The holidays are bright at Community Access Unlimited, and we want to thank those who are helping to make it extra special this year.

Members of the community have supported CAU in a host of ways through the challenges of this year, from donating personal protective equipment to help keep us safe, to donating funds that directly impact the programs we operate every day.

This holiday season we would like to thank the Newark Food Bank, Delivering Good, Holiday Express and Healing and Deliverance Temple of God in Christ Jesus for their generosity and coordination to bring smiles to our members with their amazing donations.

We would also like to thank our valued CAU supporters for all donations made this year. All donations of $100 or more will be recognized individually in our next Annual Report.

Thanks to our supporters, CAU members received an assortment of delicious foods for a home-cooked Thanksgiving and Christmas Day meal (from the Newark Food Bank), holiday gifts including backpacks and duffle bags filled with cold-weather essentials and toiletries (from Holiday Express and Healing and Deliverance Temple of God in Christ Jesus), and members will be receiving 300 brand-new winter coats (via Delivering Good). CAU members were also treated to a virtual concert from Holiday Express.

CAU member Berta Ramirez said she was pleased to receive stuffed animals from Holiday Express and is looking forward to Christmas Day and cooking lasagna. She said she made holiday drawings to give as gifts to everyone she lives with.

“I’m most excited about presents and love,” Ramirez said. “I love my family but I can’t see them because of the coronavirus. I always talk to them on the video chat. I care about them and I’m happy they’re safe.”

We wish to sincerely thank all of the individuals and organizations who contribute to CAU and wish them a very happy holiday season!

“We appreciate these different organizations reaching out to help us in many different ways, with food and with winter coats for members,” said Director of Fundraising Saranya Thana. “It will definitely help bring in the holiday spirit and keep our members warm through the holiday season.”