The Hispanic Family Center of Southern New Jersey (HFC), a 2024 grant recipient, provides comprehensive programs and services that address the immediate needs (physical, mental, social, and economic) of the residents of Southern New Jersey, as well as establishes the organization as an instrument of change and a voice of power for those they serve and represent. The $27,500 General Operating Grant is unrestricted funding, however HFC will use the funds towards the project outlined in their core mission grant application to create a Mental Health Healing Garden. It will serve a wide variety of populations and be used by their existing mental health, substance use, and domestic violence programs as a place for therapeutic activities and group counseling sessions.
Update on the Mental Health Healing Garden
HFC has engaged Community Design Collaborative, an organization that provides pro-bono preliminary design services to nonprofits, to kick start their garden design process. The Community Design Collaborative is helping HFC navigate the landscape design process and is providing the tools needed to engage stakeholders, put their visions down on paper, and to advance the project to the next stage: gaining support, raising funds, and building projects. The Collaborative matches nonprofits with skilled volunteers such as architects, landscape architects, preservationists, interior designers, urban planners, engineers, cost estimators, and other experts. Their volunteers work alongside nonprofits to engage the community and other stakeholders through the design process, help identify program and space needs, evaluate options, estimate project costs, and illustrate the vision with renderings and plans.
During the first weeks of January HFC will be hosting Community Engagement Sessions where they will invite clients, community, and other stakeholders to share THEIR vision for the garden space. The HFC leadership shared, “We believe it is important to incorporate our neighbors’ thoughts and ideas into the project because it will be their space as well as ours. We will extend an invitation to Impact100 SJ to join us at the Community Engagement Sessions as soon as the dates are finalized!”
Holiday Drive Update
HFC has partnered with Impact100 SJ 2023 grantee Habitat for Humanity of South Central New Jersey (Habitat SCNJ) for their first ever holiday donation collection! “Santa’s Toy-Letry Drive” aims to support displaced families and individuals in crisis by providing immediate relief through donations of much needed hygiene products and toiletry items. These items will be distributed to survivors in their Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault programs who have a great need for toiletry items when they are living in emergency safe housing.
All Habitat ReStore locations in South Jersey will serve as collection points for the public to drop off items such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, and other personal care essentials. The drive runs from November 1st to December 15th, 2024.