December reminders
Don’t just live through days; make them count.
You already have the right person – you.
Choose people that choose you.
Nothing is too good for you.
Growth is uncomfortable but worth it.

"A little smile, a word of cheer, a bit of love from someone near. A little gift from one held dear. Best wishes for the coming year. These make a merry Christmas!"

Quote by John Greenleaf Whittier

The Holidays Are Here!

Thank you to everyone who submitted artwork! We can't wait to share this year's Eiros Group Holiday Cards with you! Meanwhile, here's a preview of some of the fantastic submissions.

Save the Date!

Eiros Group Winter Party
Saturday Jan. 11th

Invitations will be sent out soon, so keep an eye out for it and be sure to R.S.V.P.!

Are you a DSP? Then Join Us Thursday Dec. 19th!

We're excited to invite all Direct Support Professionals to our DSP Support Group on December 19th (via Zoom), led by Victoria and Garry, your Regional Coordinators. Victoria oversees the Northern Region, while Garry takes care of Central and South.

This support group is a fantastic opportunity for DSPs to come together, share ideas, voice challenges, and celebrate successes in an open forum. Let’s create a space where everyone feels heard and valued!

To accommodate your schedules, we’ll offer two sessions: one in the morning from 10:00 to 11:00 AM and another in the evening from 6:00 to 7:00 PM.

Plus, we’re hosting a raffle for a chance to win a movie night for two! To be eligible, simply attend and confirm your time slot with Victoria or Garry.

Don’t miss this chance to connect and engage—your voice matters! We look forward to seeing you there!

REGISTER HERE!

Garryan & Tori

NJ Transit Announces Discounts for People with Disabilities

Are you qualified for our Reduced Fare Program? If you’re a  person with a disability, you’re eligible to apply to NJ TRANSIT’s Reduced Fare Program! As a member of our program, you can save 50 percent on a regular one-way ticket.

With this program, you can ride any NJ TRANSIT bus, rail or light rail service at a reduced rate at any time. Just show your Reduced Fare ID or Medicare Card, along with your ticket, to the operator or conductor.

People with Disabilities can click here for a printable application that needs to be completed by a physician or certifying agency, or you can call or email the NJ TRANSIT Reduced Fare Office or an authorized state, county or local agency that serve people with disabilities to obtain an application. Once your application is completed, follow the mailing instructions and we’ll do the rest!

By the way, we also offer discounts to active military service members, their dependents and veterans with service-connected disabilities. To find out more, click here. If eligible, we hope you take advantage of one of these great opportunities!

Direct Support Spotlight: Vicki & Lena

by Tori Betrix, Regional Coordinator of Direct Support

Vicki and Lena have been working together for almost a year, and during that time, they've built a strong and supportive relationship.

As Lena's Direct Support Professional, Vicki takes her on regular community outings, running errands, shopping, and enjoying time out and about. Their bond has grown

significantly in their time working together.

December Eiros Group

Anniversaries & Birthdays!

Happy Birthday to David B., Cathleen C., Anne-Marie C., Paulina C., Desiree C., Tea D., Mark D., Samantha D., Diane D., Ricardo H., Tara H., Jeff J., Pam K., Damaris M., David P., Howard S., Sal S., and Toni W.!

We also want to wish Happy Eiros Group Anniversaries to Katie B., Roslyn D., Grace O., Howard S., Sal S., and Terry M.!

Thank you to all of you for being a part of our amazing group!!

We have a DSP who is available Part time: Mondays 10:00 AM-5:00 PM and Wednesdays 4:00 PM-9:00 PM. She enjoys cooking, traveling, being outdoors and bowling. 

For more details and to schedule a meeting, contact Victoria Betrix Regional Coordinator of Direct Support for Northern New Jersey at 908 524 9748

DSP Spotlight: Aiden - Enjoying Life!

By Desiree Coyle, Supports Broker

Aiden and his family joined the Eiros family to assist him in finding his own place to live and the right people to support him on a regular basis. Since settling into his new home, Aidan has become more involved in all that life has to offer.

His mom shares “Aidan, a 22-year-old young man, is an energetic, fun-loving guy that loves staying busy by participating in all kinds of activities. Aidan had a fun filled summer and fall going to the beach, boardwalk, Six Flags and participated in swimming lessons. He continues to enjoy bowling, bike riding, cooking classes, and loved all the ‘spooky’ Halloween events. He is a fan of Club Adept’s social events and has made new friends.”

The Eiros Group Picnic

Photo Gallery is Online!

The Magic of Christmas

by Lisa Askew, Supports Broker

Christmas is a big deal in our house! Just like many other kids, my children spend a lot of time perfecting their Santa wish list. We spend hours tracking Santa’s location with NORAD. My kid’s curiosity is peaked when Santa leaves his footprints by the door.

Amazingly, I have even caught Santa on camera several times, placing presents under our tree.

As my children have grown, I begin to worry if they would stop believing in the Magic of Christmas. Would my older son stop believing, and if so, would my toddler not be able to experience it the same way? I’ve learned that Christmas’ magic does not rely on Santa.

It does not rely on reindeer, sleighs, presents, or food. The joy and Magic of Christmas is there if you look. It is in the twinkling of lights; it is in the excitement and the decorations. The Magic of Christmas exists when you give a gift or put thought into a gift. I believe we all carry that twinkle of Santa inside us, so as the holidays approach, remember to be kind and take time to look for the Magic of Christmas!

As we move in to the New Year, school districts throughout New Jersey will be conducting Transition Planning Meetings and Transition Fairs to assist graduating students in developing ISP's (Individualized Service Plans) as they move in to Adult services.

Jean Marie, Supports Broker (pictured above) recently attended the Salem County Transition Fair and Lindsay, Supports Broker, and Sherry, Manager of Supports Brokerage, (pictured below) attended the Bergen County Transition Fair, both held last month.

If there is a student you know who will be graduating this coming Spring, and they will need assistance with DDD Services, please contact Kristen Mathews at kristenm@eiros-group.com to get more help.

I wanted to find my own place and make my life better. I am already taking classes at GameU to be a video game designer, and I also have interest in signing up for Blue Light Music.

While I have already been meeting some of goals, I still had one that was important to me, finding my own place.

With the help from my Support Broker at Eiros Group, I was able to share places I found on the internet and look at places she shared with me. Together we visited a few locations in-person and spoke with the leasing agents.

That’s when we met Meg. She showed us two different apartments that were open and ready to move in. With the assistance from my Support Broker, Meg, mom and I went over everything that was needed to apply and get approved for my first place.

The process went well and came true very quickly. I was able to move into my own apartment in October, and have also received a furniture voucher to assist me with filling my new place and making it my own.

Now that I have my own apartment, I am working on creating a budget, received my snap benefits, will begin a search for an emotional support cat, started working with a job coach to find a part time job doing warehouse store work, and finding volunteer

opportunities.

I know that trying to being independent and being an adult without my parent’s help will be hard, but I can do the best that I can and my ability to do the bills the best that I can.

Christmas!

by Shannon Morgan, Billing Coordinator

I come from a big family, being the baby of 6 children. Every Christmas Eve, all my siblings, their spouses and children (19 of us) come to my house for the day into the evening. Everyone brings a dish to share. We all wear our Christmas Pajamas! We have dinner together and exchange gifts. The adults do a secret Santa and all the kids get gifts from their Aunts and Uncles. The kids also do a secret Santa amongst themselves where they enjoy going to the store to pick out their own gifts for their cousins. When it’s time to open presents, we pick names out of a hat and everyone watches, with joy and anticipation, each person open their gifts. Before everyone leaves, we take the little ones outside to feed the reindeer. With such a big family it’s nice to have everyone together to celebrate the day. We also go together every year to pick out our Christmas Tree.

Workshop presentation at the Annual SHA Conference

Last month, we were delighted for such a great turnout for our workshop presentation at the annual SHA Conference. Now in its 26th year, the New Jersey Supportive Housing Conference, is an educational and networking opportunity for housing and service providers, community planners, housing developers, public officials, families, and those interested in promoting and advancing supportive housing for all. The conference draws an average of 300+ attendees.

Sherry Cameron, Manager of Supports Brokerage, and Emily Blohm, Supports Broker, discussed two of their recent housing experiences, the challenges, and the successful outcomes. Thank you to everyone who attended our workshop! If you would like more information about our housing successes, please contact us!

For more information about this year's conference visit: https://www.shanj.org/conference-2024/

Recipe Traditions

by Kristen Mathews, COO of Eiros Group

My brother, Richard, and I always loved my grandma’s rice and beans. She passed away when we were very young, but I’ll always remember how happy she was making this amazing dish.

My father and his family moved to New York from Puerto Rico at a
young age, and my grandmother was a very proud American Puerto Rican.

Now, I love making this dish for my father on special occasions. I’m sure it’s not quite as good as hers, but I try! The only thing I’m missing is her homemade sofrito so if anyone has a great recipe, please share!

Grandma’s Rice and Beans with Pork Chops
Ingredients:
4 Pork Chops
3 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 Green Bell Pepper – finely chopped
1 Red Bell Pepper – finely chopped
1 Spanish Onion – finely chopped
1 Jalapeño Pepper – finely chopped
5 Cloves Garlic – finely chopped
6 oz Red Sofrito
16 oz Refried Red Kidney Beans
16 oz Red Kidney Beans
16 oz Chicken Stock
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 Tbsp Goya Masarica Corn Masa Flour (or substitute with all-purpose flour if needed)
Chopped Cilantro for garnish
White Rice

Instructions:
1. Prepare the Pork Chops:

• Take pork chops out of the fridge to bring to room temperature.
• Season with salt and pepper
  

2. Sear the Pork Chops:

• Heat olive oil in a large stock pot over medium heat.
• Sear pork chops for about 5 minutes per side until browned.
  
• Remove from pot and set aside.
  

3. Cook the Vegetables:

• Add the chopped peppers, onion, and jalapeño to the pot.
• Cook for about 5 minutes until soft, then add garlic and cook 1 more minute.
  

4. Add Sofrito and Refried Beans:

• Stir in the red sofrito and refried beans until combined.
• Add 1 cup of chicken stock, stir well, and bring to a boil.
  

5. Simmer with Pork Chops:

• Return pork chops to the pot.
• Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for at least 2 hours, stirring every 20–30 minutes.
• If the mixture needs thickening, add a little corn masa flour.
  

6. Cook White Rice:

• Prepare white rice according to package instructions and set aside.
  

7. Add Kidney Beans:

• Add the kidney beans to the pot in the last 20 minutes of cooking to warm through.
  

8. Serve:

• Place a generous serving of rice on a plate.
  Top with the bean mixture and a pork chop.
• Garnish with chopped cilantro and enjoy!

Food insecurity, especially during the holidays, shouldn't have to happen. However, it does. For those who are looking for support or ways to help others during the holidays, we have compiled a resource list of a few "Holiday Help Out" programs throughout New Jersey

NORTH:
St. Johns Soup Kitchen
Tuesday-Saturday:
Breakfast: 8am-9am
Lunch: 11:30am-12:30pm

Elijah’s Promise
Community Soup Kitchen
Monday-Saturday: 11am-12:30pm

Toni’s Kitchen
Thursday-Saturday: 11:30am-12:30pm
Sunday: 5pm-6pm

Bessie Green Community, Inc
Sit and eat by appointment only

Nourish NJ
Monday through Friday 11:30am-5pm
Saturday and Sunday 11am-2pm
OR
Nourish NJ
347 S. Salem Street Victory Gardens
Monday-Friday: 7am-7pm

House of Love Soup Kitchen
4th
Tuesday of the month 8:30am-1pm

St. James Social Services Corporation
Soulfood Soup Kitchen
Monday-Friday: lunch from 12pm-2pm
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: Dinner served

Family Promise Walk in Dinner
Housing Health and Human Services Center
7 days a week 3pm-6pm

Harvest House
Community lunch program
Monday-Friday: 11:45am-12:30pm

Eva’s Community Kitchen
Monday-Friday: 8:30am
Monday-Friday: 12pm-1pm
Saturday and Sunday: 12pm

CENTRAL:
Monmouth County Pantries and Soup Kitchens

Ocean County Pantries and Soup Kitchens

Trenton Area Soup Kitchen
Meal Sites and Free Community Meals

Community Kitchen
Monday-Friday: 8:30am-10:30am, 11am-1pm
Friday: 6pm-8pm
Saturday 9am-11am, 10am-12pm (bagged lunch only)

JBJ Soul Kitchen Community Restaurant
Friday: 11:30am-1:30pm
Wednesday- Saturday: 5pm-7pm
Sunday: 11:30am-1:30pm
OR
JBJ Soul Kitchen Community Restaurant
1769 Hooper Ave Toms River
Wednesday-Friday: 11:30am-1:30pm
Tuesday, Friday and Saturday: 5pm-7pm

Simons Soup Kitchen
Wednesdays of the month: 3:30pm-6pm



Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish Center
Tuesday and Friday: 5pm

SOUTH:
Burlington County Give a Christmas Program
Text GAC to 898-211 or call 211 for application

Mobile and Pop-up Food Pantries in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem
Counties

Cathedral Kitchen
1514 Federal Street Camden
Meal Program: Monday- Friday: 3:15-5pm
Saturday: to-go only 12pm-1pm
Monday-Friday: mini market 2:45pm-5pm.

Ladle of Love Pantry
St Mary Episcopal Church
2nd, 3rd, and 4th

Upcoming events throughout NJ

Below are upcoming activities or events throughout New Jersey! If you are hosting a similar type of event, and would like it included in our newsletter, please send to info@Eiros-Group.com

*Please allow 2 weeks or more advance notice. Thanks!

JOIN US FOR OUR FREE  LUNCH AND LEARN SERIES
12:00-1:00pm
 
December 11, 2024: Accessing Non-traditional Special Needs Services: Goods and Services, Classes, Remote Instruction, Presented by Lisa McCauley Parles, Esq. To RSVP CLICK HERE
 
January 8, 2025: Creating an Effective IEP and What to do When Things Go Wrong, Presented by Judith Weinstock, Esq. To RSVP CLICK HERE
 
February 12, 2025: Orton-Gillingham and the Dyslexia Puzzle, Presented by Alexis Greenberg, Esq. To RSVP CLICK HERE
 
For past Parles Rekem webinars CLICK HERE.

NORTH:

Let it Glow
Open through January 12

Orchard of Lights
Open through December 29

Holiday Lights Hayride
Open through December 22

Magic Lights
Open through January 4

Light Show and Christmas Village
Check link for upcoming 2024 schedule!

Skylands Stadium Light Show
Open through December 30

Holiday market and Give-Back Drive
December 13: 5:30pm

Kwanzaa Community Celebration
December 14: 12pm-4pm

Community Day: Winter Wonderland
December 14: 12pm-5pm

Christmas Cookie Walk
December 14: 10am until sold out

Countdown to Christmas
December 21: 10am-4pm

Kwanzaa Celebration
December 27: 4 to 6pm

CENTRAL:

Holiday Lights in the Park
Open through January 1

Old Fashion Christmas
Open through December 29

Asbury Park Bazaar
Open through December 22: 12pm-5pm

Holiday Expo
December 14: 12pm-5pm

Handel’s Messiah
December 20 through 21

SOUTH:

Atlantic City Tinseltown Holiday Experience
Through December 26

Harbaugh Village
Open through December 22

Handmade Hangout
December 15: 1:30-3:30pm

Sensory Sunday
December 15: 9:30-10:30am

Caregivers Support Group
December 17: 5:30-6:30pm

Willingboro Kwanza Fest
December 28: 11am-4pm

Diggerland Holiday Lights
Open through January 12

Rolling Railway Magical Holiday Express
Open through December 30

Christmas Fantasy Lights
Open through December 30

Holiday Fun for Families
Open through December 23

If you are hosting a similar type of event, and would like  it included in our newsletter, please send to  info@Eiros-Group.com

*Please allow 2 weeks or more advance notice. Thanks! Please note, we are relaying information found on other websites or through other organizations, and doing so as a service. Please confirm event details and information directly.

Free events in New Jersey:

Sayen Botantical Gardens
155 Hughes Drive Hamilton Township

Princeton University Art. Museum
Elm Drive Princeton
Tuesday-Sunday

Howell Living History Farm
70 Wooden Lane Hopewell Township

Drumthwacket
354 Stockton Street Princeton
Reservation can be made for free guided tours.

Mercer County Library- Museum Passes

New Jersey State Museum
205 W. State Street Trenton
Admission free- fee for planetarium

Art and Coffee Break
Second Thursdays 5:30-7:30pm
Annex Gallery-Historic Smithville
803 Smithville Road Eastampton

Cape May Zoo and Park
707 Route 9 N. Cape May
Free- donation’s accepted

Heritage Glass Museum
25 E. High Street Glassboro

The Center for Contemporary Art
202 Burnt Mills Road Bedminster Township
Admission free- suggested $5 donation, fee for classes

Twin Lights Historic Site
2 Light House Road Highlands

The All-Star Sports Museum
8 Burt Street Bridgeton

Presby Memorial Iris Gardens
474 Upper Mountain Ave Montclair

Empty Sky, 9/11 Memorial
Liberty State Park
1 Audrey Zapp Drive Jersey City

Please be sure to click the links in the above to verify days/times prior to planning your day. These listings may have specific limitations, and are provided for informational purposes only. Be sure to confirm prior to attending.