Thanks to all who helped seniors during holidays

I want to publicly thank the legion of “Earth Angels” who provided holiday cheer to our homebound Sussex County Seniors. For the 11th consecutive year, I invited my clients, my colleagues and the residents of Sussex County to open their hearts to more than 60 senior citizens who are alone and living on a fixed income. During the holidays, everyone seems to focus on needy children, but we know there are many senior citizens, some who are shut-ins, who can benefit from our attention. The delivery squadron of the Earth Angels consisted of interested community volunteers and Sussex County TRIAD members (coordinated by Sgt. Terry Kelemen of the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office) and my staff and me. I shared in the happiness all those gifts brought to many of our homebound senior citizens. In addition, every day during the week before Christmas, dedicated “Angels” delivered goodies supplied by you to isolated seniors. Members of Margaret Untig’s third-grade class at Sandyston-Walpack School provided beautiful, handmade greeting cards with a personal letter from the student to each recipient. The rewards of this intergenerational activity are immeasurable. I thank you all, contributors, personal and business supporters, the Red Mitten Giving Tree members, philanthropic and educational organization members, Baleville Congregational Christian Church members, student correspondents and delivery squadron members, and I hope you will continue to participate in our Earth Angel project. I cordially invite others to join us. Finally, I ask that if you know of a homebound senior who is on a fixed income and has no one to provide holiday gifts to them, and who would enjoy receiving a visit during the holidays and greeting cards and letters during the rest of the year, you can call my office at 973-940-0707. For those community members who know of isolated seniors who would benefit from socialization visits with trained volunteers, please call the Senior Quality of Life Foundation (SEQUAL) at 973-940-9094 for information on its Neighbor to Neighbor program. Elenora L. Benz, Attorney at Law Newton