Holiday Express spreads cheer, warms hearts

The holidays are an extremely lonely time for the homeless, the hungry, the mentally ill, the physically disabled and all those who are less fortunate. That is why Holiday Express, a nonprofit organization comprising more than 600 volunteers, 90 of whom are musicians, packs up a bus and throws 50 free holiday parties in 31 days to those who need it most in the tri-state area.

This year, Holiday Express will travel to stops in New Jersey, New York, Staten Island and Philadelphia to visit homeless shelters, psychiatric hospitals, developmental centers, and other locations whose residents are often forgotten. Many have no families or friends.

At each event, from Nov. 24 until Christmas Eve, Holiday Express provides gift bags filled with items that are essential to people's everyday needs. In an effort to provide these vital gifts, Holiday Express is requesting donations of blankets used to keep those in wheelchairs covered and the homeless warm, deodorant, lip balm and toiletries for those who can't afford them, and crayons for kids to draw with. Last season Holiday Express packed and distributed more than 15,000 gift bags valued at an estimated $600,000.

Each Holiday Express event comes complete with a visit from the Grinch, Frosty and of course Santa. While the live music provided by the Holiday Express musicians enlivens the party, many hours behind the scenes make each event a success. Three hundred adult and junior volunteers are at work, sorting donations, packing gift bags and loading trucks.

While most of the Holiday Express events are private, there are a limited number of opportunities for the public to witness the fun and magic of the Holiday Express Band, all while raising money for the mission of the organization.

One of these is the Holiday Express Benefit Concert at Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank on Dec. 16 and 18. Tickets are available at www.countbasietheatre.org.

For more information about Holiday Express, please visit www.holidayexpress.org or call 732- 544-8010.

Among the local stops Holiday Express will make this season are parties at:
Dec. 10, Easter Seals, Lincroft;
Dec. 16, Harbor School, Eatontown;
Dec. 16, Ladacin Network, Wanamassa;
Dec. 19, Alpha School, Jackson;
Dec. 19, CVR, Eatontown; and
Dec. 24, Trinity Church Soup Kitchen, Asbury
Park.