Project Self Sufficiency making the ultimate move

Newton - For 20 years, Project Self Sufficiency has been helping teen, single and displaced parents and low income families throughout Sussex County. Now it’s Project Self Sufficiency’s turn to look to the county’s businesses and residents for help with their latest mission before the new year arrives. Project Self Sufficiency as it exists today began in July 1986 in a tight space in what was then Sussex County Vo-Tech. At that time, it was a federal program with the same name, but mostly it helped with finding affordable housing for those with low incomes. It expanded its services in 1984, with a grant to serve 50 families in Sussex County. Later, the staff and volunteers of what was by then a non-profit organization realized that the needs of women and families in Sussex County was growing. When the group made the move in 1994 to route 206 in Newton, they thought they had it made. They had a larger space and were right in the center of the county seat, giving them perfect exposure. Another expansion gave them an outreach on Spring Street. Now, 12 years after the move from Sparta, they are expanding for what the staff hopes to be one last time. Each move enabled them to offer more services to more families in Sussex County. This time, they will move to a 5.5-acre site across from Sussex County Community College on route 519/Mill Street. The new campus had it’s groundbreaking ceremony in June, and currently the foundations are underway. Executive Director Deborah Berry-Toon hopes to be in the new buildings by Fall 2007. This property will have four buildings on it. The main building will have a gathering space for larger classes and seminars, the Family Counseling Center and the Career Training and Employment Center. This building will house case management, family and individual counseling services; computer classes in four computer labs; a woman’s working wardrobe center and a food pantry for emergency food; and the legal center which provides legal education, consultation, court accompaniment and advocacy. Along side this new building is The Center for Family Literacy in The Brick House. The Brick House is a historic building which will include a children’s library, a reading room, the Family Literacy Learning Lab, an adult literacy room, a meeting porch and four additional counseling offices. Across a large parking lot will be two separate buildings - the Community Education Center, with a large meeting room, a kitchen, two education rooms and a gathering area; and the Little Sprouts Day Care in it’s new building with space for 81 children. Little Sprouts provides day care for PSS clients and the general public. The increased space will allow PSS to help more Sussex County families that PSS will be able to help. A large campus on a major road will also gain more visibility which will make others in need aware of the organization. How can the public help now? PSS has already raised more than $8 million, and has only about $200,000 to go before reaching the fundraising goal. Thanks to the generosity of area businesses and residents, they are almost there. “Sussex County community has been tremendously generous. It’s a testament to the community to see how they are so willing to help those in need,” said Berry-Toon. With their goal so close at hand, they are asking the public once more to lend a helping hand. “If we are able to raise the $200,000 and meet our goal before January 1, we’ll be able to take advantage of a Kresge Challenge Grant for $435,000 that we’ve been awarded,” said Berry-Toon. Another challenge grant has been issued by a local generous supporter, which will match each dollar donated up to $2 million from this past June to December 31. Other generous businesses include Selective Insurance Group, Ronetco (Shoprite) and Frank Alloca, of Intercar Mercedes and Sussex Honda. Alloca will match up to $50,000 of this months donations. PSS’s own board of directors have been very generous as well. There are two ways to donate to the PSS Campaign. You can make an immediate pledge or a five-year pledge, which allows the amount pledged to be split into five yearly payments. To help Project Self Sufficiency reach it’s goal before the new year, call 973-383-5129 or you can mail a check to P.O. Box 322 Sparta, NJ 07871.