WESTFIELD — The Westfield Service League (WSL) membership recently voted to approve $90,482 in grants to 41 civic and service organizations serving the residents of Westfield and Union County. The funds are raised from the thrift and consignment shops that the WSL operates in Westfield and donations from the community.
“I’m thrilled that because of the devotion of our shoppers, consignors and donors and the wonderful work of our staff and volunteers, we were able to award the largest amount in several years to local nonprofit organizations,” said Grants Committee Chair Sylvia A. Martinez. “It is always rewarding to fund tried-and-true nonprofit and service organizations doing good work in our communities, as well as new organizations, all vetted by our dedicated grants committee members. Not only do customers of our shops help the planet, they help so many people in our community.”
This year’s grant recipients included organizations helping children with cancer and their families, seniors with Alzheimer’s, after-school and summer programs for underserved children, arts organizations, a suicide-prevention hotline, and other important community services.
“We are grateful for the ongoing support of the WSL Thrift and Consignment Shop customers and the more than 175 volunteers who work tirelessly in our shops processing the clothing that is donated or consigned, maintaining our house where the shops are housed, vetting the organizations which receive funding, and all of the other activities that go into running our organization,” said Gigi Tilocca, co-chair of the Grants Committee.
Each year, the 11-member Grants Committee vets the organizations. Vetting includes a meeting with a representative of the organization, usually on site, and a review of the organization’s financial statements and its application. The committee then meets to discuss each organization and makes its recommendations to the full membership for approval.
“We want to thank all of the members of the committee for their hard work in making sure that the money we raise goes to the best possible programs in deserving organizations,” said Susan McClelland and Karen Salemme, co-presidents of the WSL.
Grants were given to nine new organizations this year, among them Josephine’s Place, which provides workshops to teach women how to start home- based businesses; Trinitas Foundation, to provide lymphedema products to patients undergoing treatment for breast cancer; and Valerie’s Soup Kitchen, to help provide meals for the homeless. For a complete list of the organizations that received funding, visit thewestfieldserviceleague.org.
The WSL shops are located at 114 Elmer Street, Westfield, and are open Tuesday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information about donations or volunteering, call (908) 233-2530 for the thrift shop or (908) 232-1223 for the consignment shop.
The Westfield Service League invites the community to visit its website at thewestfieldserviceleague.org and to follow the League on Facebook and Instagram for notices of sales and special items.
