Free Legal Advice in August

Area residents are invited to privately discuss issues related to divorce, bankruptcy or other topics with an attorney on Wednesdays, August 7^th, 14^th, and 21^st, at Project Self-Sufficiency.  Individual consultations will be offered at 45-minute intervals between the hours of 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.  The sessions are free and open to Sussex County residents who meet income eligibility requirements; consultations are by appointment only.  To make an appointment, call Project Self-Sufficiency at 973-940-3500.

Learn Microsoft Excel Before School Starts!

Blairstown-area residents are invited to learn how to use Microsoft Excel at Project Self-Sufficiency’s Main Street location on Thursdays, August 1^st– 15th, from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.  Students will learn how to create spreadsheets, databases and workbooks for use in tracking inventory, sorting data and creating mailing lists.  Instruction will also touch on adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing rows and columns using formulas, as well as storing, managing and interpreting data.  The agency’s computer lab is located in the First Presbyterian Outreach Center at 35 Main Street in Blairstown.  

A complete roster of computer classes and employability skills courses are offered at Project Self-Sufficiency’s Newton location all year long, including classes in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook; QuickBooks accounting software; workshops addressing techniques for job search, interviewing, resume development and financial management; and courses designed just for seniors and men. 

For more information, call the Project Self-Sufficiency office in Blairstown at 908-362-1777, or phone the agency’s Newton office at 973-940-3500.  Information about the agency’s services is also available at www.projectselfsufficiency.org.

Child Abuse Prevention Training Offered in August

Local residents are invited to help prevent child sexual assault by joining the Enough Abuse Campaign, a joint effort of Prevent Child Abuse New Jersey, Project Self-Sufficiency and the Sussex Warren Partnership to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse.  The community-wide education effort aims to mobilize adults and communities to prevent child sexual assault by increasing awareness of the warning signs displayed by predators and as well as victims.  Educators are particularly interested in training middle and high school youth, their parents, teachers, administrators, coaches and other youth-serving professionals on how to recognize and prevent child sexual abuse.  

Training sessions will be held at Project Self-Sufficiency from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. on Fridays, August 2^nd and 9^th, and from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Monday, August 12^th.  Project Self-Sufficiency is located at 127 Mill Street in Newton.  Participation is free and open to anyone interested in stemming the tide of child sexual assault, but registration is required.  To register, or to find out more about the Enough Abuse campaign, call Melissa Bischoff at Project Self-Sufficiency, 973-940-3500.

Microsoft Word Classes, Employment Lab for Men offered in August

Project Self-Sufficiency will be offering a select group of computer classes in August, including an Introduction to Personal Computers, an advanced class in Microsoft Word, and workshops designed specifically for men.  All classes will take place in the agency’s Career Center, which is located at 127 Mill Street in Newton.   The fee for each Microsoft course is $10; the remaining workshops are free.     Students must be registered Family Success Center or Project Self-Sufficiency participants. 

A basic Introduction to Personal Computers will be offered on Mondays and Wednesdays, August 5^th – 21st, from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  This introductory course is designed for first-time computer users or people with limited computer experience.  Students will learn computer basics, including the different components of the computer and the performance of simple procedures.  Fundamental keyboarding skills and a brief overview of popular software applications, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook will also be discussed.  

An advanced course in Microsoft Word will be offered on Mondays and Wednesdays, July 29^th – August 14th, from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.  Students will learn word-processing techniques, including the creation of professional-looking letters, faxes, newsletters and other documents, as well as the use of mail merge features used to print mailing labels and address letters to multiple recipients.  Participation in the introductory level Microsoft Word course is required prior to registration in the advanced class.

A special Men’s Employment Lab will be offered on Wednesdays, through August 14^th, from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.  Participants will receive basic computer instruction, and assistance with resume development and job search techniques.

The agency will also offer a series of workshops during the day and evening which are designed to help participants land and succeed at new jobs.  Courses will cover “Resumes & Cover Letters”, “Interviewing Skills”, “Job Search & Networking Techniques”, “Financial Management”, “Workplace Literacy”, “Salary Negotiations”, and “Careering 102.”  Project Self-Sufficiency’s Career Center also offers help with obtaining a GED, job training for women and young adults, career counseling and assessment, Job Start and Job Search services.   Interested participants are encouraged to contact the agency for a schedule.

The fee for each Microsoft course is $10; all other seminars are free.  All computer classes at the agency are open to registered Family Success Center and Project Self-Sufficiency participants.  To inquire about eligibility, or to find out more about the computer courses, seminars or career fairs offered at Project Self-Sufficiency, call 973-940-3500, or visit www.projectselfsufficiency.org.

Food Assistance offered in August

Fresh, refrigerated and frozen foods are available to northwestern New Jersey residents at sharply reduced prices through the Jolin Food Box program.  The food assistance program offers a variety of ordering options, from breakfast-lunch-dinner combination packs to boxes of dinner entrees to special packages just for children.  The price of a single box ranges from $22 - $40.  There is no limit to the number of boxes an individual or family can purchase, and the menu changes each month.  The program even takes food stamps.  Interested residents can order online with a credit card at www.jolinfoodbox.comor by calling Project Self-Sufficiency at 973-940-3500.  Payment is made when the order is placed.  The next deadline for placing an order is Monday, August 12^th; delivery will be made to Project Self-Sufficiency on Saturday, August 24th.

The quality of the food products set the Jolin Food Box Program apart from other food assistance programs.  Each month features a variety of menu items from seafood and poultry to baked goods and prepared meals.  In one year, the  Jolin Food Box Program has established 18 locations in New Jersey for distributing high quality food to residents in need.  Project Self-Sufficiency is the first distribution site in northwestern New Jersey.  To find out more about the monthly food deliveries by the Jolin Food Box Program at Project Self-Sufficiency, or any of the other programs and services available at the agency, call 973-940-3500, or visit www.projectselfsufficiency.org.