As part of its 25th anniversary, the non-profit organization Holiday Express is holding 100 events to assist those in need.
Beginning on Nov. 6, Holiday Express will travel to 100 locations in New Jersey, New York City and Philadelphia in 49 days to provide gifts, food, and music to more than 27,000 adults and children.
Founded by musician and restaurant owner Tim McLoone, Holiday Express consists of more than 2,000 volunteers and, according to organization representatives, strives to assist those struggling with financial problems, health issues and loneliness during the holiday months. Those served by the organization include mentally challenged individuals, physically challenged individuals, veterans, individuals in poverty, the homeless, those living in isolation, participants of addiction and recovery programs, and children with major illnesses.
The 100 locations that Holiday Express intends to serve for 2017 represents a 10 percent increase from 2016 and, as McLoone noted, a significant increase from the 10 events it held in its first year.
“It’s really daunting because we’re doing 100 events,” McLoone said. “We were doing 10 in our first year and we thought that was a challenge. Still, there’s a non-ending amount of volunteers and places to go.”
On one occasion, McLoone described seeing a woman providing assistance to an overweight man by moving him around, despite the man being significantly larger than her. When McLoone spoke to her, she said she did it because she loved her job.
He acknowledged that around the time that Holiday Express began, he was in a “dark time” and was not looking forward to the holidays. Choosing to dedicate his time to playing in shows, he was brought to Stamford, Connecticut, where he performed in front of young parents.
“There was there acknowledgement that something we did helped,” McLoone said.
During his quarter century with the organization, McLoone made note of an individual who had become overweight and out-of-shape. Years later, the individual improved his well-being and informed McLoone that he did so because his daughter was graduating from college.
Many of those assisted by Holiday Express, as stated by McLoone, do not receive support from others.
“The need we see is so great, we don’t care if they’re already getting attention,” he said. “But in most of the places we go, [those we help] are not getting anything.”
Most of the 100 events that the organization will host this year are private, but there will be events that the public can attend.
On Nov. 19, Holiday Express will hold the Christmas Concert in the Park at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township.
On Nov. 24, Holiday Express will hold the Red Bank Town Lighting in Red Bank.
On Dec. 18-19, the 25th Anniversary Holiday Express Benefit Concerts will be held at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank. The Dec. 18 concert is presented by Stillwell-Hansen Inc. and the Dec. 19 concert is presented by Investors Bank. Tickets can be purchased online at: www.countbasietheatre.org.
