More than 200 clients of the nonprofit NewBridge Services will receive hygiene kits through a community-focused initiative by Gilead Sciences, Inc., a global biopharmaceutical leader.
Sixteen volunteers from the Quality Assurance team at Gilead filled 240 drawstring bags with toiletries. The bags include nail clippers, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, soap, lip balm, combs, razors, granola bar, Band-Aids, and antibacterial ointment. Each bag also included a handwritten note of encouragement for the recipient.
Welcoming, Generous Volunteers
NewBridge Executive Director of Counseling Viki Ferlauto said “the volunteers were welcoming, generous, and their commitment to helping the community shone through.” Viki spoke with the Gilead staff about all NewBridge does to help children, adults and seniors overcome adversities through mental health counseling, housing and education. Based in Morris County, NewBridge serves children, adults and seniors in Morris, Passaic and Sussex counties. The hygiene kits will be given to clients from any NewBridge program who needs them, Viki noted.
The Gilead service project was coordinated by Anna Perrotti, partnerships manager at Life Science Cares New York. Life Science Cares is a nonprofit that connects life sciences companies to nonprofits that are addressing poverty in our communities. Life Science Cares New York is the organization’s fifth affiliate, having launched in 2022 and works with corporations and nonprofits across the New York metropolitan area.
`Discovering Treasure’
“Being linked with Gilead through Anna Perrotti, was like discovering treasure only five minutes from our newest NewBridge Services location in Parsippany,” Viki said. NewBridge recently moved its Morris County counseling center and Child and Family Services, as well as its alternative education and career program NewBridge JobsPlus to offices at 99 Cherry Hill Road.
“Thank you, Viki Ferlauto, Head of Counseling Services, for coming out to speak about the incredible work at NewBridge!” Perrotti said. “The collaboration between Gilead Sciences and NewBridge Services showcases the powerful impact that community partnerships can have.”
For more information about NewBridge Services programs, send a note to services@newbridge.org. To donate to NewBridge, please go to newbridge.org./donate. To learn how to get involved with Life Science Cares New York, contact Anna Perrotti at anna.perrotti@lifesciencecares.org.
