Neighbor News
LavaLove® Mobile Showers for the Homeless Coming to New York
Bringing dignity back to the sheltered and unsheltered water-insecure.
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It’s with great pleasure, POWER CHANGES LIVES INC ("POWER”) (People Organized Working Evolving Reaching) introduces LavaLove®. Our 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.
POWER is pleased to announce the launch of LavaLove® as one of our newest programs restoring dignity in those overlooked and often “invisible” based on their sheltered and unsheltered housing status. LavaLove®, through a radical hospitality approach, ensures we are meeting the needs of our guests by listening to what they tell us they need – not what we think they want. Our 29’ custom mobile 3-unit shower, sink, toilet, washing machine, dryer, barber station and social service/resource center will make its debut at the ribbon-cutting ceremony planned for January, 2022 and will host a ‘soft launch” in Morristown, NJ on December 11, 2021. LavaLove® will rapidly expand to provide mobile hygiene trailers in Essex County (Newark, NJ - June, 2022), Passaic County (Paterson, NJ - June, 2022), New York City (June, 2022), Camden County (Camden, NJ - December, 2022), Mercer County (Trenton, NJ - December, 2022) and Atlantic County (Atlantic City, NJ - December, 2022). The cost of each trailer is $85,000 and an additional $60,000 to cover operating expenses.
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LavaLove® will operate a minimum of three (3) days per week (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday), for 6 hours per day providing hot showers, meals, haircuts and access to ancillary services (Medical, Dental and Optometry). We are seeking volunteers of all ages throughout New Jersey to assist with the operations of LavaLove® in various capacities. Our full portfolio describing our daily operations can be found here.
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** WATCH OUR LavaLove® VIDEO here **
If you are interested in becoming a LavaLove® volunteer, please review the open positions and sign up here. Training will be held to prepare the volunteers for the upcoming deployment and ongoing operations.
Find out what's happening in Long Islandwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
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Supplies are in great need and support the daily operations of LavaLove®, used to ensure each guest is provided superior services. Supplies can be purchased, or DIY assembled as an individual, family, or group project and shipped directly to us at 403 Welsh Place, Morris Plains, NJ 07950.
- Backpacks filled with hygiene supplies can be purchased here.
- Crud cloths to provide “on the go” personal hygiene washing can be purchased here complete listing of>
- Brand new clothing (underwear, personal care/toiletries, towels, socks) are also in great need and can be shipped (or dropped off) at our Morris Plains, NJ location.
Purchase of each customized, handicap accessible mobile hygiene trailers and initial deployment cost $140,000 per trailer. Financial donations to support LavaLove® operations and our rapid expansion plan to ensure all of New Jersey has mobile hygiene services can be made online on our website https://lavalovenj.com/donate. Donations can be made by check, credit card, stock donation and cryptocurrency.
There are also opportunities for you to place your legacy, honor a loved one and support your community advertising on the trailer wrapping. These spaces are first-come, first-served and can be purchased directly on Eventbrite.
OUR PARTNERS AND SPONSORS
Join our partners to expanding our services and reach to those who need it the most.
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For more information, please visit https://lavalovenj.com or send an email to [email protected].
POWER CHANGES LIVES INC
Penelope Lopez, President and CEO
403 Welsh Place
Morris Plains, NJ 07950
(973) 866-5531
CHARITABLE TAX ID: 83-1855848