hudson Mall, 701 Route 440.
Hudson County Community College is now holding its Toy Drive.
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Toys will be collected for Jersey City East District’s Annual Toy Drive on Dec. 10. Unwrapped toys can be brought to the HDSID Tent during the Farmers’ Market at the Grove Street PATH Plaza, and will be delivered to the East District Police Dept on December 11 to distribute to children in Jersey City’s East District.
This month, the Little Gym of Jersey City, on Grand Street, is holding its annual holiday drive to benefit the Jersey City-based home for homeless infants, Hudson Cradle. The gym is seeking items such as diapers, baby wipes, and infant Tylenol. The drive lasts through the month of December, and the donated items will be delivered to Hudson Cradle. For more information on the drive, visit www.hudsoncradle.com, or call (201) 637-2473.
At Newport Centre Mall until Dec. 21, shoppers are invited to take an angel ornament from either of two festive trees on display in the Rejuvenation Station and in Center Court and purchase an appropriate gift for an underprivileged area child in need. Gifts can be dropped off in the gift box located in Centre Court.
Hudson County Freeholder Bill O’Dea will hold his annual Toy Drive/Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 18 and 19 at the Moose Hall, 60 West Side Ave. On the 18th, there is an adults’ party at 7 p.m. where donations of toys can be made. Then on the 19th, from 10 to 11 a.m., kids are invited to receive a toy along with donuts, juice, a comic book, and a photo with Santa. No one is admitted after 10:30 a.m. For more information, call (201) 209-0972.
Hudson County Community College is now holding its Toy Drive. The college’s Office of Student Activities is collecting toys to benefit children and other individuals in the area. The community is invited to bring in new unwrapped toys. Donations may be dropped off now through Monday, Dec. 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Office of Student Activities, 25 Journal Square, first floor – right next to the Journal Square PATH Station.
JC Lesbian + Gay Outreach Inc. will host its “Under the Winter Stars” holiday party on Thursday, Dec. 10 at the Star Bar, 34 Wayne St., from 8 p.m. to midnight. Guests can bring an unwrapped toy for children up to 5 years old for Toys for Tots as well as canned foods and/or winter coats. For more information, go to http://www.jclgo.org.
At the Loew’s Jersey Theatre, 54 Journal Sq., and next door at the JSQ Pub, donations of toys and clothing may be left until Monday, Dec. 21. Toys will be distributed, offsite, by the Secular Franciscan Order of Jersey City. For directions or more information, call (201) 798-6055 or visit www.loewsjersey.org.
The Hudson County Central Labor Council will sponsor its annual Christmas Toy Drive Party on Wednesday, Dec. 16 at the Marine Engineers Beneficial Assn., 37 Edward Hart Dr. Toys can be dropped off until Tuesday, Dec. 15 at IAFF 1066, 139 South St., between 8 a.m. and noon, Monday thru Friday. Send financial contributions or to: Hudson CLC Christmas Toy Drive, P.O. Box 17328, Jersey City, N.J., 07307. For information, call (201) 583-1300.
Ricardo Kaulessar can be reached at rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com.