In the heart of Montclair, a simple but powerful idea is changing lives: neighbors helping neighbors in moments of acute, often invisible need. On a recent episode of The Montclair Pod, Ray Graj, co-founder and one of eight trustees of Montclair Helps, shared how a group of friends turned poker nights and camping trips into a rapid-response lifeline for the community.
Turning Friendship into Impact
What began as a grassroots effort among “eight buddies who live in Montclair” has grown into a vital community resource. Over the past two years, Montclair Helps has provided just under $200,000 in grants to families facing sudden crises.
The organization operates with a unique, non-bureaucratic model designed for speed and dignity. As Graj explained, “We step in within 12 to 40 hours of receiving a request.” They focus on individuals who are typically self-sustaining but have hit a wall due to an emergency, such as a towed car, a domestic abuse situation, or sudden medical debt.
How It Works: Fast, Local, and Direct
Montclair Helps partners with nearly two dozen local nonprofits, including Tony’s Kitchen, Human Needs Food Pantry, Family Promise of Essex, and Montclair State University. These partners identify “people living paycheck to paycheck who run into a crisis.”
The assistance is intentionally practical and direct. “We provide that one-time relief not by giving them the money, but paying the auto repair shop, paying the landlord for the back rent, [or] paying for the medical debt,” Graj said. To further strengthen community ties, every recipient also receives a $50 gift card to pay it forward to someone else. Graj noted this “breaks down the wall between giver and receiver and it just creates a good vibe.”
The Season of Giving: Acute Needs Right Now
As temperatures drop, the demand for local support has spiked significantly. “The last two weeks we’ve had over 10 inquiries and normally we’re maybe two to three a month,” Graj shared. Several specific community initiatives currently require urgent attention:
- The Need for Warmth: The Human Needs Food Pantry is experiencing a record demand for coats, having given out 1,000 in a single week recently. There is an “acute need” for men’s coats specifically, as well as large and extra-large sizes for both men and women.
- Bringing Holiday Joy: Reach Out Montclair is hosting its 12th annual toy drive this Saturday at the Wally Choice Center. Graj encouraged those looking to help to find details on their Instagram profile, as they need donations by Friday to serve the over 500 families they support.
- Financial and Personal Support: Beyond direct donations to Montclair Helps, Graj emphasized that “giving isn’t just financial”. He noted that “the most valuable thing someone brings is time or consistency or paying attention to details”.
A Connected Community
For Graj and his fellow trustees, the work has transformed their own relationship with the town. “I’m connected to the community in a way that I’ve never thought was possible,” he reflected.
He believes the true spirit of the season lies in awareness rather than grand gestures. “It’s really not about doing more. It’s about noticing more,” Graj said. “When giving feels natural instead of performative, really, everyone benefits, including the person doing the giving”. By focusing on these niche, “invisible” cases, Montclair Helps ensures that a temporary fix can prevent a permanent crisis.
