Montclair Helps Students Placed Out of Foster Care

Members of the Montclair community are taking 10 college students who have placed out of New Jersey’s foster care system under their wing this summer. 

And they are asking for your help.

The students moved into dorms at Montclair State University this week thanks to a program called S.H.I.P., which stands for Summer Housing Internship Program. They will live on campus through the middle of August, and will take a three-credit leadership course while they are there.

If it weren’t for S.H.I.P., these students, six men and four women between the ages of 18 and 22, would have nowhere to live.

“It’s a requirement for participants to have a housing need for the summer,” explained Milena Alvarez, program coordinator for S.H.I.P. 

In addition to housing accommodations, the scholars will have the opportunity to participate in multiple academic and recreational activities.

S.H.I.P. is funded through Rutgers University and the Department for Children and Families, Alvarez said.

Students enrolled in the statewide program are divided among MSU, as well as Rutgers’ three campuses in Newark, New Brunswick and Camden.

The program helps connect the students with internships relevant to their majors. This year, for example, a student with a criminal justice major will intern at a law firm, another with an interest in social work will go to a local United Way.

They’ll receive stipend benefits and a brown-bagged lunch each day. Other basic needs, such as toiletries, work-appropriate clothing, groceries and school supplies, are sorely needed.

That’s where Montclair residents are stepping in.

“For someone coming out of the foster care system a lot of times there’s not the safety net you find that most people associate with their nuclear family,” said Steve Matthews, a Realtor at Prudential New Jersey Properties in Montclair who helped set up drop-off sites for donations for the students throughout town.

In addition to Prudential, Keller Williams Realty, Stanton Company Realtors, Coldwell Banker, the West Essex Board of Realtors, Frederic Goodman Jewelers and Mahir's Barber Shop in Montclair have all agreed to be drop-off sites. 

“The most effective way to do this is to collect gift cards,” Matthews said. 

Suggested donations include gift cards in increments of $50 or less to stores like Macy’s, The Gap and Target for clothing, as well as CVS and local supermarkets for personal needs and groceries.

“We are a great community here in Montclair. There’s no reason we can’t garner up the resources for 10 kids and really make this a great experience for them,” Matthews said. 

There are many examples of generous commitments, one restaurant has offered a free dinner to the students, while FiveAcreFarms will be providing free milk to the students for the entire summer. 

Alma Schneider has become involved in more ways than one. In addition to helping solicit donations, her Parents Who Rock band, The No Rehearsals, along with Miguel Rodriguez Presents, will hold a benefit concert at Tierney’s Tavern on Friday, June 14, at 9 p.m. Donations of gift cards, cash and non-perishable food will be accepted at the show.

“People are always looking for ways to volunteer,” Schneider said. “If you are giving $50 to $100, you know this kid is going to eat for a week.”

To contact Steve Matthews about donations, call 973-477-5842 or email steve@matthewsnj.com.