You can't miss the Clark American Legion with its authentic US Army helicopter perched on the front lawn (not to mention the cannon). Located at the corner of Liberty Street and Westfield Avenue, this post is known as a children and youth post because it makes many donations to youth organizations in town throughout the year. Members collect cookies for disabled veterans and used cell phones to ship to soldiers. It will accept and burn tattered American flags in a respectful ceremony. The indoor hall is available for rent with a capacity of 105 people; the outdoor pavillion is available for warm-weather parties. Besides organizing observances for Memorial Day and Veterans Day, the Legion hosts lots of events throughout the year, such as a Halloween party and steak nights in the pavillion.
Calico Cat Thrift Shoppe Cupboard & Pantry sells new and gently used merchandise. Money raised through sales goes to local and non profit groups to assist the homeless and others who are in financial crisis.
Calico Cat Thrift Shoppe is run by The Community Outreach Group, Inc. All of the items in the store are donated. There is also a food pantry and cupboard.
The cupboard offers clothing and household items free of charge to families who have been referred by municipal and Monmouth County agencies and shelter programs. The food pantry provides emergency food by referral without charge.
The Elks are a fraternal organization founded in 1868, although the organization had previously existed under the name of Jolly Corks. The first lodge was formed in New York City.
The local lodge is focused on Maplewood and Irvington as well as South Orange and hosts a pancake breakfast every second Sunday of the month. Other fundraising events include a golf outing in July and a pig roast in September.
Funds go toward sponsoring handicapped children at Elks Camp Moore, giving scholarships, and donating to charities like the Our Lady of Sorrows food pantry.
The Elks have a house on Prospect Street with a parking lot at the back. They have a meeting every other Monday. The bar is open to members on Monday and Friday nights.
The Exalted Ruler is James F. Walsh, Jr.; the secretary is Robert Donnelly. There are about 190 members.
Community Solutions is a non-profit organization offering treatment and counseling for children and adults that have been referred from the adult criminal justice systems, social service agencies and the federal juvenile system. Community Solutions offers in-patient substance abuse treatment and anger management, as well as parent and family counseling. Community Solutions also offers job training, transitional housing assistance and functional family therapy. Community Solutions has been in operation for over four decades. Visit Community Solutions's official website for additional information.
The Harmony House is a transitional housing program that helps families move from homelessness to permanent housing. This location can accommodate up to 102 families and residents are offered on-site childcare, job training and other resources provided by the New Community Network, a community development organization that helps families with emergency food assistance, housing, education and employment.
The Deutscher Club was established in 1935 by a local group of German immigrants who wanted to preserve and honor their heritage. Started in a Rahway deli, the club moved to its present location in 1969, and aims to be an oasis for German-Americans in New Jersey. The club is well-known for its summer picnics, live music and Biergarten nights, and also hosts social events, Friday and Saturday evening dinners, dances and more throughout the year, many of which are open to the public. The Deutscher Club is the largest German-American club in the state, and the second largest in the country. The organization also works to advance German education through financial support of cultural institutions and annual college scholarships.
Founded by the New Jersey State Bar Association, the Community Health Law Project is a nonprofit legal aid and civil advocacy group focused on serving the low-income disabled, providing support in matters of negotiation, litigation and discrimination. Its south New Jersey branch is located within the Station House Office Building on Haddon Avenue.
Friends of the Springfield Free Public Library is an organization that supports the Springfield Free Public Library through monetary contributions and event coordination. The group organizes fundraising events and much of the free programming held at the library, spreading awareness and appreciation for this public resource.
Newark Housing Authority is a nonprofit organization. It offers housing at affordable levels to low-income residents of Newark. There are approximately 10,000 housing units it manages. These housing units include townhouses, family developments and housing for the elderly and disabled.
The Leaguers Inc. is one of the oldest African-American nonprofits in New Jersey. With locations across Newark, it operates as a head start program for youth in the area and offers a number homeschooling services, parenting classes and summer camps. For more information regarding classes provided, call the office.
This is a township-run pet shelter and adoption facility. Pets can be directly adopted for a fee, and they run pet adoption fairs at Petsmart in the Shop-Rite Shopping Center on Saturdays.
The shelter tries to help with food and other services to pet owners who find it difficult to pay for the care of their companion animals. Donations are accepted, and volunteers are always needed.
New Hope Village is a housing complex owned by the New Hope Baptist Church, which is located on Sussex Avenue. The complex occupies one tower building and several two-story structures. Residents can use the day care center, which has space for over eighty children from ages two to five, as well as a parking lot and a playground area. The building has security guards to help protect residents and the area, as well as an on-site health center, which is operated by the UMDNJ School of Nursing.