2020-2021 League Accomplishments
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Accomplishments of the 2020 – 2021 League Year  
  
General League  
  • The pandemic did not stop the JLEP as Members enjoyed virtual social events throughout the year including holiday cocktails, yoga classes and a Pilates/yoga fusion workout.
  • Welcomed five new members and transfers.  
  • Rebranded Career Closet and introduced the concept of subscription boxes to service clients during COVID.
  • Received generous Annual Fund donations from Active and Sustaining members of $2,425 to date supporting the Junior League of Elizabeth Plainfield’s community outreach. 
  • Participated in a virtual Giving Tuesday, a global generosity movement with the aim for people and organization to transform their communities and the world.
  • This year we awarded five $2,000 scholarships to deserving high school senior leaders volunteering in their communities.  This brings us to over 70 scholarships awarded for a total of over $130,000 in the past 20 years!  
  
Jumble Store 
  • The Jumble Store had yet another successful year despite operating during a pandemic with sales of over $100,000!
  • Not letting COVID get in the way, the Jumble Store hosted its annual Holiday Boutique, Winter Outerwear Sale and Glass Slipper event. 
Thank you to the Jumble Store staff for your resiliency and dedication during this challenging year. 
 

Junior Leagues of NJ State Public Affairs Committee (SPAC) 
  • Focused on the issue of lead in our water by supporting bills which require service companies to inventory, identify, and replace service water lines that contain lead.
  • Advocated for the Explicit and Implicit Bias Bill (S703/A1079) which has successfully been signed into law. 
  •  Hosted of a panel discussion on the Black Maternal and Infant Health Crisis with keynote speaker Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver.
  • Worked with Emergency Medical Services for Children Advisory Councilcreated by the New Jersey Dept. of Health. 
 
Sustainers   
  • Ran a food drive for Cranford Family Care that brought in several shopping carts of much-needed food. Many of the items went directly into bags being prepared for distribution that same afternoon.
  • Collected donations of craft items, puzzles, books, and flowers for a Memorial Day treat for the Cranford Park Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center. The residents were grateful for the gifts and the caring gesture.
  • Met monthly for a book club that has read "American Dirt," "Next Year in Havana," "The Splendid and the Vile," "Chronicles of Avonlea," "The Vanishing Half," "The Exiles," "Rebecca," and "The Stationery Shop."
 
Community Projects  
  • Collaborated with 11 different community partners including long standing relationships with Cranford Family Care and Healthy Families Elizabeth and new partnerships with National Council of Jewish Women of Essex and Rahway Food for Friends.
  • Career Closet kicked off their 20th year with a full rebranding and introduced the concept of subscription boxes all while growing their social media presence and reach. Dressed a total of 75 women from four major organizations to include Prevention Links and the Urban League of Elizabeth. 
  • Provided outfits and new heeled shoes to nine teen girls aged 13-19 as part of “Heeling with Hope” mentoring series facilitated by the Family Support Organization of Union County.  
  •  Collected 244 packages of period supplies for The Period Project partnering with the National Council of Jewish Women and the Holy Trinity Episcopalian Church food pantry. 
  • Supported Roots & Wings by donating AirPods to their Virtual Gala silent auction and sent birthday cards enclosed with Target gift cards to help celebrate 21 young adults in need.
  •  Collected over $800 for Diaper Awareness Week run by Moms Helping Moms Foundation, a New Jersey Baby Supply and Diaper Bank.  
  • Partnered with the Emmanuel Cancer Foundation to assemble and deliver backpacks and school supplies in the fall and delivered our annual Easter baskets in the spring to pediatric cancer patients. 
  • Held a food drive for the Rahway Food for Friends and delivered 30 bags of pantry items.
  • Presented our annual gift to Cranford Family Care with a $1,000.00 contribution.
  • Angel Tree was an enormous success this year. COVID did not stop our Chairs from getting creative and setting up Sign Up Genius to safely order and ship donations totaling 194 gift bags to Healthy Families of Elizabeth. In the past five years alone, the JLEP has donated over 1000 gifts!
  • JLEP Members and their families volunteered to make winter holiday crafts to spread some cheer during the holiday season for the Center for Hope Hospice and Palliative Care.  
  • Prepared Valentine’s Day cards and treat bags to bring some joy to the recipients of theMobile Meals of Westfield.
  • Participated in the Annual Greta’s Run benefitting Imagine, A Center for Coping with Loss. JLEP members walked/ran raising funds totaling over $2000 for this long-time community partner. 
 
Celebrated all the JLEP’s accomplishments at our virtual Annual Dinner!