Crisis Room Needs A Hand to Help Those in Need

Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away, and the December holidays are right behind that. Or to put it another way, it’s the busiest time of the year.

The Crisis Room is looking to supply turkeys and all the fixings for a traditional holiday dinner to between 140 and 160 area families in need, and it’s hoping to get some of those items through the generosity of others.

“At the holidays and for Thanksgiving they give out turkeys and Thanksgiving style food, so that’s always a nice donation at that time,” said Florence Klancer, of the . “And then for Christmas, everyone registered with children gets a chance to come and pick out a give for their children.”

The Crisis Room provides food and clothing to more thab 1,000 people a month, but that number is growing every month, said Klancer. Right now, donations of frozen turkeys, holida-style food and gift cards to local supermarkets are being sought.

“We’ve seen a big increase this fall,” she said. “Food is costing more because we buy it (from food banks) and we have more than 600 families registered and who’ve been helped in the past year, and now we’re seeing close to 100 families a week.”

To help offset some of the need, the Crisis Room held a benefit concert on Oct. 22. The drive supplements it’s usual visits to the Community Food Bank in Hillside, where much of its food is purchased.

“Forty to fifty people were there, and we collected around $1,000 for the Crisis Room,” said Klancer. “We did about $800, but then somebody came in and made a large donation.”

The Crisis Room also is seeking donations of new toys and stocking stuffers, as well as many hats and mittens as it can get.

“As far as gifts, there will be a Christmas program where parents can come in and choose gifts. We’d like the donations by Thanksgiving because they have to be sorted.”

Donations can be made by bringing them to the Crisis Room at 526 Ryders Lane, East Brunswick, N.J. 08816 (in the little white house next to the church).

The Crisis Room's hours are Tuesdays and Fridays from 12:30 to 3 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 3 p.m. For more information call 732 257-9920.