November 6, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 11 Ridgewood Social Service Association plans Red Door Gala Social Service Association of Ridgewood and Vicinity, a not-for-profit community organization, will celebrate its 105 th anni- versary in 2014. Social Service Association plans to commemorate this milestone with a “Red Door Gala” on Friday, Jan. 24, 2014 at Macaluso’s in Hawthorne. This evening will include dancing, dining, and auctions. In 1909, The Relief Society of Ridgewood and Vicinity was organized by a group of church representatives from Ridgewood and neighboring communities to consoli- date efforts in “support of the public good.” In 1913, the name of the organization was changed to Social Service Association of Ridgewood and Vicinity, Inc. In 1988, 79 years after its inception, SSA moved to the former baggage quarters of the Ridgewood Railroad Station. The agency currently has 38 active trustees and a number of associate members. Although headquartered in Ridgewood, SSA assists clients in Glen Rock, Ho-Ho- Kus, Midland Park, Ridgewood, Waldwick, and Wyckoff. The organization’s mission is to provide supplemental financial assis- tance and counseling services to individu- als and families in need. Through its work, SSA strives to preserve the dignity and stability of individuals while empowering them to seek solutions and expand their opportunities. Throughout the past 105 years, Social Service Association has served numerous families and individuals in the commu- nity and has continued to meet the needs of a growing client population. Through its many programs and funding, SSA currently supports 116 families or 315 clients consist- ing of 188 adults and 127 children. SSA is a not-for-profit, private agency funded primarily through the generous contributions of individuals in northern Bergen County. The agency is also widely supported by local businesses, churches, synagogues, schools, and other community organizations, and receives a small grant from United Way of Bergen County. Last year, 88 percent of the agency’s budget came from fundraising or donations from Reich to discuss JFK legacy The Unitarian Society of Ridgewood and North Jersey Public Policy Network will co-sponsor a Nov. 15 book discussion. Scott Reich, author of “The Power of Citi- zenship: Why John F. Kennedy Matters to a New Generation,” will appear at 7:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Society located at 113 Cottage Place in Ridgewood. An attorney at Willkie Farr & Galla- gher, LLP in New York, Reich received a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania in 2005 and a J.D., from that institution in 2008. He is a member of the College Coun- cil of SUNY College at Old Westbury and serves on the boards of the Union for Reform Judaism and the School for Lan- guage and Communication Development. A donation of $5 would be appreci- ated. For more information, call (201) 444- 6225. private sponsors, and nearly 95 percent of private contributions directly benefited clients. As a result of this generous fund- ing, SSA is able to offer many programs, including monthly food vouchers, clothing and shoe certificates, eyeglass subsidies, child care assistance, summer camp schol- arships, children’s birthday kits, women’s wellness bags, back-to-school supplies, and emergency rent, mortgage, or utility payments. The agency also offers daily support, including client advocacy, senior citizen case management, and assistance with adult education, which may include payment for tuition and textbooks for adults over 21. With support from many community organizations and countless hours of ser- vice from volunteer board members, SSA operates a food pantry. This is one of a few pantries in New Jersey that allows clients to select the foods of their choice. SSA aver- ages 240 bags of food per month. Every November, SSA provides over 400 people with all the fixings for a hearty Thanksgiving dinner, totaling over 2,500 bags of groceries, along with turkeys and fresh produce. Food is donated by local schools, grocery stores, businesses, and organizations. Each December, SSA coordinates a Holiday Gift Drive to provide clothing, toys, games, and books for the children of SSA clients. Hundreds of local merchants, schools, Girl/Boy Scouts, religious organi- zations, private sponsors, and SSA Board Members assist with the collection of these gifts. Sponsors shop for each child to meet his or her individual needs and holiday wishes. Social Service Association is proud to be celebrating 105 years of giving to the community. For more information about the 2014 gala, call (201) 444-2980.