Norwescap has been a steadfast force in New Jersey, empowering individuals and families to transform poverty into opportunity since 1965. Among its diverse programs, the Traditions Family Success Center at 712 South Main Street in Phillipsburg has been helping families, adults and children overcome challenges and begin to flourish together.

Celebrating 25 years of success in 2023, Norwescap Traditions Family Success Center’s (TFSC) mission has always been to help families in Warren County succeed and thrive. Family partners work with them in identifying their needs, whatever they may be, and connecting them to appropriate resources.

In recognition of this success, the program was presented with a New Jersey State Legislative Resolution on Wed. Dec. 6. The resolution was presented by Senator Douglas J. Steinhardt on behalf of the 23^rd Legislative District and his colleague Assemblymen John DiMaio and Eric Peterson.

For many years, Traditions Family Success Center was housed in a free-standing rental on South Main Street. Latiesha Carter, current director of Norwescap TSFC, explained, “Over ten years ago, the then-director of Traditions and Gregory Troxell, Superintendent of Schools for the Phillipsburg School District, agreed TFSC should be housed inside the school district’s special services building, enabling children and families to easier access our programs.” The move was made, and the client list continues to grow.

For his continued support, Carter feels Troxell has been key in the ongoing success of TFSC.

Over its 25-year history, Carter said Norwecap TFSC’s services have expanded drastically, evolving as the times and the community needs necessitate.

From assisting with resume writing and job searches, relocating from one home to another, addressing transportation concerns, providing diapers for babies, and filling backpacks for school-age children, they assist with any barriers a family may encounter to help them accomplish their goals for self-sufficiency.

Norwescap TFSC is a ‘one-stop shop’. There are no income requirements or restrictions. Carter said, “Traditions will help any Warren County resident, doing our best to deliver whatever is needed. If something is outside our offerings, we’ll look at other resources.”

According to Carter, Norwescap TFSC’s biggest challenge over the past 25 years may have been getting through Covid. She noted, “Everything had to be restructured. Traditions Family Success Center still had to be available every day for all the services we provide, including home deliveries, contactless services, phone and email encounters.”

The Center also offered online activities, such as virtual dance parties and opportunities for children to visit with friends, held online parenting classes, and posted educational materials.

How many individuals are served? “That’s difficult to say,” Carter admitted, “but in contractual year 2022, we served almost 2,000 people. Over the past few months, it’s averaged about 150 to 200 per month.”

To meet the community-at-large, Norwescap TFSC holds three large events every year, besides tabling at various gatherings where they supply materials and information directly to the individuals they serve.

There are two Back-to-School events. One takes place at the Firth Youth Center for Phillipsburg residents-only, with barbers, volunteers who braid ethnic hair, and backpacks filled with supplies.

The Traveling School Bus is the second back-to-school event, which visits Hackettstown, Belvidere, Washington and other locations in Warren County, delivering backpacks and school supplies to students.

In October, it’s a Halloween Trunk or Treat event. This year’s Trunk or Treat incorporated a special component – the celebration of the 25th anniversary of Traditions Family Success Center. Cars were decorated for the occasion. There was a balloon artist, picture prompts, raffles, music, and of course a big anniversary cake. Carter remarked, “It was great. We really upped the ante on Trunk or Treat for TFSC’s anniversary!”

The third and biggest undertaking is Norwescap TFSC’s premier holiday gift drive – Traditions Festive Seasonal Cheer – an annual holiday assistance program operating since 2013. Each year, their goal is to provide gifts to families in need during the holidays, easing some of the worry and stress of the season.

Carter said, “The Festive Seasonal Cheer program invites members of our community to extend the spirit of giving to those families so they too can experience the magic of the holidays.”

Norwescap conducts an application process through the month of October, where families request specific holiday gifts for their children or the entire family. To date, there are over 200 applications for 2023’s Festive Seasonal Cheer. Late applicants are added to a waitlist.

Gift donors may choose a family to adopt or select “Angel Tags,” each naming one gift from a child’s wish list. Over time, as requests continued to pour in from families even after the application period was closed, a third option was added to keep up with requests and donations – a Toy Drive/Clothing Drive. Unwrapped non-specific gifts for all ages and genders were accepted at what temporarily became the Festive Seasonal Cheer Gift Shoppe, a sort of “Christmas Wonderland” as Carter described it.

Families that are wait-listed can simply walk-in on designated days and give their holiday wish list to a “Personal Shopper” who then pulls items from the “Shoppe” and brings them to the waiting family.

Beyond tangible gifts, some donors supply a dinner (or several), consisting of all the traditional components of a special holiday meal, ready to prepare at home. “If one’s schedule is tight, a gift card works too,” Carter noted. “Any amount of support is appreciated and needed.”

Carter says that it is a grueling but altogether gratifying, experience managing this annual program, from contacting donors, holding sign-up events, organizing “Angel Tags” and “Family Adoptions,” collecting and sorting gifts from October-December. In the end it is so worth it to see the children’s faces in the end.

With all the hustle and bustle of the holidays and Festive Seasonal Cheer, Traditions Family Success Center still manages to carry out all of its customary family services, activities, and presentations without missing a beat.

After 25 years, no matter the season or the challenge, Traditions Family Success Center has been there for the community for 25 years, making this year one huge happy special anniversary.

Traditions Family Success Center is open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, at 712 South Main Street (Door #2) in Phillipsburg. Evening and weekend appointments are available upon request.

To connect with Traditions Family Success Center, please email carterl@norwescap.org; call 908-454-3400 ext. 3087; or visit norwescap.org/traditions-family-success-center/. For more information about Norwescap and its initiatives, please visit norwescap.org.

Originally established in 1965, Norwescap has become a comprehensive nonprofit organization providing services to over 30,000 individuals in New Jersey annually. The organization offers a broad array of services that support and empower people with low to moderate income, helping them move away from the crisis of poverty and towards a future where they can thrive. Norwescap programs address immediate needs and build strategies for long term success, focusing on education, employment, financial empowerment, health and nutrition, housing and community development, and volunteerism and civic engagement.