Family Memories
Many of the children who enter our program have not had the opportunity to develop the positive memories associated with growing up in a traditional, stable family setting. New Ground organizes and underwrites many recreational, cultural and celebratory events throughout the year to provide memorable experiences for our families.
- January - Each year we identify all adult birthdays and request a wish list from each adult. We have generous donors who send birthday gifts to the adults in the program. In addition, each family member receives a birthday card from New Ground so that they know they were thought of on their special day.
- February - Since lunches are usually provided for school-aged children during the academic year, we realize that when the children are on winter recess this may be an added financial strain. Through the generosity of friends of New Ground, each family is provided with gift certificates for local grocery stores to ensure that the children are well-fed during their vacation.
- April - For those families that celebrate Easter, a card is mailed from New Ground. A benefactor also prepares Easter baskets for the families. Grocery gift certificates are also provided to help to family prepare the holiday meal.
- May - With the assistance of a benefactor, each year a Mother's Day Brunch is arranged for the mothers in our program. Brunch is planned on a Saturday morning at a local restaurant where the mothers can relax with each other (without kids). The mothers really enjoy the outing, it's a few hours of laughter and joy for the mothers who work so hard throughout the year.
- June - Each year we recognize the fathers in our program with a greeting card and a gift certificate to a local store so that the men may go out and treat themselves.
- July/August - Every summer New Ground organizes a family outing. Past outings have been trips to Great Adventure, fishing trips and BBQ's. Most recently the families enjoyed a day at Lido Beach.
- September - New Ground is so fortunate to be the beneficiary of many generous donors who prepare the children for Back-to-School. The back-to-school drive begins during the summer when we begin to collect back-to-school supplies, new backpacks, lunch boxes, clothing, shoes and gift certificates for the children. The children in our program go back to school very well prepared each year.
- November - New Ground invites the veterans of the Catherine Martin INN to enjoy a home cooked meal that is brought to them each year. Each veteran also receives a card thanking them for their service to our country.
Food and gift certificates are provided to our families to ensure a bountiful Thanksgiving Day.
- December - In the fall we begin our Adopt-a-Family program for the holiday season. Profiles for each family are completed with a child and adult wish gift indicated. We seek benefactors to provide each family with gifts, gift certificates and food vouchers so that a happy holiday season is had by all.
