Wayne Alliance Launches Drive For Paterson Halfway House

WAYNE, NJ – A local donation drive is underway to help the residents displaced by a five-alarm fire on Saturday at a Paterson halfway house.

The Wayne Alliance for the Prevention of Substance Abuse has partnered with Clifton’s alliance to organize a clothing drive and arrange for several drop-off centers in both municipalities.

Most of the displaced individuals are men, however there are some women and children, the alliances said.

Items sought

• Clean, gently used clothing
• Toiletries
• New packaged socks
• New packaged underwear
• New packaged T-shirts
• New packaged pajamas

Donations can be dropped off Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the following locations:

• Clifton Board of Education, 745 Clifton Ave., Clifton, NJ 07013
• Clifton Health Department, 900 Clifton Ave. 2nd floor, Clifton, NJ 07013
• Wayne Alliance, Wayne Health Dept., 475 Valley Road, Wayne, NJ 07470

Saturday’s blaze broke out around 11 a.m. at the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Paterson's Straight & Narrow home on Straight Street. No injuries were reported and several community groups, such as the American Red Cross , are helping provide shelter for those who were displaced, Mayor Andre Sayegh said in a Facebook Live video from the scene.

According to Catholic Charities CEO, Scott Milliken, the fire completely destroyed the home, which includes a 50-bed men's halfway house, a women's counseling office and storage.

Milliken said, "Though part of Straight and Narrow's facilities have been destroyed, our organization is very much alive and well. We will continue to provide help and create hope for all of those in need, including individuals in recovery."

A fundraiser effort is already underway to help rebuild the facility, purchase needed supplies and continue to program help to those in recovery, according to Catholic Charities. The organization is still determining a list of in-kind donations it needs, as well as arranging a drop-off location.

How To Donate

• Text: SNFIRE to 41444 to make a donation from your cell phone
• Visit: www.ccpaterson.org/snfire to make a donation online
• Email: info@ccpaterson.org for more information about how to help