SMARTplainfield Approved As 501(c)(3) Corporation

Press release from SMARTplainfield:

June 24, 2021

SMARTplainfield has been approved as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. When Katherine Balch and Laura Miranda-Browne launched the nonpartisan organization in 2019, their goal was modest: to organize Plainfielders to read books to grade-school students. But over the next two years, the students’ needs and those of residents greatly expanded.

Because of COVID-19 lockdown, SMARTplainfield strengthened its partnerships with the school district and civic community organizations, greatly expanding its mission of enhancing educational and civic efforts in Plainfield to include the following:
1. LunchBoox, 1 the book giveaway program for students at lunch pickup sites
2. School board meeting notices on Facebook about how, when, and why to join virtual meetings
3. School board candidate interviews and postings
4. US Census announcements and instructions
5. VoteNotes, 2 the voter information campaign about casting mail-in ballots
6. Tutor Pals, the virtual instruction program developed with the school district’s Community
Council
7. Social studies curriculum additions, like YPAR, 3 featuring empowering programs for high school and middle school students

In February 2021 the state of New Jersey and the IRS approved SMARTplainfield’s applications as a tax-exempt nonprofit corporation.

“It’s been a busy year,” said Treasurer Stuart Balch. “Our biggest need now is raising money to buy Spanish language books for LunchBoox.” Donations may be sent to the attention of the SMARTplainfield treasurer at 1314 Highland Avenue, Plainfield, NJ 07060.

The book giveaway program returns at the end of June and offers two-hour lunchtime slots to
volunteers interested in enriching the summer lives of public-school students. Signups available on Facebook @smartplainfield.

This press release was produced by SMARTplainfield. The views expressed here are the author’s own.