Operation Holiday® Accepting Applications; Donors Invited to “Adopt"

POWER CHANGES LIVES INC® has launched Operation Holiday® with anticipation of another successful holiday season helping those in need. This year, the geographic coverage includes New Jersey and Connecticut where individuals, families, seniors, the homeless and our “neighbors in need” can apply for adoption by our generous donors.

The holidays are often a huge struggle for families, especially in a COVID-19 world where the new normal includes the loss the family members, head of household, unemployment and long-haulers who contracted COVID-19 and now suffer from chronic health conditions – together, POWER and our amazing community are here to help” said Penelope Lopez, President and CEO.

Generous donors have “adopted” over 800 individuals, families, seniors and the homeless. Individuals and families, through agency referrals were able to enjoy the holiday season without the stress and embarrassment of not being able to celebrate with their families. Seniors were provided Kindle Fire 7 tablets pre-programmed with life-saving technologies connecting them to their physicians (telehealth) to manage chronic conditions, pharmacies, grocery stores, and family wellness checks. The homeless were provided charitable gift cards from Walmart to purchase food and toiletries. This year, POWER has expanded its program to include all of New Jersey and Connecticut.

Watch Penelope Lopez, President and CEO (aka “Mrs. Claus”) surprise unsuspecting shoppers at Walmart by purchasing their carts full of Christmas gifts: https://youtu.be/d3g3fhK2wj0

INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, SENIORS, THE HOMELESS AND NEIGHBORS IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE

The application portal is now open and will close promptly at 11:59 PM on November 30th for those in need of assistance for the holidays. Applicants seeking assistance can either “self-certify” their need or have applications placed on their behalf by agencies and community organizations who will receive priority application processing.

DONORS INVITED TO “ADOPT” INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES

Donors are invited to “adopt” those in need of assistance this holiday season. The adoption period ends at 11:59 pm on December 31, 2022. All donations are 100% tax-deductible and will be issued a tax-receipt by January 31, 2023. The process to adopt has been simplified to ensure the donor-adoptee process is as seamless as possible:

• Visit the Operation Holiday® website at: https://operationholiday.net
• Select DONORS > ADOPT from the menu bar
• Select OPEN ADOPTIONS (NJ) or OPEN ADOPTIONS (CT)
• View the open adoptions – read background stories of applicants need for assistance
• Select the ID number for the adoption (applicant names are masked until after the donor has completed the checkout process confirming their adoption).
• Add to cart and checkout
• Receive an email confirmation of your order (pledge)
• Within 48 hours you will be contacted by the Operation Holiday® team providing you with the full name of the applicant, address and shipping information (or in-person delivery)

The Operation Holiday® Team processes over 200 applications for each State. The site is updated throughout the day with new applications as well as notification of “sold out” adoptions that have been pledged by other donors and no longer available. While we are in the process of loading hundreds of applications, donors are suggested to use the Donor Registry to sign-up as interested in participating and be notified of the latest updates or simply check the website for new applicants. The first round of applicant open adoptions (New Jersey) has been uploaded on Monday, November 14, 2022. Connecticut open adoptions will be uploaded on Tuesday, November 15, 2022. Donors are reminded to check back to the site frequently for additional applicants that may become available for adoption.

Organizations who wish to adopt multiple families, please contact Operation Holiday at (973) 866-5531 ext. 143 or by reply email to arrange private access to the applicant database, to make your selection(s) and have the adoptions removed from public view on our website.

• Donors can “adopt” a family immediately through the Operation Holiday website. Family identifiers are not disclosed to protect privacy; however, the family background and wish list are provided to give donors a full understanding of the need.
• After adoption, the family’s full contact information is provided by email with how to ship (or hand-deliver) the gifts directly to the household or community organization.
• Donors who wish to adopt, are reminded to thoroughly review the wish list, and, if unable to fully commit to purchasing the items requested by the family or individual, encouraged to consider making a cash donation.
• Donors can also “Support a Senior” by purchasing a Kindle Fire Tablet, or by purchasing a Walmart Gift Card to “Help the Homeless” and ship directly to POWER. All donations are 100% tax-deductible. Receipts will be mailed to all donors by January 31st, 2023.
• Cash and stock donations can be made by visiting: https://operationholiday.net/donate or by mailing a check to the Morris Plains, NJ home office.

2022 Year-End Fundraising Goal: LavaLove®

This year, in addition to helping those in need during the holidays, Operation Holiday® seeks financial donations for LavaLove® providing access to clean, hot water, and over 8,000 showers per year, with wrap-around services and support to the sheltered and unsheltered homeless. LavaLove® is New Jersey’s first mobile-hygiene shower trailer for the homeless. Our 29-foot mobile trailer is self-sustainable and equipped with three (3) custom-designed shower-sink-toilets, washing machine and dryer, and ancillary services room for medical, dental, optometry and mental health services. LavaLove® has served over 1,000 guests since its deployment in August 2022 at the first pilot site location in Orange, NJ. Volunteers are in great demand to serve those in need as our rapid expansion will serve each of the twenty-one (21) counties in New Jersey by 2024. Watch LavaLove® in action at our Orange, NJ location and our sold-out FREE community event “S.H.O.W. LavaLove®” hosted annual in Trenton, NJ and Atlantic City, NJ where thousands are served in one day.

POWER CHANGES LIVES INC ("POWER”) (People Organized Working Evolving Reaching) mission is to provide low-income, minority, and underserved communities the capacity to build and thrive, creating sustainable futures eliminating disparities in aging, education, finance, food insecurity, health, housing wellness, and social justice and reform. To learn more about POWER, visit https://powerchangeslives.com

POWER CHANGES LIVES INC

403 Welsh Place

Morris Plains, NJ 07950-2954

(973) 866-5531 EXT 101

CHARITABLE TAX ID: 83-1855848

https://operationholiday.net