Category: Public Info

In honor of the 2023 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, the Union County Board of County Commissioners joins the nonprofit organization Moms Helping Moms Foundation to encourage residents to donate diapers, formula, wipes, hygiene supplies and other necessities for mothers with babies and toddlers in need.

Donation bins have been placed at six locations for drop-off during regular business hours from Monday, January 16 to Friday, January 31.

“We know that there are families who are going through financial struggles. Anyone can fall on hard times, and the burden of making ends meet is especially difficult for families with babies and young children. We encourage everyone in the community to support our families, in need, by participating in this year’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, and contributing a donation of supplies,” said Union County Commissioner Chairman Sergio Granados. “Moms Helping Moms is an organization that provides direct assistance to households with babies and young children up to age five, and we are very proud to support their work.”

 “Every donation will make a big difference in the lives of mothers who struggle to afford basic supplies. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service is a wonderful opportunity to step up and show your support for those who need a helping hand,” said Vice Chairwoman Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded, who is the Commissioner Board Liaison to the Commission on the Status of Women.

The donation bins are located in the following municipalities:

• Cranford: Cranford Municipal Building, 8 Springfield Avenue
• Elizabeth: Union County Administration Building lobby, 10 Elizabethtown Plaza
• Fanwood: Fanwood Municipal Building, 75 North Martine Avenue
• Roselle: Warinanco Sports Center, 1 Park Drive in Union County’s Warinanco Park
• Westfield: Westfield Town Hall, 425 East Broad Street
• Westfield: Ralph G. Froehlich Public Safety Building in the Union County complex, 300 North Avenue East

A wide variety of baby and mother care products are accepted, including but not limited to diapers, wipes, hygiene supplies and menstrual products. All donations must be new and in their original packaging.

Residents who prefer touchless pick-up can make arrangements through the Union County Office on Women, by contacting Jennifer Erdos, Coordinator at 908-527-4216 or jerdos@ucnj.org.

The Office on Women is part of the Union County Department of Economic Development. For more information visit online at ucnj.org/women.

 A group of new mothers launched Moms Helping Moms in 2011, with the goal of ensuring that every baby is provided with life’s basic necessities. Moms Helping Moms partners with community organizations, social workers, homeless shelters, schools, and others to collect and distribute essential items including diapers, clothing, formula, nursing supplies and strollers. More information is available at momshelpingmomsfoundation.org.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is observed each year on the third Monday in January. It is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities.

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

#  #

For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

Connect with Union County on social media.

The Union County Board of County Commissioners invites seniors and their caregivers to come to Union County’s ASK community events in January, and meet in person with professional staff for expert guidance on senior programs and resources. Help with filling out forms is also provided.

Bilingual staff will be present at both of the events to offer assistance in Spanish.

“The ASK program is a friendly, convenient way to find out about helpful programs and services for seniors and caregivers in our community. Our professional staff will meet with you in the familiar environment of your local public library, to provide the latest updates and information, and to help fill out any necessary forms,” said Union County Commissioner Chairman Sergio Granados. 

ASK stands for Aging Services Kiosk, a program of the Union County Department of Human Services through the Division on Aging and Disability Resources, serving seniors age 60-plus and their caregivers.

Staff at the ASK events can help seniors and care givers connect with a variety of services including home delivered meals, respite care, home care, adult day care and support services for caregivers.

Any Union County senior or care giver can visit any ASK event, regardless of their hometown.

No appointment or pre-registration is needed. The upcoming events in January are as follows:

Wednesday, January 18

Elizabeth Public Library – Main (bilingual staff will be present)

11 S. Broad Street

Elizabeth, NJ 07202

12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Monday, January 23

Garwood Public Library (bilingual staff will be present)

411 Third Avenue

Garwood, NJ 07027

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Contact the Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection for information on upcoming ASK events and any other services for seniors in Union County. Call 1-888-280-8226 toll free or visit online at ucnj.org/dhs/aging.

The goal of the Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection is to promote wellness, independence, dignity and choice for seniors and their families, in accordance with a statewide initiative adopted by Union County in 2012. The Division is one of 622 Area Agencies on Aging nationwide established under the federal Older Americans Act.    

For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing, emergency food distribution and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

#  #

For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

Connect with Union County on social media.

The Union County Board of County Commissioners advises job seekers that the Union County American Job Center will hold a job fair for residents interested in careers in health care on Friday, January 27, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the Warinanco Sports Center, located in Warinanco Park at 1 Park Drive in Roselle.

Attendance is free of charge but pre-registration is required online at ucnj.org/job-fair.

Atlantic Health System, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Walgreens, City MD Urgent Care, NJ Transit Medical Unit and Trinitas Regional Medical Center will have representatives on site along with many other leading health care employers in Union County.

“Union County’s job placement programs have been successful in matching thousands of qualified candidates with new careers and good paying jobs,” said Union County Commissioner Board Chairman Sergio Granados. “As part of the Chairman’s ‘Building a Stronger Union County’ theme for 2023, we have launched the ‘Building Workforce Relationships: Closing the Gap’ initiative, featuring our first job fair dedicated to a wide range of careers in the health care field.

“We encourage our residents to come and meet with these top employers in person to explore the many opportunities in the health care field. We will also be working throughout the year to organize additional job fairs dedicated to other fields of employment,” added Chairman Granados, who is the liaison to the Union County Workforce Development Board.

Open positions for the January 27 event include both administrative staff and frontline healthcare workers including Registered Nurse, Certified Nursing Assistant, Phlebotomist and many more.

Attendees are advised to bring a resume and dress appropriately for on-the-spot interviews.

Employers who are interested registering to participate in the job fair can email Carolina Marin,  Senior Manager Business Development at Astrid.marin@ucnj.org or Pamela Mata, Business Development Manager, Union County American Job Center at pamela.mata@ucnj.org.

The Union County American Job Center is s division of the Union County Department of Human Services, providing in-person career services. Counselors on staff work with job seekers to identify their interests, assess their skills and abilities, and advise them on in-demand jobs and potential training opportunities. The Union County American Job Center also organizes recruiting events and workshops on resume writing, interviewing skills, and more.

To learn more about employment services offered by the Union County American Job Center, visit ucajc.org and use the “Job Seekers” link. Searchable job-finding tools are also available at the “Search Jobs” and “Find a Job” links.

An orientation video about the services provided by Union County American Job Center is available on the Union County website at ucnj.org/dhs/workforce-development.

To contact the American Job Center by phone, call the Elizabeth office at 908-558-8000, or call the Plainfield office at 908-757-9090.

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

#  #

For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Commissioner Sergio Granados has been selected as Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners and announced a series of initiatives for 2023, titled “Building a Stronger Union County,” focusing on enhancing local communities, while empowering private and public sectors.  

Granados, a lifelong resident of Elizabeth, who is the youngest Democratic Commissioner ever elected in the State of New Jersey, announced his initiatives at the 166^th annual reorganization meeting held in the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth on Tuesday.

Included in these initiatives, among others are developing greater relationships between Union County businesses, job training and opportunities for their residents, a series of mental health programs and services, park enhancements and housing assistance programs for renters and homeowners as well as rebate programs for the veteran and senior population.

Former Commissioner Christopher Hudak was sworn into his first term as Union County Surrogate, and Bette Jane Kowalski, Sergio Granados and Rebecca Williams were sworn in for their terms. Commissioner Joseph Bodek was appointed to fill the seat of outgoing Commissioner Christopher Hudak. Commissioner Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded was appointed Commissioner Vice Chairwoman. The Commissioners also voted to fill numerous positions on County advisory boards and to adopt the Board’s 2023 schedule and procedural rules.

“As Chairman, I want to build a path of resilience and togetherness, so I am announcing a series of initiatives, which will roll out throughout the year, called “Building a Stronger Union County,” said Commissioner Chairman Sergio Granados. “Our residents are what make Union County strong and each year we continue to ensure that they are at the forefront of all our decisions. These were just some of examples of all of the great things we will do together in 2023 and we will be announcing more as the year goes on, because we are breaking down barriers, opening doors for all, and building the county that our residents want and deserve.”

Residents can find a transcript of this speech on the Union County website at www.ucnj.org/commissioners.