"We just thought we would do something for Spring," said James A Mahon - a trustee of Helping Hands
This list of who received the plants was based on those who are eligible for Meals on Wheels.
"We wanted to give something to them and thought that they would enjoy a living plant," said Eleanor Tiefenwerth, executive director of the Bayonne Economic Opportunity Foundation - which oversees Helping Hands. The plants came from Sacalis Florist at 26th and Broadway.
Helping Hands was formed in 1999 to help provide a program that would help people year round rather than just around the traditional holidays. Maribeth Doria said that in 1999, she noticed that there were numerous organizations clubs and schools performed charitable deeds such as food drive collections, clothing drives and other monetary donations given to causes and holiday fund drives.
"After the holiday season was over, I thought, wouldn't it be wonder for people to help people all year round," she said.
She well knew there was a need for a program to mobilize the many individual and students ion Bayonne to directly help people at time of need. As a result of this thought, five people got together and came up with the Bayonne Helping Hands. Doria said this program assists needy individuals in the community who might fall through the cracks of existing programs. Helping Hands unites local residents. Helping hands consists of five members, Doria, Tiefenwerth, former Mayor Dennis Collins, Mahon and Adriane Sclafane, a Bayonne teacher.
When a fire in October 1999 broke out at Broadway and 34th destroying a building and leaving 18 families homeless, Helping Hands helped out, providing accommodations for the residents and paid for the first month's rent on new apartments.
"What we never dreamed of were the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001," Doria said.
Helping Hands was able to help those families affected by the disaster.
"I was certainly impressed and touched as to how our community that is all of Bayonne rallied together to help these families," Doria said.
Residents wrapped pennies, sold cakes, held car washes and numerous individuals, groups business and organization made generous contributions to Helping Hands.
The funding for the program comes out of donations.
Led by Dr. McGeehan, Bayonne public schools raised $20,000 for Helping Hands. In one case, Doria recalled, Bayonne students gave a check to Tiefenwerth from money they had raised picking apples of their families trees and selling them. Over the last five or six years, one Bayonne resident routinely donates $25 each month with a personal note to the organizers.
"This is a person who does not have a lot of money," said Tiefenwerth.
Tiefenwerth said the program is especially tailored to help those waiting to qualify for specific government assistance.
She said often individuals or families seeking any emergency assistance may require alternative resources as well. Doria recalled a 91 year old man who was diagnosed with diabetes, who had never signed up with Medicaid. Bayonne Helping Hands purchased his insulin during the 30 to 60 day waiting period before he could collect his benefits. In other cases, Helping Hands provided transportation in an emergency which had involved a death in the family. Tiefenwerth said during the regional black out in 2002, Helping Hands with the aid of students distributed battery operated radios and flash lights.
Helping Hands also provides a holiday "Gift of Friendship" box to Bayonne shut ins, "Gift from the Heart" baskets for Bayonne residents residing in nearby nursing homes, visits by Elmo who distributes toys to young patients and a "Safe at Home" program for Bayonne shut-ins.
Helping Hands has been highly successful over the years, Doria said, noting that she has read hundreds of letter of support and concern received from children and community members, and that she and Tiefenwerth have compiled a portfolio containing pictures, events and stories.
"The program is a measure of how much people care about each other in Bayonne," she said.
BEOF celebrates its 40th Anniversary
The Bayonne Economic Opportunity Foundation celebrated its 40th anniversary in June.
The foundation is dedicated to serving the people of the community through various outreach programs geared primarily for the low income, senior citizens and the handicapped. Information and referral is given to any citizen of Bayonne who needs our assistance. BEOF's programs range from pre-natal through the "Golden Years" including the Head Start Program, Weatherization programs, Senior Residential Maintenance programs, energy assistance programs, the Elderly and Handicapped Transportation Program, Meals on Wheels program, the Nutrition program, housing counseling and the Hispanic Affairs program.
Tiefenwerth has been credited with increasing the level of services the foundation offers and has received numerous awards for her service to the community on a municipal, county, and state levels.
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