MORRIS COUNTY — Jessica Bartelloni, along with Kimmy Hughes spearhead an organization called Project Glow Gold. Project Glow Gold was established to give hope, love, and strength to children fighting cancer. Items collected are sorted into small baskets and care packages.

All packages are then given to children 18 years of age or younger who are undergoing chemotherapy treatments. It is their goal to give these children something to look forward to and to brighten their days. This is the second year running this organization with a goal of 5,000 items.

Last Year, 4,287 items were collected. Bartelloni and Hughes’ goal is to get as much as the community involved as possible. Any donation either monetary or items would be greatly appreciated.

Drop off locations are at Palermo’s, 831 Route 10, Whippany and Kids World Pediatric Dentistry, 218 Ridgedale Avenue, Cedar Knolls.

There is also a GoFundMe page, which can be accessed by clicking here.

The items we are looking for are posted below:
Girls and Boys Toys
-Nail Polish
-Makeup & Cosmetic Bags
-Headbands
-Lip balms
-Barbies/Dolls
-Action Figures
-Toy Cars and Trucks
-Crayons
-Colored Pencils
-Markers
-Playdoug
-Paints
-Stickers
-Coloring Books
-Crosswords/Word Searches
-Books up to 18
-Stressballs
-Gift Cards
-Gum
-Anti-Nausea Wristbands
-Fuzzy Socks
-Card and Board Games
-Lokai Bracelets

*Please: NO jewelry, perfume/lotion, stuffed animals/dolls

EAST HANOVER — The Two Kids Foundation will presents its 10th Annual Charity Event on Friday, March 29 from 6:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. The event this year feature a Casino Night and Tricky Tray and will be held at Hanover Manor, 16 Eagle Rock Avenue.

The admission price of $100.00 will cover an extensive buffet, complimentary four hour open bar and $50.00 in gaming chips and a chance to win $250 AMEX gift card.

Support a great foundation, all proceeds will benefit families of children with cancer and other serious health disorders.

For more information or tickets call (973) 886-9220, or click here. Like them on facebook Two Kids Foundation.

The Two Kids Foundation is a non profit organization in which our primary goal is to raise money to help children that have been diagnosed with cancer and other serious health disorders and diseases.

When a child is diagnosed with cancer the most common types of treatment are surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.

The cost of these treatments among many other expenses that will be incurred can be a devastating financial strain to the family.

With the help of volunteers, local businesses, and people like you, they can help these families offset some of the expenses.

TRENTON — Under fire for its nepotistic hiring practices, the Schools Development Authority would be eliminated under a new bill sponsored by Assemblyman Christopher DePhillips. The bill (A4908) would transfer the agency’s functions to the Economic Development Authority, which already provides the financing for school construction.

“This latest S.D.A. hiring scandal proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Trenton needs to take an entirely new approach to our school construction dollars. The S.D.A. has lost the trust of the people of New Jersey, and the taxpayers must be protected against further mismanagement and corrupt hiring practices,” said DePhillips (R-Bergen). “It is time for the Assembly to take up my bi-partisan legislation to abolish the S.D.A. and consolidate its functions within the E.D.A.”

The S.D.A. was created to manage the construction and improvement of schools in 31 of the state’s poorest communities; however, the E.D.A. has remained responsible for financing the construction projects. Currently, the S.D.A. is charged with managing almost $11 billion in school facilities projects in the former Abbott districts.

Recently, the S.D.A. has been at the center of scrutiny by both Republicans and Democrats for replacing 26 tenured staff with 38 extremely well-paid individuals, many of whom have questionable qualifications and personal relationships with Governor Phil Murphy’s top staff. The S.D.A. is also currently under investigation by the state’s Select Oversight Committee for the hiring of a former chief of staff who had been accused of rape.

“The E.D.A. has always retained its legal authority to finance school construction. Pure and simple, the S.D.A. is a duplicative agency that is not needed,” said DePhillips. “This good-government legislation will streamline this area of state government and save taxpayers millions of dollars.”

MORRIS COUNTY — March is Red Cross Month and the American Red Cross New Jersey Region asks people to be a hero for others by becoming a volunteer, learning lifesaving skills, giving blood or donating to #help1family on Red Cross Giving Day, March 27.

“During Red Cross Month, we are proud to recognize our volunteers who provide hope and urgent relief to families in need every day,” said Rosie Taravella, CEO, American Red Cross New Jersey Region. “These heroes are our neighbors who give blood, save lives with skills like first aid and CPR, offer support services to our military service members and their families, or provide care and comfort to families devastated by crises like home fires. We honor our volunteers and ask you to join them and make a difference.”

More than 75 years ago, March was first proclaimed Red Cross Month in 1943 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to raise awareness of the organization and its humanitarian mission. All U.S. presidents since Roosevelt have designated March as Red Cross Month to recognize how the American Red Cross helps people across the country and around the world through its workforce powered by more than 90 percent volunteers.

During March, several iconic New Jersey locations and landmarks will be illuminated RED to recognize Red Cross Month, including the Battleship New Jersey in Camden, the Prudential Center Marquee in Newark, and the New Jersey State House on March 18.

EVERY DAY, VOLUNTEERS HELP
Every eight minutes in the U.S., the Red Cross connects with a family who has lost everything to a home fire or other disaster—the roof over their heads, their clothes, their most cherished possessions. This past year was no exception—and the need continues today.

Last year, Red Cross volunteers helped millions of people reeling from a second consecutive year of record wildfires, hurricanes, tragic shootings and other large disasters across the country. More than 200 volunteer heroes from New Jersey deployed to other states to help deliver urgent relief and care in people’s darkest hours.

This winter, home fires continue to upend lives and Red Cross volunteers are there to help. In February alone, Red Cross volunteers assisted more than 500 people in 200 families affected by at least 66 home fires in New Jersey during the short month.

HOW YOU CAN HELP #help1family

• Become a volunteer: Help families affected by disasters and install lifesaving smoke alarms to keep neighbors safe from home fires. You can also provide emergency assistance for military members and veterans, or help reconnect families separated by international conflict.
• Give blood: Make an appointment to donate lifesaving blood or platelets.
• Learn lifesaving skills: Register for a class to learn first aid, CPR and other skills.
• Make a financial donation: On March 27—American Red Cross Giving Day—donate at redcross.org/givingday, uniting with thousands of people like you to help families during the first devastating hours of a disaster. Your gift can provide hope and urgent relief, like food, shelter and other essentials, for families who need it most.

New Jersey residents can help support the Red Cross while filing their 2018 NJ State Tax Returns. Donations can be made by checking box 64 on the NJ-1040 Form and entering Code 14 for the American Red Cross-NJ Fund.

People can find information about Red Cross Month events, volunteer opportunities, blood donation and other ways to support the work of the Red Cross by clicking here.