Locals get early visit from Santa

NEWTON — Hundreds of local children and their families were treated to an early visit from Santa at the annual holiday party sponsored by the Sussex County Family Success Center at Project Self-Sufficiency.

Participants enjoyed games, holiday crafts, a holiday sing-along, raffles and dinner at the party.

Senior Girl Scouts from Troop #225, the cheerleading squad from Kittatinny High School, as well as students from Newton High School’s Interact Club were on hand to play games with the children and help the party-goers with craft projects.

Children posed for photos with Santa, playfully impersonated by Michael McNamara.

“The annual holiday party at Project Self-Sufficiency is an exciting way to usher in the holidays, and our participants look forward to attending year after year,” said Claire Willetts, Program Coordinator at Project Self-Sufficiency. “We are very grateful to all of the volunteers who help to make this a merry occasion for the children and their families.”

Project Self-Sufficiency is a private non-profit community-based organization dedicated to improving the lives of low-income families residing in northwestern New Jersey. The agency’s mission is to provide a broad spectrum of holistic, respectful, and comprehensive services enabling low-income single parents, teen parents, two-parent families, and displaced homemakers to improve their lives and the lives of their children while achieving personal and economic self-sufficiency and family stability. Since 1986 Project Self-Sufficiency has served more than 20,000 families, including more than 30,000 children.

For information call 973-940-3500 or visit www.projectselfsufficiency.org.