An 'Outstanding' Reaction to Call for Donations

to give to The Eric Johnson House in Morristown. The response from the community, she said, was "outstanding."

Swartz, a local businesswoman and Chatham resident, collected toiletries from the Kiwanis Club of the Chathams, the Madison-Chatham Joint Chamber of Commerce, Girl Scout Troop No. 1075 and members of the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners (NJAWBO).

On Thursday morning, Swartz delivered a 16-gallon plastic tub a and five grocery bags of toiletries, all donated from her local contacts,

One member of NJAWBO, Angela Gagauf, put Swartz in touch with her brother, Paul Xenis. Xenis works as the president and COO of CYSCO Guest Supply, which provides hotel toiletries to several major hotel chains, including Hilton, Marriott and Wyndham.

"Karen mentioned to my sister how they collect personal amenities from the community," Xenis said. "Our company donates to a lot of organizations, ... and being that we're a New Jersey-based organization we just felt this was a good cause, and we wanted to help out."

Guest Supply agreed to donate 10 cases of shampoo and 10 cases of soap to New Jersey AIDS Services. The materials will be shipped there directly.

Overwhelming Response

Swartz planned to stop collecting toiletries on Sept. 16 and deliver the items then, but she said she continued getting donations past the deadline. "I'm still getting phone calls," she said.

Carolyn Engle, the community coordinator at The Eric Johnson House, gave Swartz a tour of the facility, including the communal dining room, smoking porch, the communal living room and an unoccupied bedroom.

The Eric Johnson House offers transitional housing for up to 10 homeless individuals for up to 24 months and transitional services for those who find their own housing. Staff and volunteers ensure residents receive medical treatment. A substance abuse and mental health counselor are among the staff.

Engle said some of the donated items will be kept at the house, while others will go to some of New Jersey AIDS Services' community-based offices.

Swartz came up with the idea to collect the toiletries after she heard Laurie Litt-Robbins, the executive director of New Jersey AIDS Services, speak to the Kiwanis Club of the Chathams in June about the challenges faced by the organization, including depleted collections of personal hygiene products.

"To allow [people] to fall through the cracks like that just wouldn't be right," Swartz said.

Anyone wishing to donate to The Eric Johnson House can contact Engle at (973) 285-0006.