PARSIPPANY —  There’s an urgent and immediate need for blood donations throughout northern New Jersey and New York State, as responses to the nationwide coronavirus outbreak are severely impacting the U.S. blood supply.

Vitalant (a nonprofit, blood collection organization formerly known as Community Blood Services) is responding by offering residents of northern New Jersey and New York State 29 local, open-to-the-public donation events during April to ensure that patients have the lifesaving blood they need. The greatest need is for blood platelets — small cells in the blood that form clots to prevent bleeding, while also helping with anemia and low blood counts – and type O-negative, the universal blood type.

FEMA has specifically identified blood donation as an “essential and integral component of the emergency support function.” Of note, coronavirus cannot be transferred through the blood. And, as always, the blood collection process is safe with no impact on the donor’s immune system. Vitalant staff follows rigorous safety and disinfection protocols at its blood drives and donation centers and have always required individuals to be in good health to donate blood.

For more information on the need for blood donation during the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), click here.

Vitalant also maintains four New Jersey blood centers, with hours and street addresses as follows:

• Lincoln Park (63 Beaverbrook Rd. | Suite 304) – Click here for hours
• Montvale (102 Chestnut Ridge Rd.) – Click here for hours
• Paramus (One West Ridgewood Ave., Suite 208) – Click here for hours
• Parsippany (1259 Rt. 46 East, Building #4E | Suite 410) – Click here for hours

As an added incentive to all who donate from Friday, April 10 through Monday, April 13, Vitalant is providing – at its mobile blood drives and New Jersey donation centers in Lincoln Park, Montvale, Paramus, and Parsippany – a $10.00 dollar Amazon gift card and an aluminum sports bottle. In addition, type A+ and B+ donors who donate platelets for the first time EVER will receive a $25 Amazon gift card in the mail, while all type AB male plasma donors will receive a $5 mystery gift card in the mail for every plasma donation they make during 2020 (counting is done at the end of each month).

Healthy individuals age 16 or older, who weigh at least 110 pounds, may donate blood; 16- and 17-year-olds must have proof of birth date and signed consent forms, either in English (Click here) or Spanish (Click here).

Donors should eat a moderate meal prior to donating, and also bring identification featuring their signature.

On occasion, last-minute changes to scheduling for a donation event will occur. As a result, it is recommended that anyone planning to donate blood at a Vitalant donation event call (201) 251-3703, toll free, to confirm timing and location details. Additional information about donating blood is also available by clicking here.

About Vitalant in New Jersey

A not-for-profit organization that supplies blood and blood products to hospitals in the NJ/NY region, Bergen County-based Vitalant (previously Community Blood Services) has been devoted to serving the community’s transfusion medicine needs since 1953. Donations of blood and blood products, umbilical cord blood, stem cells, and bone marrow help to join individuals, organizations, businesses, and entire communities together in partnership to help save lives.

About Vitalant

Arizona-based Vitalant is among the nation’s oldest and largest transfusion medical organizations in the U.S.  Founded in 1943, its blood centers division serves some 700 hospitals across the United States. A founding member of America’s Blood Centers and the AABB (formerly the American Association of Blood Banks), Vitalant also operates biological products distribution services, a quality consulting group, and a world-renowned transfusion medicine research institute. It also is a partner in the operation of high-volume donor testing laboratories.

MORRIS COUNTY — With early Spring food drives and fundraisers cancelled, and increased numbers of county residents in need of food as they are out of work due to the COVID-19 situation, food providers and soup kitchens across Morris County are in need of some help.

In addition to a need for food, these nonprofit providers also need supplies, such as forks, spoons, to-go boxes, sandwich bags, and other items for their operations.

It is not just the larger pantries and kitchens that could use a boost, but also smaller providers, many of which normally rely on local churches for donations. But with church, synagogue and mosque services temporarily cancelled, donations collected and dispersed through the generosity of congregations, and by members of  local organizations, such as the county’s YMCAs, have dried up.

From the Interfaith Food Pantry:

“Under normal circumstances, we rely heavily on this April fundraiser to provide food to clients through the Spring and into the Fall. We are now facing an unprecedented challenge as demand is picking up and we are bracing for an influx of unemployed workers. Now more than ever, please consider supporting our efforts.

There are many providers of food and meals in Morris County. Here is a list with contact information:

Boonton:

• Boonton Food Pantry (973) 402-9419 ext.634
• Evangel Church of God (973) 263-1787
• Women’s Infants and Children’s Clinic (WIC) 800-427-3244

Denville:

• Denville Food Pantry (973) 625-8300 ext.269
• St. Clare’s Meals on Wheels (973) 625-6010

Florham Park:

• Holy Family Church (973) 377-7190

Hanover Township:

• First Presbyterian Church of Whippany (973) 887-2197

Madison:

• Meals on Wheels (973) 593-3095

Montville:

• Kiwanis Food Pantry (973) 216-7649

Morris Plains:

• Interfaith Food Pantry (973) 538-8049 ext. 12

Parsippany:

• Parsippany Christian Church 973-335-6387
• Parsippany Food Pantry (973) 263-7163
• St. Peter’s Food Pantry 973-334-2090

LIVINGSTON — Raymond A. Mignone, 95, born in Newark, Raymond was a longtime resident of Livingston.

A graduate of Newark State Teachers College and Seton Hall School of Business, Raymond received his MA and Doctoral Equivalency in Special Education from Seton Hall University.

Raymond was a WWII Navy veteran who served as a Medical and Dental Corpsman. His sea service included deployments on an Attack Transport Ship and Sea Plane Tenders. He also served with the U.S. Naval Construction Force (Seabees) and was attached to the U.S. Marine Corps on the island of Okinawa during the Pacific War. His father and brother also served during the war.

Raymond lived his passion through his career as a teacher. He taught in Newark and Orange before teaching and retiring from Hillside School in Livingston. He enjoyed spending time helping students before and after school and during lunchtime and had a lasting positive impact on many. He was respected by his fellow educators who recognized him as a devoted and dedicated teacher to all.

He was also a dedicated parishioner of St Philomena’s Church in Livingston, having served as a money counter and with the healing masses and various events.

Raymond was predeceased by his parents Joseph and Dora; brother, Roland; and sister, Dorothy Farinella. He survived by his loving wife, Catherine Mignone, and their two children, Mary Kay Alberto and her husband Steve of Livingston, James and his wife Lena of Whippany; his four grandchildren, Christine, Cathy, Stephanie, Christopher, and his great-granddaughter Charlotte Rae. He loved his family above all and was always there to give advice, share stories and celebrate life.

Raymond was an amazing person, touching the lives of everyone he met. He was beloved by all of his friends and former students. His wise remarks fooled everyone, but his brain contained much more than that. He loved to read, do puzzles and cook. He cooked meals for his friends who were ill and confined to their homes.

Funeral services are being privately held under the direction of the LaMonica Memorial Home in Livingston. A Mass of Christian Burial to celebrate Raymond’s life will be held at a later date.

MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Board of Freeholders is announcing changes to its scheduled Monday, April 6 county government meetings.

The board was supposed to hold its public session as a “road meeting” in Long Hill on the evening of April 6. Instead, due to the COVID-19 situation, the freeholders will not meet in that municipality.

The Freeholder Board work session that had been scheduled for Monday, April 6, at 4:30 p.m. in Morristown has been cancelled.

The Board’s public meeting will be held, as scheduled, on April 6 at 7:00 p.m.. But it has been changed to a phone-in only meeting, with county residents invited to phone in to listen and to be allowed to comments during the public comment period.

Residents are invited to attend the April 6 meeting:

Call: 1-201-546-5293

Guest Passcode: 439862

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County, in coordination with Atlantic Health System, will open a COVID-19 drive-thru testing center for Morris County residents only, located at the County College of Morris (CCM) in Randolph starting Monday, March 30. Registration started Sunday at 10:00 a.m.

The Morris County COVID-19 Drive-Thru Testing Site will be located at CCM, Dover Chester Road, Randolph, NJ 07869. Residents will need to use the Dover Chester Road entrance in order to access the site by clicking here.

Residents must show up in a vehicle and must have an appointment in order to access the testing site – you cannot walk through the testing center. Residents will need to display identification and will need to have a printed copy of a COVID-19 medical prescription from a Physician.

Important: Only residents who have a prescription from a medical doctor or medical provider AND who have pre-scheduled an appointment for testing through the county’s COVID-19 appointment portal will be allowed to enter the testing site.

For information and to make an appointment residents should click here.

The Morris County Office of Emergency Management and Office of Health Management are creating the drive-thru center in partnership with Atlantic Health System, whose staff will collect the samples. Other partners in this venture include the County College of Morris, Morris County Sheriff’s Office, Morris County Park Police Department, and the Randolph Township Police Department.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Testing is scheduled between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
• To be tested, residents MUST:
  • have a COVID-19 test prescription from a healthcare provider
  • read and acknowledge the consent form (click here)
  • make an appointment
• Persons WILL be turned away if they don’t meet all of these qualifications.
• Residents with a prescription can move forward to scheduling an appointment after acknowledging the waiver.
• Please sign up for an appointment by clicking here.
• Residents may not sign up for an appointment until they get a prescription from a healthcare provider. If a resident is symptomatic, call your doctor as soon as possible. Visit CDC for information on symptoms, click here.
• There is no charge for the test

ARRIVING AT THE TESTING CENTER:

• Your ID (any others that have an appointment in same vehicle) and appointment verification for all potential clients will be confirmed before entry is permitted.
• NO photographing or video recording is permitted
• Please pay attention to all signage which is in English and Spanish
• ALL vehicle windows must remain CLOSED
• DO NOT ROLL DOWN ANY VEHICLE WINDOW until instructed to do so
• Do NOT move forward until instructed to do so
• There are no emergency services available at the testing location. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please go to the nearest hospital emergency room or dial 911
• To get your test results, visit the patient portal by clicking here.

If you have questions, you can call the County Hotline at 973-829-8250, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 29, and then from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information on COVID-19 and Morris County’s response click here.

PARSIPPANY — Nothing stops Kiwanis. Our volunteers are always ready and willing to serve. Each month, Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany, purchases food, cooks food and serves the guests at Homeless Solutions.

This month, due to the Coronavirus, instead of our volunteers preparing the meals in the kitchen at the shelter, Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany, still fulfilled their monthly volunteering and had the food catered by IHOP Parsippany and IHOP Cedar Knolls. Board member Nicolas Limanov coordinated the preparation and delivery of the food.

With donations from Morris Plains Chick-fil-A, Restaurant Depot and ShopRite of Greater Morristown, Kiwanis Club was able to donate four trays of baked ziti, two trays of meatballs (750 meatballs), two trays of tossed salad and 100 cupcakes.

The Kiwanis Club has been providing meals to Homeless Solutions for the past 19 years and have served over 7,000 meals. Members volunteer their time to shop, cook and serve the dinner.

Homeless Solutions

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Homeless Solutions, “Providing a Hand UP, Not a HandOUT.” They offer shelter, services, and supportive housing to the homeless and working poor in Morris County, New Jersey.

Interested in learning more about the Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany, contact Committee Chairperson Laura Wohland, by emailing law4pres@gmail.com, or Frank Cahill, President Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany at (862) 213-2200.

MORRIS COUNTY — Acting on a commitment to provide financial relief to New Jersey homeowners, Governor Phil Murphy announced that financial institutions will provide mortgage forbearance and financial protections for New Jerseyans facing economic hardship as a result COVID-19.

“Millions of hardworking New Jerseyans are suffering financial losses through no fault of their own as a result of the economic downturn brought on by COVID-19,” said Governor Murphy. “With this initiative, we can ensure that no one loses their home during this public health crisis. I commend our private sector partners for doing their part to reduce financial uncertainty for New Jersey families.”

Building on a similar initiative in California, Governor Murphy secured support from Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America, in addition to over 40 other federal and state-chartered banks,  credit unions, and services to protect New Jersey homeowners. More financial institutions are expected to sign on in the coming days.  The New Jersey Bankers Association, CrossState Credit Union Association, and the Mortgage Bankers Association of New Jersey have endorsed this initiative and are encouraging all their members to adopt these policies.

Under Governor Murphy’s proposal, New Jerseyans who are struggling financially as a result of COVID-19 may be eligible for the following relief upon contacting their financial institution:

90-Day Grace Period for Mortgage Payments
Financial institutions will offer, consistent with applicable guidelines, mortgage payment forbearances of up to 90 days to borrowers economically impacted by COVID-19. In addition, those institutions will:

• Provide borrowers a streamlined process to request a forbearance for COVID-19-related reasons, supported with available documentation;
• Confirm approval of and terms of forbearance program; and
• Provide borrowers the opportunity to request additional relief, as practicable, upon continued showing of hardship due to COVID-19.

No Negative Credit Impacts Resulting from Relief
Financial institutions will not report derogatory tradelines (e.g., late payments) to credit reporting agencies, consistent with applicable guidelines, for borrowers taking advantage of COVID-19-related relief.
Moratorium on Initiating Foreclosure Sales or Evictions
>For at least 60 days, financial institutions will not initiate foreclosure sales or evictions, consistent with applicable guidelines.
Relief from Fees and Charges
For at least 90 days, financial institutions will waive or refund at least the following for customers who have requested assistance:

• Mortgage-related late fees; and
• Other fees, including early CD withdrawals (subject to applicable federal regulations).

Please note that financial institutions and their servers are experiencing high volumes of inquiries and may recommend using online services when available for the quickest service. Loans held by a financial institution may be serviced by another company.

Last week, Governor Murphy signed Executive Order No. 106, which imposed a moratorium on removing individuals from their homes pursuant to an eviction or foreclosure proceeding while the Order is in effect. Tenants cannot be asked to leave their homes for nonpayment of rent during this time.

Governor Murphy also announced that the Department of Community Affairs received an additional $13 million in federal funds as part of its annual renewal for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program.  These funds, based on the increased utilization New Jersey achieved in the program last year, are critical to helping current voucher tenants maintain their housing stability during the coming year.