2016-2017 League Accomplishments

2016-2017 was a busy year for the Junior League of Elizabeth-Plainfield! Under the leadership of President Christine Lagatta and President-Elect Nydia Diefenbach, members touched hundreds of lives in Union County through our community service programs. Below are some of our highlights from the year.

Career Closet

  • Dressed over 110 women, each outfitted with a complete starter wardrobe
  • Hosted a "Heeling for Hope" event for teen girls from the Family Support Organization of Union County
  • Received a grant from Smart and Sexy Lingerie and honored with a proclamation of Career Closet's "Women's Empowerment Day"
  • Raised over $700 through a special sale at Jude Connally benefitting the Career Closet

Helping Hands

  • Collected and donated over 25 completed backpacks to benefit the Emmanuel Cancer Center
  • Cooked and delivered over 50 meals at our Chop and Chats for Cranford Family Care
  • Collected and delivered over 225 Angel Tree Christmas gifts for Healthy Families in Elizabeth
  • Sponsored a toiletry drive to benefit St. Joseph's of Elizabeth and provided over 75 toiletry bags for the local homeless community
  • Adopted the kitchen of a new Roots and Wings apartment by providing all kitchen items and stocking the pantry
  • Provided "Birthday in a Bag" for Roots and Wings clients to help celebrate their birthdays with a gift and assorted birthday items
  • Provided a Lego wall, Legos and a Lego Table for Imagine
  • Assembled and delivered over 20 Easter baskets to Emmanuel Cancer Center

Teen Closet

  • Revamped the existing Teen Closet model by creating a series of panel discussions called "Teen Closet Girls Empowerment"
  • Provided workshops for over 40 female high school students from Elizabeth with career path presentations and workshops on college applications, public speaking and resume writing
  • Hosted over 175 people at the Girls Leadership "Raising Resilient Girls" workshop to raise awareness and educate the community
  • Received a $1,000 grant from the Rotary Club of Westfield to help fund our workshops
  • Partnered with St. Barnabas Hospital to raise over $500 for Teen Closet

League/Statewide Projects

  • Participated in SPAC (State Public Affairs Committee) events including the annual Walk to Washington and an Opioid Epidemic Panel
  • Awarded three $2,000 scholarships to deserving high school senior leaders
  • Sent JLEP members to fall leadership training in Chicago and ODI training in San Antonio, NJ State Council networking events and the NJ Get on Board training
  • Started a new community partnership with Roots and Wings