Photo Courtesy of JLOSH
JLOSH President Christina Connant of Short Hills and her daughters express their thoughts on volunteering and how it makes them feel at the fourth annual Kids For Kids event organized by JLOSH.
MILLBURN, NJ — Proving that little hands can make a big difference, more than 120 children, in addition to 40 Girl Scout members, 100 parents and 50 Junior League of the Oranges and Short Hills members took part in the fourth annual Kids For Kids, which is a children’s volunteer event organized by JLOSH in partnership with 35 organizations.
Together, they collected more than 200 toiletry bags, 55 grocery bags, 200 dental bags and 100 camping bags for children in need. In addition, attendees helped decorate a beautiful mural that will be displayed on the pediatric floor of St. Barnabas Hospital. On top of that, 22 no-sew blankets for St. Barnabas were also assembled.
The volunteer event took place at the George Bauer Community Center in Taylor Park in Millburn on Saturday, March 12. In addition to collections and assembling of various bags, children were able to decorate “Send A Smile” note cards and nutritional placemats for food pantry customers, and learn about eco-literacy, dental hygiene, nutrition basics and more. Attendees also participated in a photo booth that captured explanations of why volunteering is important and how it made them feel.
“What a joy to watch our members, neighbors and partners at this year’s Kids For Kids event work together and set positive examples of giving back to the community for our littlest volunteers,” JLOSH President Christina Connant of Short Hills said in a release. “We are women building better communities, and together we continue to make a real impact by providing essential basic items for children in need.”
The event also marked the annual JLOSH Littlest Volunteers contest for children in grades one through five living in the towns of East Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Millburn, Orange, Short Hills, Springfield, South Orange and West Orange. To further promote volunteerism, winners will be awarded a prize of $100 to put their good ideas to work to help their community. Entry forms can be found on JLOSH’s website www.jlosh.org.