Community / Volunteerism
I can personally speak to the value of Volunteerism in not only the great satisfaction it can provide for doing good, but also the incredible power it can have in your career. There are few areas in job search that can help build awareness of your personal character but being engaged in your community and volunteerism
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December 5th is National Volunteer Day
SEASON OF GIVING: RECOGNIZING THE IMPACT OF VOLUNTEERING click here
SEASON OF GIVING: RECOGNIZING THE IMPACT OF VOLUNTEERING click here
Older Adults Engaged as Volunteers - Urban Institutewww.urban.org
Volunteering and Retirement More than 6 out of 10 adults age 55 and older engage in some volunteer activity (figure 1). About 2 in 10 engage in both formal and informal volunteer activities, 3 in 10 engage in informal volunteer activities only, and 1 in 10 only volunteer formally.
Volunteering and Retirement More than 6 out of 10 adults age 55 and older engage in some volunteer activity (figure 1). About 2 in 10 engage in both formal and informal volunteer activities, 3 in 10 engage in informal volunteer activities only, and 1 in 10 only volunteer formally.
By age, 35- to 44-year-olds and 45- to 54-year-olds were the most likely to volunteer (28.9 percent and 28.0 percent, respectively). Volunteer rates were lowest among 20- to 24-year-olds (18.4 percent). Teenagers (16- to 19-year-olds) continued to have a relatively high volunteer rate, at 26.4 percent. Feb 25, 2016
Back in 2015 one quarter of adults age 55+ engaged in volunteer work. In 2015, "35- to 44-year-olds and 45- to 54-year-olds were the most likely to volunteer (28.9% and 28.0%, respectively). Among 55-64 year olds, the rate is 25.1%, and for those over age 65, the rate drops to 23%, according to a 2016 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Back in 2015 one quarter of adults age 55+ engaged in volunteer work. In 2015, "35- to 44-year-olds and 45- to 54-year-olds were the most likely to volunteer (28.9% and 28.0%, respectively). Among 55-64 year olds, the rate is 25.1%, and for those over age 65, the rate drops to 23%, according to a 2016 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Why Not Try Cyber-Volunteering?
With the unique circumstances imposed by current events, many of us have the inclination - and now the time - to try new activities, explore new organizations, and serve the community. Why not try cyber-volunteering?
How Virtual Volunteering Works is a great introduction to cyber-volunteering. This article reveals new paths to personal and professional development, helping others, paying it forward. You will find many examples of online activities and kinds of volunteering which can easily be integrated - from your home base - and when it's convenient for you. You will also find website links of well-known organizations where you can begin your search and get ideas for contributing to groups near and far.
Cyber-volunteering also looks good on your resume to potential employers as a source of new skills learned, leadership development, and staying engaged with your community.
Here are some websites where you can find virtual or cyber-volunteering opportunities:
And you can read about our own New Start Career Network Volunteer Career Coaches, who were featured in a recent blog post, Answering the Call: Virtual Volunteering to Help Job Seekers, by NSCN director Maria Heidkamp.
If you have questions, email us at "Ask NSCN" nscn@ejb.rutgers.edu to schedule a conversation about your job search. We're here to help!
With the unique circumstances imposed by current events, many of us have the inclination - and now the time - to try new activities, explore new organizations, and serve the community. Why not try cyber-volunteering?
How Virtual Volunteering Works is a great introduction to cyber-volunteering. This article reveals new paths to personal and professional development, helping others, paying it forward. You will find many examples of online activities and kinds of volunteering which can easily be integrated - from your home base - and when it's convenient for you. You will also find website links of well-known organizations where you can begin your search and get ideas for contributing to groups near and far.
Cyber-volunteering also looks good on your resume to potential employers as a source of new skills learned, leadership development, and staying engaged with your community.
Here are some websites where you can find virtual or cyber-volunteering opportunities:
- The State's How You Can Help NJ page has information about volunteer opportunities for health care and tech professionals; additional volunteer opportunities are coming soon.
- Fast Forward: Virtual Volunteering During the COVID-19 Crisis--Fast Forward is a nonprofit that invests in entrepreneurs who are using technology to accelerate social impact
- Catchafire -- suggested by a number of NSCN job seekers on yesterday's Share and Support virtual group meeting
And you can read about our own New Start Career Network Volunteer Career Coaches, who were featured in a recent blog post, Answering the Call: Virtual Volunteering to Help Job Seekers, by NSCN director Maria Heidkamp.
If you have questions, email us at "Ask NSCN" nscn@ejb.rutgers.edu to schedule a conversation about your job search. We're here to help!
Non Profits
Volunteer Centers of New Jersey
Volunteer Centers and United Way organizations support and facilitate volunteerism throughout the state in a variety of ways. Among their various functions, they provide opportunities to volunteer throughout a community. Atlantic County: United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey Bergen County: Volunteer Center Bergen County Burlington County: Volunteer Center Burlington County Camden County: Volunteer Center South Jersey Cape May County: Volunteer Center South Jersey United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey Cumberland County: Volunteer Center South Jersey United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey Essex County: 1. United Way of Northern New Jersey, North Essex 2. United Way of Essex and West Hudson (Belleville, E. Orange, E. Newark, Harrison, Irvington, Kearney, Maplewood, Newark, N. Arlington, Nutley, Orange, S. Orange, W. Orange) Gloucester County: Volunteer Center Gloucester County Hudson County: 1. United Way of Essex and West Hudson (Belleville, E. Orange, E. Newark, Harrison, Irvington, Kearney, Maplewood, Newark, N. Arlington, Nutley, Orange, S. Orange, W. Orange) 2. United Way of Hudson County (Bayonne, Guttenberg, Hoboken, Jersey City, N. Bergen, Secaucus, Union City, Weehawken, W. New York) Hunterdon County: United Way of Hunterdon County Mercer County: United Way of Greater Mercer County Middlesex County: United Way of Central Jersey Monmouth County: United Way of Monmouth County Morris County: United Way of Northern New Jersey Ocean County: United Way of Ocean County Passaic County: United Way of Passaic County Salem County: Volunteer Center of South Jersey Somerset County: United Way of Northern New Jersey Sussex County: United Way of Northern New Jersey Union County: United Way of Greater Union County Warren County: United Way of Northern New Jersey Great resources for connecting volunteers and service needs across counties: Jersey Cares VolunteerConnect |
The Heritage Foundation, 214 Massachusetts Avenue NE, Washington, D.C. 20002; Web site: www.heritage.org.
Information about Heritage's funding may be found athttp://www.heritage.org/about/reports.cfm. I provided links for volunteering in Boston and nationally. 1. Volunteer Match We bring good people & good causes togetherFind a cause that lights you up. Get in touch with a nonprofit that needs you. Lists volunteer opportunities across the country. You sign up as a volunteer and can search for opportunities based on where you live based in your area. It is free to join and find volunteer opportunities. You can search for individual volunteer opportunities and group volunteer opportunities. If you are a non-profit it is free to join and list your volunteer needs. You just need to be approved which does not take long. They have a member service that is an addition fee that gives you addition features. I have personally used this with Single Volunteers Boston. 2. Ideal List Idealist is all about connecting idealists - people who want to do good - with opportunities for action and collaboration. It is free to join if you are looking for volunteer opportunities and you can search based on location. It is also free for a non-profit to join and list volunteer opportunities. With more than 100,000 organizations and 1.4 million monthly visitors to our English, Spanish (idealistas.org), and French (idealiste.org) sites, Idealist helps people move from intention to action all over the world. 3. All For Good Whether you're a nonprofit or just on a mission to do good, All for Good is a free resource for rallying others to your cause. Volunteers can search for volunteer opportunities based on the area you live. 4. Create the Good Together we can make a difference. It only takes one person to help change your world. You have the power to use your skills to do good anywhere, anytime. It is free to join you just need to register. 5. Single Volunteers Boston SVB strives to create a fun, productive environment for Boston singles to connect. SVB is an alternative to bars and dating services for single professionals who want to meet one another while performing worthwhile services in the greater Boston Community. It is free to volunteer with Single Volunteers Boston. 6. Boston Cares Boston Cares mobilizes more than 25,000 volunteers annually in support of Greater Boston schools and non-profit agencies. We offer a wide array of programs and opportunities that make it easy for you to volunteer no matter how busy your schedule is. There is a fee to use this service. 7. One Brick One Brick brings volunteers together to support other non-profit organizations by adopting an innovative twist to the volunteer experience: we create a friendly and social atmosphere around volunteering, and after each volunteer event, we invite volunteers to gather at a local restaurant or cafe where they can get to know one another in a relaxed social setting. Our 'commitment-free volunteering' allows you to choose when you volunteer, rather than having to make commitments for a certain number of volunteer hours, or agree to be available every week at a specific time. Community Service-Based Organizations
America's Grow-A-Row (NJ Hero Organization) Founded in 2002 by Pittstown resident Chip Paillex, America's Grow-a-Row is a non-profit organization that seeks to feed the hungry through the cultivation and donation of fresh produce to local food banks through a volunteer effort of planting, picking, and delivery of fresh produce. Grow-a-Row has donated over 780,000 pounds, or over $1 million worth, of produce to feed New Jersey's hungry. NJSave3lives (Blood Donation) Provides a search for 8 blood centers (American Red Cross, etc. and 7 hospitals where the public can give blood. The NJSave3lives website is part of NJ Workplace Blood Donor Coalition, which is co-hosted by DHSS and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Co. There are 18 members including businesses, trade associations, Rutgers, MetLife, NJBIA, NJ Chamber of Commerce, NJ Food Council, Virtua Health NJ Realitors Association and NJHA as examples. There is also a link to a search engine by county where the public can look for blood drives open to the public co-hosted by hosted by blood drives and businesses, universities and corporations: www.njblooddrives.com/ Camden Rescue Mission (Camden. Camden County) Provides 5,000 to 10,000 gifts annually for children and families. Cerebral Palsy Association of Middlesex Couny (Menlo Park, Middlesex) Meeting the needs of NJ's children and adults with exceptional developmental disabilities. Garden State Urban Farms Collaborates with schools, nonprofit organizations and government groups to provide employment opportunities and educational programming as well as low-cost, healthy food in urban areas throughout New Jersey. Farmers Market at Newark Beth for Thanksgiving Week. Highlight Organ Donation Promotes Donate Life New Jersey & NJ's organ donor registry. Site, time, date to be decided, possibly NJ Sharing Network headquarters. Almost 100,000 men, women and children currently need life-saving organ transplants in the US, 4,200 of them in New Jersey. 90% of Americans say they support donation, but only 30% know the essential steps to take to be a donor. HomeFront (Trenton, Mercer) Permanent housing for homeless families. Providing shelter, food and more. Jefferson Park Ministries (Elizabeth, Union) Serving NJ's Haitian population with social services, education and economic development. Jersey Cares (Newark, Essex) This lead agency for large-scale. Volunteer agency is planning events throughout north Jersey throughout December. Will engage thousands of volunteers. The Jersey Cares 16th annual Coat drive will collect and Distribute 50,000 "gently used" winter costs to at-risk men, women, and children. New Jersey Action for Healthy Kids Nation's leading nonprofits and volunteer network fighting childhood obesity and undernourishment by working with schools to improve nutrition and physical activity to help kids learn to eat right, be active every day and be ready to learn. Provide expertise, volunteers, programs and resources nationwide through a unique collaboration of more than 11,000 members-professionals, parents, educators, community volunteers, business leaders and students-in partnership with professional associations, government agencies and corporations. New Jersey Community FoodBank (Hillside, Union) Lead agency that distributes food to pantries and shelters statewide. This year 900,000 people served by community food banks. New Jersey Food Council Alliance of food retailers and their supplier partners. Their mission is to continue and maintain a reputation for excellence and integrity; enhance the image of the food industry; serve as an advocate on both legislative and regulatory issues on behalf of members and supplier partners; disseminate accurate and timely information in order to educate and inform government, the membership and the public; and develop strategic alliances. New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids The state program office funded by RWJF and coordinated by the NJ YMCA State Alliance. Focuses efforts in five New Jersey communities including Camden, Trenton, New Brunswick, Vineland and Newark, and inform others across the state about what is working best. New Jersey Primary Care Association Donate Children's books, clothes and canned food to 20 Federally Qualified Health Centers. NORWESCAP Provides services to aid in the relief of hunger. Programs that focus on helping individuals and children achieve better health are also available in several counties. There are many benefits of these programs including health screening and nutritious foods. Project Self Sufficiency, Newton (NJ Hero Organization) Founded in 1986, Project Self-Sufficiency helps to assist low-income, single parents in their efforts to build and maintain strong, healthy families; achieve economic independence; and become free from community and government assistance. St. Paul's Community Development Corporation (Paterson, Passaic) Food pantry, men's shelter. Serving most needy children and adults with social service. St. Peter's Church Lunch Program/Open Door Food Pantry (NJ Hero Organization) Serves sandwiches or hot nutritious meals are served Monday, Wednesday and Thursday each week from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm in St. Peter's Episcopal Church Parish Hall at 33 Throckmorton Street. To volunteer or make a donation, call Jim Benedict at (732) 761-0781 Your Grandmother's Cupboard, Toms River/Phillipsburg (NJ Hero Organization) A non-profit organization established by people who recognize the needs of the homeless and working poor in our communities. The Cupboard was established to provide some of these basic needs for good health and hygiene for those who could not afford it through local donations. |
