DONATION REFERRALS

Many of our nonprofit agency partners are in need of different types of donated items. If you have something to donate or have conducted a drive and are in need of an agency recipient, please contact our office for a referral in your county. If you are an agency in need of items and would like to be added to our list, please contact our office.

ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

The following project listings are volunteer opportunities that may not meet the criteria for a “monthly” Jersey Cares project. When contacting and volunteering with an agency listed below, please be sure to tell them that Jersey Cares sent you. For group and team volunteering, please contact our office.

Democracy In Action - Be a Poll Worker! - throughout NJ

New Jersey citizens needed:  The Division of Elections, within the New Jersey Department of State, is seeking New Jersey citizens to assist in this November’s election by serving as poll workers.  We are expecting a very high turnout on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 and we need you!  Poll workers receive $200 for the day of service.  Training is required and will be provided. If you are interested, please click on www.njelections.org  and identify your county.  You will then be linked to information on how to apply to become a poll worker in your county.  Citizens of all ages, including college and high school students, are encouraged to apply. Please do your part to assist your community in ensuring that Election Day in New Jersey is conducted with great competence and responsiveness to the public.

GlassRoots - Newark, NJ

GlassRoots needs a longer-term volunteer with experience leading a volunteer program. The volunteer will coordinate interviewing of new program volunteers and directing their involvement. This is a high-responsibility position for someone with leadership and human resources skills willing to make a commitment. Please contact  Pat Kettenring at 973-353-5961 for more information or to volunteer.

Grace Healthcare Services - throughout NJ
Grace Healthcare Services believes that the delivery of hospice care can be taken to a new level of excellence by those who understand the privilege of serving the terminally ill. They are dedicated to advancing the quality of hospice care in the communities they serve utilizing the inherent expertise of their staff to educate consumers and to serve patients and families with the highest level of dignity and grace.

Volunteers are needed in a variety of capacities:
• Administrative Volunteers can work in the Edison office or remotely by making Memory Books for Alzheimer's patients, assisting with mailings, and other projects.
• Craft Volunteers (who may work from home) are need to make holiday cards, crafts, flowers, baskets, pictures, posters, and hand made shawls or lap blankets.
• Patient care volunteers are needed to visit with patients in homes and nursing homes in their areas and may read, write letters, and offer companionship.
• Volunteers trained in touch therapies are needed for Massage, Reiki or Reflexology.

All areas are needed and truly add to the quality of life. Though the main office of Grace Healthcares Services is in Edison, they service all of Hudson, Bergen, Union, Essex and Middlesex Counties. For more information please contact Hilda McCoy, R.N. at 866-447-0246 ext. 12 or NurseHilda@aol.com.

The Rachel Coalition - West Orange, NJ
The Rachel Coalition is a domestic violence program of Jewish Family Services of MetroWest. The non-sectarian program provides individual and support group counseling for victims of domestic violence, a batterer’s intervention program for men, children’s counseling, access to legal representation, one unit of safe housing and a 24-hour emergency paging service. The ongoing Domestic Violence Plaintiffs’ Support volunteer program provides trained community volunteers to help victims who go to Essex Family Court to apply for restraining orders. The volunteers, available in the secure domestic violence waiting area, explain the restraining order process, give information about community social services and provide emotional support to the victims.

All volunteers must first complete a 40-hour training program, two mornings per week for six weeks. Once the volunteers have completed the training, each volunteer will commit to a minimum of one morning shift per month in Family Court. For more information, or to schedule an interview, please contact Diane Finn, Rachel Coordinator of Client Services at 973-740-1233.