STEPPING OUT AND VOLUNTEERING
Do you have a desire to step out of your comfort zone and volunteer for a cause, a group of people, for your faith, or any other heartfelt reason in your soul? Well, here is a good place to start. Listed below are websites that could use your help in assisting with their organizations. Tap in, explore your heart and see where the spirit may lead you. If you have any questions, please contact the Social Concerns office here at St.Jos and speak to Jeanine Cavanagh. All conversations are held in confidence. If you cannot find something or are unsure about any issue, contacting the Social Concerns Director may lead you to a path that helps you confidently and fully move out of your comfort zone!
Places to Check-Out...
Big Brother Big Sister Agency
What if every child fulfilled their potential? Make a positive impact on a child and improve your community at the same time. Give a young person the invaluable gift of a few hours of your friendship and start changing their lives.
www.bbbs.org
Catholic Charities
https://ccdom.org/volunteer
Catholic Relief Services
A U.S. and global volunteer network committed to working in other countries, as well as the U.S., through the efforts of many volunteers with varied talents and backgrounds. Catholic Relief Services helps educate, fight hunger, build, offer medical and therapeutic time, and hope. Volunteers needed span all ages, types of families and individuals, educational and trade backgrounds as well as various times to give (weekends to a full year in the field). Go to www.crs.org and find out more!
Compassionate Care Hospice
You can help make a difference. Do you enjoy visiting people in need, running errands, sharing a special skill? Free training provided to become a hospice volunteer. For more info call:
973-402-4712 or www.compassionate-care.com
Elijah’s Soup Kitchen
Volunteer jobs include feeding dinner to the needy at one of two soup kitchens, making lunches, helping at the restaurant, sorting clothes for the needy population, cleaning the kitchen, and gardening. This website is very organized: go to it, check out the time slots and job opportunities and match to when you are available.
www.Elijahspromise.org
The New Jersey Food Bank
Volunteer opportunities to help at the food bank located in Union, NJ. This center handles food collections and deliveries, clothes donations, school supply collections as well as other volunteer opportunities for individuals, groups, children and families.
www.njfoodbank.org
Friendship Ministries
A program to share God's love with people who have intellectual disabilities and to enable them to become an active part of God's family. If you would like to help start this program in our church, please contact the Social Concerns office. The format for this ministry is successfully up and running across the United States in many congregations of many faiths.
To gain a further perspective and more information, click on www.friendship.org
The Greater Newark Clean-Air Fund
Suburban Visitation Program
Open your family’s heart and home for one week of the summer to a child from Newark.
https://www.newarkdaycenter.org/
Habitat for Humanity – The New Jersey Raritan Valley Chapter of Habitat for Humanity
Many opportunities from building homes, landscaping new homes, painting, office work, and other volunteer efforts that help families get into a home of their own; Opportunities available for men and women, as well as families with children 11-17.
https://rvhabitat.org
HOME of Somerset County, Inc.(formerly Interfaith Hospitality Network) – Homeless Shelter Program
Volunteer opportunities available through our church and other churches that sponsor the homeless shelters throughout the year. In addition, contact the Flynn Center for other opportunities.
www.homescnj.org
Jewish Family Services Center
Help a family, help a mom, help a dad by giving time weekly or monthly. This program mentors individuals to help them gain self-esteem and move forward. Training provided.
West High Street, Somerville, NJ
908-725-7799
www.Jewishfamilysvc.org
New Jersey Volunteer Program
To find volunteer opportunities for every age and ability within the state of New Jersey during times of disaster as well as normal daily needs, go to: www.volunteernewjersey.org Maybe someone down the street or in the next town could use YOUR help!
Pregnancy Aid And Information Center
Get involved with the Pregnancy Aid Center. Volunteers needed! Call the center to volunteer or donate
https://pregnancyaidcenter.wixsite.com/raritan/get-involved
(908) 526-8121
Red Cross
The Red Cross has many opportunities to volunteer for youth and adults. Opportunities include Student Internships, Youth Council, Blood Drives, office work, and disaster education, to name a few. Go to www.RedCross.org for information about the Red Cross, or http://greatersomerset.redcross.org for local chapter
info. 1-800-REDCROSS
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)
Put your life experiences to work as a volunteer. This is the umbrella group for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), the country’s largest network of volunteers who are 55 or older. The website offers one-stop shopping for volunteer activities, organized by interest areas. Local RSVP offices can be found in all 50 states.
https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/884
Safe + Sound Somerset
Safe + Sound Somerset prevents and responds to domestic abuse with programs that provide safety, support and education for individuals, families and the community. Volunteer assignments, including Social Ambassadors, Helpline Advocates, Safe House Support, and others, are available:
https://www.safe-sound.org/volunteer/
24 hour hotline: 866-685-1122
Special Olympics of New Jersey:
To provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual and physical disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.
All ages of volunteers help make this program run successfully. To volunteer, your time for a variety of jobs both on and off the fields, contact: www.sonj.org
For further information about Special Olympics International, go to: www.specialolympics.org
St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center:
St. Hubert's Giralda is dedicated to the humane treatment of companion animals. The organization believes in and provides services that support the human-animal bond and seeks to foster an environment in which people respect all living creatures. To work or volunteer at the welfare centers, visit: www.StHuberts.org
St. Hubert’s has two locations: the Madison Shelter in Madison, NJ and North Branch Shelter in North Branch, NJ.
The volunteer office can be reached at 973-514-5920.
Volunteer Match – Virtual Opportunities
Find a cause or volunteer opportunity in your area, or afar, that needs your help. This is the largest online network of participating non-profits. Volunteer Match also makes it easy for all ages of individuals, or an organization's group, to tap into a huge list of needed services as well as a network of millions of volunteers. Free webinars are also provided to help walk you through the process of finding a good volunteer match.
Volunteer Match: "Bringing good people and good causes together"
Type in Somerville, NJ under Search Area and see what comes up ...............
www.volunteermatch.org
