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A Salute to Pets & Heroes, a pat on the back for those on the front line of animal rescue. A meal, a program, and a presentation to those being honored. Again, any and all proceeds support animal rescue and the rescue groups that are on the front line rescue, transport, healthcare, rehab and training, fostering, and finding loving homes for the most vulnerable.
During the past 12 years Open Doors has helped people in need in the following ways:
- a program called New Horizons, which provided low-cost housing for families that would otherwise fall through the cracks--not poor enough for all the subsidies, yet not able to pursue their dreams adequately. Among the "graduates" of this program is a young woman who was able to attend nursing school and earn her RN degree. She now owns a modest condo for herself and her young son, and is working at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital.
- musical grants for children (with Youth Song and Happy Piano),
- interest-free loans, security deposits, and educational scholarships.
- a six-week happiness course called "Happy and Free: a Change in Me."
- donations and volunteer support to organizations like Family Promise for Bergen County's Homeless, Children's Aid and Family Services, Spectrum for Living (developmentally-disabled adults), Susan Komen Cancer Walk, Ron Weber Pancreatic Cancer Walk, and Kenya School Project (a Ridgewood Rotary project).
Our therapy dog, Jessie, has brought us into nursing homes, schools, churches, summer camps, and other venues for reaching out to children with life lessons, love, and encouragement. And we always get back more love and joy than we give!
