United Way Seeks Holiday Cheer for Individuals in Need

A young United Way volunteer at last year's distribution.

United Way of Northern New Jersey is seeking the public’s assistance to meet an increase in the number of registrants for its annual holiday gift-giving program, which serves thousands of individuals in need across the region.

To help, area residents and businesses can purchase holiday gifts during the 34th annual United Way Gifts of the Season program.

Each year United Way Gifts of the Season distributes more than 6,000 holiday gifts to children, teens, adults with special needs, and senior citizens experiencing financial hardship across northern New Jersey.

“We hear unemployment is low, inflation is coming down, and the economic news seems to be improving. And yet, we’ve seen an increase in the number of people seeking our help this holiday season,” said United Way of Northern New Jersey CEO Kiran Handa Gaudioso. “The financial stress experienced by those living paycheck to paycheck and households in poverty doesn’t stop during the holidays.”

United Way’s annual gift drive is focused on helping ALICE and families in poverty — those who struggle to afford life’s basics. Despite working in jobs critical to our community, ALICE workers are one emergency away from financial crisis. The holiday season puts even more stress on already stretched budgets.

Individuals, community groups, and businesses can support United Way Gifts of the Season by fulfilling a specific gift wish or purchasing a general gift through December 8, 2023. United Way also accepts gift cards and monetary donations, to fulfill remaining gift requests, ensuring everyone receives some holiday cheer.

Those interested in donating to the program can visit uwnnj.org/gifts2023.

For more information about United Way Gifts of the Season, contact GiftsOfTheSeason@UnitedWayNNJ.org or call 973.993.1160, x502.

This program is made possible due in part to Keystone Development + Investment for donating our program location, to BRG Office Movers for donating moving trucks to transport gifts, and to Pfizer, Adam Schwab, and Peapack-Gladstone Bank for their sponsorship.