Westfield United Fund seeks volunteers, sales for ‘United by Light’ fundraiser

Beth Saad, executive director of the Westfield United Fund, asked the Town Council on Oct. 28 for help promoting the organization’s annual United by Light fundraiser, which raises money for local mental-health services.

"This is our annual fundraiser to shine a light on mental health," Saad said, explaining that luminary-style candle kits are sold and distributed to partner agencies across Union County. This year the fund plans kit distribution Nov. 14–15 and a townwide lighting on Nov. 16, moved earlier in the season because of weather concerns in prior years.

Saad said the organization is setting a goal to sell 2,000 kits; the fundraiser sold about 1,300 kits last year and 1,800 the year before. If Westfield sells all kits this year, Saad said the event could raise "upwards of $40,000," money she said would be distributed to six partner agencies to pay for counseling, group grief sessions, music and art therapy programs, and training for 988 volunteers.

Saad also announced an impact grant pilot with the high school program and said the United Fund has been coordinating with student-assistance counselors to fund promising student and family programming. Sixth-grader Claire Diorio, who said she was recently crowned Miss New Jersey Preteen, described decorating luminary bags as a way to spread kindness and encouraged council members to participate.

Saad asked residents to buy kits at westfieldunitedfund.org and to follow the organization on social media for distribution and event updates. Mayor Bridal and council members thanked Saad and Diorio for the presentation and said they would help distribute promotional materials through town channels.

The council took no formal action on the presentation; the event is organized by the Westfield United Fund, a nonprofit, and not an official town program.