During the week of November 16 – 20, 2020, the Junior League of Morristown (JLM) enters its fifth year participating in the Little Black Dress Initiative (LBDI); a social awareness campaign, which seeks to increase knowledge of the poverty in NJ by asking our members to wear one black dress or outfit for five days to: (1) Highlight the effects of a lack of access to resources and to provide the JLM a platform to share about the work we do to help in these issue areas; (2) Understand how limited resources can affect daily life; and (3) Fundraise to support JLM’s community partners. This year’s LBDI will underscore the impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on our community. Funds raised will provide direct assistance to our community through the JLM Helps Campaign. As our community is spending more time at home and practicing social distancing, participants will be wearing a JLM-branded mask in lieu of or in addition to our usual black dresses.  

What is the Little Black Dress Initiative?
LBDI is a poverty awareness and fundraising campaign that sheds light on the “invisible poverty” that surrounds us, with the goal of raising awareness and funds to help lift the burden carried by the most vulnerable in our community. JLM is aiming to raise $10,000 in five days. This goal is to further our mission and community impact focus area: to address the unmet needs of teens in Morris County and surrounding areas to ensure ample food, resources and education needed to develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Why is LBDI necessary?
 

• In 2018, more than 26,000 people in Morris County were food insecure, meaning they did not have consistent access to adequate food. Due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, nationwide more than 54 million people may experience food insecurity in 2020, including a potential 18 million children.
• In New Jersey, 1.2 million households were already struggling to afford the basics even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
• According to 2016 data, 52,490 Morris County households are too income constrained to afford the basic costs of housing, food, childcare, health care and transportation.

Impact
Over the last four years, more than 80 members have participated to help "Make Poverty Unfashionable!", raising over $70,000. This year, funds raised through LBDI allow the JLM to provide direct assistance to our community partners through the JLM Helps Campaign.

JLM Helps Campaign
The Covid-19 pandemic turned our lives upside down and quickly changed the world we live in. With higher unemployment rates due to the global pandemic, our community partners have struggled with increased clientele needing shelter, food, and support. JLM knew our community needed our help now more than ever. In response, we launched the JLM Helps Campaign designed to help bridge the gaps where funding, supplies, and volunteer presence may have been lost to COVID-19 and where individuals need a hand up to get through these tough times. As of October 2020, JLM has donated more than $10,000 to our community partners including Roots & Wings, Interfaith Food Pantry, nourish.NJ, Homeless Solutions, Visions & Pathways, and Jersey Battered Women’s Service. With funds raised through LBDI, we hope to double what we have donated to date.