5 Ways to Share the Love on Valentine's Day By Helping Those in Need
Eva’s Village (http://www. EvasVillage. org), a progressive anti-poverty charity announces LOVE as a cure for homelessness. Announces 5 ways to make this Valentine’s Day extra special and 5 programs at our NJ charity that will benefit from a Valentine’s Day gift.
Paterson, NJ (PRWEB) February 2, 2010
Ask the 420 hungry people gathered at Eva’s Kitchen what is being served and you are likely to hear the response “love”, rather than the expected “roast chicken and rice”. The same response might be heard in the shelters, free medical and dental clinic (http://evasvillage. org/medical. html), or in the residential and outpatient recovery programs provided by Eva’s Village.
What was once a small soup kitchen in Paterson, New Jersey (http://evasvillage. org/kitchen. html) has grown to become a highly effective and comprehensive anti-poverty organization (http://www. EvasVillage. org) through the power of love. Sister Gloria Perez, Executive Director of Eva’s Village feels that the organization strives to make God's love more visible in the world. She says, “Many of our brothers and sisters have been demoralized by poverty and have experienced a level of misery that most of us have never known. In all our programs, we try to affirm the human dignity of each individual and make them feel loved and valued as human beings.”
Sister Gloria feels that Valentine’s Day is one of the most appropriate times of the year to donate to Eva's Village. “What better time than Valentine’s Day to affirm the power of love through the act of charity?” she asks.
Donna Fico, Chief Marketing Officer at Eva’s Village relates that many people choose to honor their sweethearts and other loved ones by making a donation (http://evasvillage. org/donate. html) to Eva’s Village or volunteering their time. She suggests 5 ways to make this Valentine’s Day extra special and 5 programs at Eva’s Village that will benefit from a Valentine’s Day gift:
1. Feed the hungry (http://evasvillage. org/kitchen. html) through a Valentine’s Day charitable donation to Eva’s Kitchen, or volunteer your time as an individual, couple, family or group of friends.
2. Shelter the homeless (http://evasvillage. org/shelter. html) through a Valentine’s Day charitable donation to Eva’s Village shelters for men, women and mothers and children, or volunteer your time as an individual, couple, family or group of friends to help in the shelter effort.
3. Treat the addicted (http://evasvillage. org/treatment. html) through a Valentine’s Day charitable donation (http://evasvillage. org/donate. html) to Eva’s Village expansive in-house and outpatient recovery programs or volunteer time to help raise funds for these highly successful (and confidential) programs.
4. Help mothers keep and care for their children by making a Valentine’s Day charitable donation to Hope Residence at Eva’s Village or volunteering to gather the many household and clothing items needed. This truly comprehensive residence for homeless mothers or mothers in recovery and their children provides mothers and children everything they need to form a stable family, including love and understanding.
5. Provide free medical and dental care to the poor by making a Valentine’s Day charitable donation to Eva’s Village Primary Care Clinic. Many donors also join one of Eva’s Village fun annual fundraisers as a couple, a family or with a group of friends. There is an annual walk/run, golf outing and gala.
Hundreds of people have donated their time, hard work and love to feed the hungry at Eva’s Kitchen — some for more than twenty years. Fred Puso and Jim O’Rouke, two members of the Knights of Columbus, St. Catherine of Bologna Council #6212 in Ringwood, have collected and donated 4 tons of coffee over the past 18 years (or 256,000 cups of brewed coffee). Matthew Renzulli, Wayne started a sock drop when he was in junior high school and collected more than 15,000 pairs of socks that he donated to the homeless.
Some of the concerns expressed most often by those looking to choose a charity for Valentine’s Day charitable giving include:
1. Choosing a charity whose mission and purpose matched their interests.
2. Choosing a charity where they might donate their time and skills as well as money.
3. Choosing a charity that benefits the donor’s own town, state and country.
4. Choosing a charity where donations are used to make a difference quickly.
5. Choosing a charity effective in managing finances and using donations to meet objectives rather than administrative expenses.
At Eva’s Village, the wide array of programs provide for virtually every human need on a local basis to fight poverty, addiction, the lack of proper primary healthcare and housing for the poor. Sister Gloria is fond of saying to potential donors, “Where else can just one Valentine’s Day donation feed hundreds of hungry people in New Jersey every day of the year; shelter homeless men and women; treat the addicted; provide free primary medical care to the poor; work to provide transitional and affordable housing and help addicted and homeless mothers keep and care for their children?”
Hundreds of volunteers find personal fulfillment working in Eva’s Kitchen and in many other programs that have an immediately positive impact on the lives of the poor.
Donors looking for Valentine’s Day charitable giving opportunities will be pleased to know that Eva’s Village holds a third consecutive 4-star rating from Charity Navigator. Ken Berger, President & Chief Executive Officer, Charity Navigator says, “Only 13% of the charities we rate have received at least 3 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that Eva’s Village consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way, and outperforms most other charities in America. This “exceptional” designation from Charity Navigator differentiates Eva’s Village from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust.”
For more information on the programs at Eva’s Village, a comprehensive New Jersey anti-poverty charity, email Donna Fico, Chief Marketing Officer at Donna. Fico(at)evasvillage(dot)org or call (973) 523-6220 Ext. 230.
Originally a New Jersey soup kitchen, Eva’s Village was founded in 1982 by Msgr. Vincent E. Puma in response to the increasing incidence of homelessness in Paterson, NJ. With the generous support of thousands of donors and private and government grants, Eva’s Village has grown into the most respected anti-poverty program in New Jersey.
This press release has been distributed by SalemGlobal Internet Interactive Public Relations (http://www. SalemGlobal. com). SalemGlobal optimizes websites to increase donations for non profit organizations.
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