Project Self-Sufficiency

Dear Friends,

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The dawn of a new year invites us to build on the gifts of the past while anticipating the opportunities of the future.  We are heartened by the overwhelming support received for the holiday initiatives at Project Self-Sufficiency. Because of the generosity of our friends and neighbors, more than 500 families enjoyed complete Thanksgiving feasts; the Earth Angels program provided gifts, comfort, and support to more than 100 senior citizens; and more than 2,300 youngsters received new toys in December. 

 

As we move into 2026, we are eagerly anticipating several upcoming events.  In late January, we will welcome our friends to the annual Chili Open, which raises funds to help Sussex County residents who need emergency temporary shelter or stable housing. We will gather at the Hudson Farm Club in late February to celebrate Open that Bottle Night, an initiative which raises much-needed funds to sustain agency programming for our neighbors in need. We deeply appreciate your support for both of these events.

 

We are delighted to be continuing a series of gatherings targeted to pregnant women and mothers of newborns in the new year. The Baby Beginnings events and Pregnancy & Infancy Summits will supplement our robust home visitation programs - Nurse Family Partnership, Healthy Families, and Parents as Children - while highlighting many of the topics crucial to the health and well-being of mothers and children.

 

Spring will bring several popular events, including the Career & Health Fair and the Journey Family Success Center’s Sister-to-Sister Prom Shop. The season will culminate with our signature fundraising event, A Taste of Talent, as we welcome hundreds of patrons and more than fifty creative chefs and restauranteurs at Perona Farms.  

 

We are proud that our programming continues to evolve to meet the needs of our community.  Our mobile services vehicle, Journey, brings food and essential services to communities in Sussex, northern Morris and northern Warren County. Parenting workshops and discussion groups are empowering parents and caregivers to be the best parents they can be. Virtual seminars designed to heighten awareness of adverse childhood experiences are helping the community to overcome the impact of trauma and move towards resilience. The roster of support groups offered at Project Self-Sufficiency has expanded to include a targeted Career Chat for men and women as they navigate the complicated job market. Our monthly Family Fun Nights at the Little Sprouts Early Learning Center are drawing crowds. 

 

The New Jersey Youth Corps and Bridges programs invite struggling teens and young adults to find new paths to a high school diploma, career training, and college.  The New Jersey Youth Corps serves more than 50 students annually; a record number of students were enrolled in the fall cohort of this life-changing program. We are profoundly grateful to the cadre of dedicated volunteer teachers who help to transform the lives of these participants as they navigate the transition between adolescence and adulthood.

 

We cannot forget our mainstay programming for single parents and displaced homemakers.  The popular Higher Opportunities for Women program addresses the needs of women who need restorative workplace training and support.  Project Self-Sufficiency’s Central Intake team, Connecting NJ, is helping thousands to access health and social service resources and has been identified by the State of New Jersey as a model for similar programs across the area.