Media Contact: Pam Garretson

973-464-8805

CALLING ALL OLD BAGS!

Jersey Battered Women’s Service of MorrisCounty

Seeks Donations for October Fundraiser

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ, MAY 2013 – The Jersey Battered Women’s Service of Morris County is in search of bags – designer bags, gently used bags, vintage, or new fashionable bags -- to use at its first-ever Old Bags Luncheon fundraiser. The Old Bags Luncheon is a fundraising event that offers a silent auction for ladies looking to increase their bag collection while donating to aid in the prevention of domestic violence.

The Old Bags Luncheon will be held at Spring Brook Country Club on Tuesday, October 15, and is organized by co-chairs Joen Ferrari and Rose-Emily Calo and a committee of 16 MorrisCounty women.Tickets cost $100. To purchase tickets or for more information, please visit

“Despite the name ‘Old Bags Luncheon,’ there is nothing frumpy about it,” Ferrari said. “We are looking for bags from the community that reflect a diverse and interesting collection of vintage and brand-name items that the crowd will love to claim as their own. We are asking women to dig into their closets and their hearts and give to aid other women and families.”

Bag drop-off at select Weichert and Provident Bank locations are now open. Old Bags committee member Jennifer Fondots, CNE, sales associate at Weichert Realtors in Chester, has spearheaded Weichert’s efforts to open its doors to support the event. Fondots also has gotten the support of nine other Weichert locations throughout MorrisCounty to assist in this effort.

Provident Bank has been a long-time supporter of JBWS, providing volunteers to events and programs, and as JBWS board leadership. The individual branches also have participated in other JBWS fundraisers, including the sale of lanterns and mother and child pins to promote awareness.

Anyone donating a bag at any location will receive a receipt for a tax deduction at the time of drop off. The following locations are accepting bags now:

Weichert Realtors locations:

142 Main Street, Chester

64 Main Street, Chatham

21 West Main Street, Mendham

505 Millburn Avenue, Short Hills

43 Old Bloomfield Avenue, MountainLakes

284 Route 10, Randolph

174 Boonton Avenue, Kinnelon

73 Washington Street, Morristown(Morristown West location)

1072 Route 46 West, Parsippany

500 Route 10, Succassunna

All proceeds from the Old Bags Luncheon will benefit the Jersey Battered Women’s Service of Morris County, a full-service, private, nonprofit domestic violence agency. The mission of JBWS is the prevention of domestic violence through the protection and empowerment of the victim, the rehabilitation of family members,the advocacy of social reform to prevent partner violence, and the education of the public about domestic violence and its consequences.

For more information about the Old Bags Luncheon, please visit or call 973-267-7520, ext. 278.

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Old Bags Luncheon Committee Members are all MorrisCounty residents who have either previously volunteered for Jersey Battered Women’s Service or organized fundraising events. They include: Co-Chairs Joen Ferrari and Rose-Emily Calo; Ellie Nice; Betsy Brown; MaryAlice Breuninger; Sarah Flaherty; Grace De La Rosa; Linda Horn; Ana Klobus; Meg Saliterman; Carol Personick; Tara Skirzenski; Jennifer Fondots; Neelam Joshi; and Kathy Colston.