Shipping into December with Holiday Express
By Victoria Corinne
The holidays always bring a lot to the table – emotions are at their all time highs and their all time lows, people are scurrying around to get all of their holiday situations in order, and some people just don’t have any holiday spirit. But there is one group that cancels out all of the negative aspects and adds a lot of positive ones.
Holiday Express is an organization that delivers music, food, gifts, and human kindness to adults and children in need, including the mentally and physically disabled, the isolated, individuals in addiction and recovery programs, the poor and the homeless, and children with serious illnesses throughout the entire year.
Founded in 1993 by Tim McLoone, a small group of volunteers visited 10 charities to try and spread some holiday cheer. Today, the volunteers have upwards of 60 charities that they visit during the holiday season and beyond. The organization includes 100 professional singers and musicians who volunteer their time, and more than 1,300 other children and adult volunteers who work year-round to prepare and perform the private charity programs at specialized schools, psychiatric facilities, homeless shelters and soup kitchens. Not only do the musicians bring joy through music to the people who need it most, but bring friendship, hope, and just a hand to hold when necessary. From schools to shelters, the programs include a meal, gift bags, raffle prizes, face painting, crafts and the company of colorful characters including Frosty, the Grinch, Santa, and lots of Elves.
Holiday Express gives you somewhere to go when you have nowhere else, and there is always someone around to give you love even when you aren’t so lovable. Their main focus is to serve those who are desperately in need and often forgotten. The organization itself is truly a Christmas miracle. The volunteers, performers and Board of Trustees who dedicate so much time to making it the most joyful experience, are the kinds of people that this world needs more of.
If you’re interested in seeing what exactly this talented group of people does, there are two upcoming events. The first Holiday Express Benefit Concert will be held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, NJ on December 11, 2014. The second Holiday Express Benefit Concert is scheduled for December 18, 2014 at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ. Tickets for both events are available through the performance centers box offices or by telephone.
CD’s and downloads of performances are available through the organizations website, www.holidayexpress.org. By going to the website, you can learn more about how to donate, how to volunteer and all about the members who made this organization what it is today.
From my Enjoy NJ family to yours, we wish everyone the warmest, healthiest and happiest of holiday seasons.
