West Essex is always in the giving spirit, and this holiday season is no different. Read below to see how West Essex clubs and teams are giving back to the community this year.
The National Art Honor Society is putting together a 2025 calendar and selling holiday ornaments. The proceeds benefit The Memory Project, a youth arts organization that promotes intercultural understanding and kindness between children worldwide, as well as other community service efforts through art.
The Varsity Ice Hockey team will be hosting its second annual Teddy Bear Toss. Fans should bring teddy bears or other stuffed animals to the game on Saturday, Dec. 21. When the West Essex team scores its first goal, the fans will throw their stuffed animal donations onto the ice. The teddy bears will be collected and donated to West Essex PBA Local 81’s Toys for Tots program, a program representing police officers of the Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Fairfield, North Caldwell, Roseland and West Caldwell Police departments. The game is at 5:45 p.m. at Codey Arena against Hanover Park.
The High School and Middle School Music Departments kicked off their annual Holiday Dessert Sale on Oct. 7. Students from 7th-12th grade sold a variety of holiday desserts. Purchases will help support the music department and provide new opportunities for students enrolled in music classes. All desserts will be delivered on Monday, Nov. 25.
Cooking for a Cause is hosting a Thanksgiving Drive for Turkeys beginning on Thursday, Nov. 21, and ending on Tuesday, Nov. 26. The drive will support the community in need by providing turkeys to Tony’s Kitchen, a local food bank. In December, Cooking for a Cause is working with the First Prespritian Church of Caldwell by providing cookies for their annual “Cookie Walk”.
Sports Management classes are hosting and putting together West Essex’s Turkey Classic, an annual volleyball tournament in which all proceeds are donated to the Caldwell Food Kitchen to feed families on Thanksgiving. The games will be held on Nov. 20 after school.
National Honors Society is running a Turkey Drive through Notre Dame Church and The Community Food Bank on Saturday, Nov. 23, at Notre Dame from 8:45 to noon.
Key Club is hosting its Holiday Toy Drive. Donations for ages one to 14 will be collected outside the high school’s main office on Dec. 3, Dec. 5 and Dec. 7. All toys must be new and unwrapped.
WE Care Club is hosting a Reused Holiday Wrapping Paper and Packaging Drive. They will be collecting and sorting through gently used wrapping paper and packaging such as holiday gift bags. The drive aims to reduce waste, encourage eco-friendly practices and give materials a second life. Community members can drop off gently used wrapping paper, ribbons, bows, gift bags, boxes and other packaging materials at designated collection points.
National English Honor Society hosted the Fall Showcase on Nov. 13 and raised more than $350 for Reach Out and Read NJ. More than 20 performers performed poetry, acoustic music, instrumentals, comedy and a special rendition of N’Sync’s “It’s Gonna Be Me” by English teachers Chris Hermosilla, Kristen Gengaro, Jack Mahoney and Steven Siragusa.
