The Holidays are a Time for Giving

The holidays are a time to help those in need. And, it's also the last week to make charitable contributions that can be deducted on this year's taxes. 

So here are some great local charities that deserved a check:

Augustinian Recollect Monastery, 29 Ridgewood Way. The Augustinian Recollect Monastery (OAR) is a Catholic community of priests, brothers and deacons. It lives according to the Gospels, the teachings of St. Augustine of Hippo and the Constitutions of the Order. Its mission includes teaching, parish ministry, retreats and Cursillos.

Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 307 Main St. The church provides Sunday services, a lunch program, thrift shop and food pantry. Popular activities include a Harvest Festival, Christmas pageant and Valentine's Day party.

B’nai Shalom, 300 Pleasant Valley Way. The synagogue offers a schedule of many different services, including some specifically for children, such as Shabbat Fun for ages 3 - 5 and Mini Minyan for ages 8 - 11. B'nai Shalom even offers Shabbat services geared towards the developmentally disabled.

Antioch Presbyterian Church, 616 Prospect Ave. The church is a large, modern facility offering services in English and Korean. The church has ample parking, playground facilities and a basketball court. 

Elmwood United Presbyterian Church, 6 Ridgeway Ave. Elmwood West describes itself as a predominantly African-American Presbyterian Church. Its membership is growing annually. Ministries and programs include children and youth programs, jazz brunches, outreach, Bible study, and Friends and Family nights.

Ridgeview Community Church, 174 S. Valley Road. The church offers child care, choir/music programs, study groups, youth programs. 

The Englishtown Synagogue, 37 Buckingham Road. The synagogue is an intimate Orthodox synagogue located in the district of South Orange. The synagogue provides various informal servies for the community, including Friday night services at Sunset (varies per time of year), Mincha Havdalah Services, Purim and other high holidays.

The Life Christian Church, 106 Harrison Ave. The church is a nondenominational place of worship. TLCC's mission statement is "Grow - Learn - Live - Lead." The church offers music, worship, study and ministries targeting children, teenagers, men, women, singles and married couples.

Lubavitch Center of Essex County, 456 Pleasant Valley Way. The center offers Bar and Bat Mitzvah classes, Hebrew reading and language and other Jewish culture lessons. The store also has a large collection of books and religious items. 

Pleasantdale Presbyterian Church, 471 Pleasant Valley Way. With weekly services, Sunday School and an active youth group, Pleasantdale Presbyterian continues to serve the good people of West Orange.

Chabad of Essex, 395 Pleasant Valley Way. Located in West Orange, the Chabad of Essex is a Jewish institution that advocates and practices the Chabad-Lubavitch movement which swept through Russia more than 250 years ago. Dedicated to the welfare of Jews around the world, the Chabad-Lubavitch movement affects and influences more than 4,000 families.

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 13 Main St. The church offers child care, choir/music programs, study groups, youth programs.

St. Joseph’s Church, 14 Benvenue Ave. The church is a West Orange-based Catholic institution that holds daily mass, religious education classes for children and performs sacraments like baptism, reconciliations, sacraments for the ill and marriages. 

United Presbyterian Church of West Orange, 20 Old Indian Road. The church provides Sunday worship services, musical programs, youth groups, Sunday school.

Trinity Convenant Church, 343 E. Cedar St. The church offers child care, choir/music programs, missionary programs, study groups and youth programs.

Congregation Ohr Torah, 270 Pleasant Valley Way. This Orthodox synagogue was established in 1992 and now includes a Sisterhood, Men's Club and activities for children and teens.

Congregation Achawas Achim B’nai Jacob and David, 700 Pleasant Valley Way. This Ashkenazi and Sephardi Modern Orthodox synagogue offers groups and services including a men's club, adult education, a nursery school, a sisterhood, youth events and many special events.

Our Lady of Lourdes, 1 Eagle Rock Ave. The church offers several weekly masses. Twice-weekly bingo games support the school Blessed Pope John XXIII Academy (co-sponsored by St. Joseph's Church)

Patterson Memorial Presbyterian Church, 80 Washington St. The church shares its facilities with Iglesia Evangelica Hispano Metodista Libre. The Sunday worship service is at 11 a.m.