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Moving Forward with Resilience into 2022

We are sure you know our tagline of “Building Skills for Productive Lives.” As we reflect on this past year, our focus has been on “Moving Forward with Resilience” as we come out of a very difficult time for all of us.

We are quite proud that while 2021 started off with a return to remote services, a step to ensure the safety of our staff and members, by the end of February, we came back to in-person services. Our detailed reopening plan has enabled us to steadily increase the members we can serve on-site at our facilities ever since.

We are writing with the hope that you will consider a gift to help our agency continue this path especially so our staff and the members we serve can continue to experience a return to normalcy.

Once again if anything has been proven this year, it is the resilience of our members. We are thrilled to be able to say that we have more members coming into program than being served via telehealth. But we continue to be grateful that this is an alternative for some of our very vulnerable members. It is wonderful to see how much our services mean to our members and their families. Also, we have had some great success stories with placing members in employment this year, another sign of resilience!

As this year comes to an end, we continue to look forward to the future and we hope we can count on your support!

"Our son Thomas had not worked since March of 2020 due to COVID. He definitely missed it. Since September 2021 Thomas looks forward to going to his job at Kings every week. Thanks to Christine and Robyn from North Jersey Friendship House for working with Thomas on securing employment and providing ongoing on-the-job support. On days Thomas doesn't work, he loves attending the program. Thank you Friendship House!"

– Parents of North Jersey Friendship House member

The mission of North Jersey Friendship House is to build the skills of individuals with varying abilities and developmental needs by providing, within a safe haven, comprehensive clinical treatment, vocational training and work opportunities in order to achieve meaningful and productive lives.

Support Us Today with a
Year-End Gift!

Allows a new member to receive services for one week

Give $500

Covers the cost for social events for members for one week

Give $250

Provides materials for art and cooking groups for one week

Give $100

Provides breakfast and lunch for a member for one week

Give $50

Allows for one month of remote group services via zoom

Give $25

Any amount helps us to continue to provide services to our members

Give What You Can

A Perfect Blend of Community Employment and Program

Thomas came to Friendship House upon graduating from Wings Academy and joined our program virtually since we were in the midst of the pandemic in August 2020. We quickly could see that he enjoyed music, drawing and was good with technology!

Once our day program was allowed to resume in-person, Thomas joined us first 2 days a week in person and 3 days a week virtually. Then during the summer of 2021, he transitioned to full-time in person.

Working closely with Thomas 5 days a week, staff quickly could see his amazing sense of humor and potential. He took his groups seriously and his growth during the initial months was apparent. Partnering with Thomas and his family, in June of 2021, he was introduced to our Supported Employment team.

We are pleased to say that September 2021, Thomas began working at Kings Food Markets. He is able to multi-task and help customers as needed to locate items on the shelves. He is amazing and has a special gift of knowing where everything is!

Since his first day on the job, Thomas will say to his job coach at the beginning of each shift, “I just want to do a great job.” Well, Thomas, you do a great job every day and we couldn’t be more proud of you!! His supervisor at Kings agrees and stated, “He is doing a wonderful job and we are really happy to have him as part of our team.”

For Thomas, the blend of working in the community 2 days a week and attending our program 3 days a week meets both his vocational and social needs. He takes pride in his work and is proud to be working.