This article was first published on November 27, 2018: 
It’s Giving Tuesday — time to support your local non-profit and charitable organizations around the globe and close to home. Here, we present more than 20 local causes for your consideration.
Did we miss your favorite local cause? Email us at VillageGreenNJ@gmail.com.
Achieve Foundation —
Raising funds to “promote exemplary public education for all students and educators in the School District of South Orange and Maplewood.” Achieve supports efforts such as the Seth Boyden Outdoor Learning Center and the CHS Robotics Club. Find out more and donate here: achievefoundation.org.
In addition, Arturo’s in Maplewood will donate 10% of sales for Tuesday evening, November 27 to Achieve. The majority of sales will come from take outs, so ask your friends to organize “Arturo’s Take-out Parties” that night (or just order for your family). Find the menu here: http://www.arturosnj.com
AV Hero Fund —
The AV Hero Fund is a charitable organization that honors and provides assistance to community members who have that same fighting spirit as Angelo Vayas, who died from a rare form or brain cancer at age 50. The AV Hero Fund will provide the means and resources to help these individuals with their emergency needs and allow them to have a life experience that has been denied due to extenuating circumstances. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Caroline Vandemark Fund for Brain and Spine Tumor Research at Hackensack University Medical Center. Donate here: https://www.avherofund.org/
Columbia High School Scholarship Fund —
The Columbia High School Scholarship Fund (CHSSF) was established in 1923 with the mission of providing need-based financial assistance to graduates of Columbia High School for any kind of post secondary education. Since its founding, CHSSF has awarded over $1.1 million in scholarships to several thousand students. CHSSF is governed by an independent board of local volunteers and is proud to be the largest provider of need-based scholarships in the South Orange and Maplewood community. Donate here.
Durand-Hedden House & Garden —
Durand-Hedden House and Garden is an historic house museum that finds interesting ways to explore the South Orange-Maplewood community’s fascinating past – through nature, architecture, music, food, social life, local history, reenactments and participatory activities – and to spotlight the “treasures” in our own backyards. The aim is to make history exciting and relevant for all ages. Join here.
The Foundation for the South Orange Public Library —
The Foundation for the SOPL was established in 2014 by a group of engaged citizens who understood that needed capital improvements would require more funding than could be raised through public sources alone. Donate here.
Girls Helping Girls Period —
“At Girls Helping Girls. Period. we believe feminine hygiene is a matter of basic health. And human dignity. We’re dedicated to educating people on the need, andcollecting/distributing products. We give our clients a full year’s supply of products. It’s so simple to help.” Donate here.
Interfaith Hospitality Network of Essex County —
Helping homeless families — parents and children — who are in need of shelter, giving them a place to stay and three meals a day by housing them at our network of churches and synagogues. While they’re in our shelter network, the network works with moms and dads on a plan that addresses the issues that led to their homelessness. Goals are set and parents are compassionately guided to take the steps necessary to find a home and become self-sufficient. Donate here.
Isaiah House —
Providing shelter, nourishment and support to Essex County’s most fragile families and individuals since 1988. Donate here.
JESPY House —
JESPY House is a nonprofit organization that enables adults with learning and developmental disabilities to achieve their full potential and lead independent lives. Our philosophy promotes choice, self-direction and independent community living for our clients. Donate here.
Maplewood Memorial Library Foundation —
As the fundraising arm of the Library, the Foundation is preparing to launch a capital campaign in 2019. With the aid of Semple Bixel (a professional fundraising firm specializing in non-profits), we have completed a feasibility study confirming our goal to raise between $1-3 million in private funds. It is still expected that the current $22 million, two story renovation and expansion will be paid for by a combination of local public bonding and matching state funds as well as private donations raised by the Foundation. Donate here.
MEND Hunger Relief Network of Essex County —
MEND is an interfaith network of 17 member food pantries located throughout Essex County, NJ. MEND strengthens and supports its food pantry network by providing supplemental food, funds, volunteers, and a monthly forum for collaboration. MEND also advocates for policies to improve the quality of life for those in need in the County. Donate here.
Parenting Center Holiday Toy Drive —
The South Orange-Maplewood School District Parenting Center is hosting its annual Holiday Toy Drive from November 26 through December 10. This season the Parenting Center will provide gifts to 500 children in need in the South Orange-Maplewood School District community. Bring new, unwrapped gifts and toys for babies through teenagers to drop-off boxes at schools and businesses throughout town. If you have no time to shop or you’re not sure what to get, you can purchase a gift online at the Amazon.com gift registry: https://www.amazon.
Rent Party —
Rent Party, founded in October 2009,is a live music series based in Maplewood / South Orange, New Jersey. Proceeds from these shows help fight hunger in our community. Join us at our new digs – The Woodland, 60 Woodland Road in Maplewood, NJ. Donate here.
South Mountain Conservancy —
a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and preserving the 2,100-acre South Mountain Reservation. Visit https://www.somocon.org/.
South Orange-Maplewood Community Coalition on Race —
The South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race is a nationally recognized non-profit organization committed to building a unique, suburban community that is free of racial segregation in housing patterns and community involvement. The Coalition was founded in 1996 by a diverse group of citizens concerned about stagnating property values and a perceived decline in the quality of local public schools. Since then, the Coalition has developed programs that promote the advantages of living in a racially inclusive community where all aspects of community life are integrated. Donate here.
South Orange-Maplewood PTAs and HSAs
Elementary
- Clinton Elementary School — www.clintonelementary.org
- Marshall/Jefferson Schools — marshalljefferson.org
- Seth Boyden Demonstration School — sethboyden.com
- South Mountain School — smsuperstars.com
- Tuscan School — www.tuscanpta.org
Middle Schools
- Maplewood Middle School — www.mmshsa.org
- South Orange Middle School — somshsa.org
High School
- Columbia High School — www.columbiahsa.org
South Mountain YMCA —
The South Mountain YMCA is one of the largest providers of childcare, summer day camp and youth sports programs in Maplewood and South Orange, New Jersey. All programs and services are designed to nurture the potential of children, promote healthy living and foster a sense of social responsibility. Located directly between the South Orange and Maplewood train stations, our extended hours of operation are designed to meet both the recreational needs of our youth as well those of working parents. Donate here.
South Orange Rescue Squad —
This all-volunteer organization that responds to medical emergencies within South Orange, and also assists when necessary in Maplewood, Newark, and surrounding communities. Make a donation, do your online shopping via Amazon Smile or iGive.com, or you can sign up to volunteer with the Rescue Squad.
Take the Cake —
Vanessa Pollock Music Initiative —
The Vanessa Pollock Music Initiative was founded in partnership with the Achieve Foundation to help:
1. Repair/add to the Music Instrument Inventory for the entire SOMA School District.
2. Provide scholarship funds to in-need students, for the rental of band/orchestra instruments.
3. Provide private music instruction and instruments to in-need prodigious students.
