Needs From: Volunteer NJ!

Tessie’s Touch brings joy & connection to isolated older adults by matching them with a caring volunteer. Together, they can do activities and excursions in the community. Tessie’s Touch is an extension of our traditional Friendly Visiting program and allows us to go above and beyond for our seniors.

Volunteers must submit to a background check. The program commitment is 1 hour once a week and the schedule of meetings is flexible. Volunteers are expected to report their hours monthly through the JFS Volunteer Tracking system and submit an update of the visit to the program coordinator online.

For more information contact Kathy Mikula at kmikula@jfsmetrowest.org or 973-637-1726.

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or another chronic illness is one of the most selfless things we can do, but it can also be exhausting.

Through Jewish Family Service of MetroWest’s Respite program, volunteers support caregivers by visiting their loved ones for 2-3 hours once a week or every other week. Each volunteer is matched with a caregiver and their loved one to provide companionship, socialization, and activities such as reading books, watching movies, or playing games depending on the person’s abilities. This allows the caregiver a break while the care recipient still has safety and supervision.

Volunteers must complete a background check. Training on working with clients with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or another chronic illness is provided. For more information, call (973) 637-1762 or mmoyer@jfsmetrowest.org

This service is supported by a grant from The JFNA Center on Holocaust Survivor Care and Institute on Aging and Trauma.

Friendly Visiting

Friendly Visitors are matched with a homebound older adult to meet with in their home weekly. Volunteers provide conversation, companionship, and socialization opportunities.

Volunteers must submit to a background check. The program commitment is 1 hour once a week and the schedule of meetings is flexible. Volunteers are expected to report their hours monthly through the JFSMW Volunteer Tracking system and submit an update of the visit to the program coordinator via our app.

This program covers Essex, Morris, and surrounding counties, but we have the most need for female volunteers to visit homebound women in Essex County.

For more information contact Kathy Mikula at kmikula@jfsmetrowest.org or 973-637-1726.

When you help an adult, you help her or his entire family. At Literacy Volunteers of America, Essex & Passaic Counties, we have a long list of U.S. citizens and immigrants, among them refugees and asylum seekers, waiting for help in learning to speak, understand, read, and write in English. We need volunteers to teach them. Here's how you can help: Learn to teach ESOL and Basic Literacy with LVA. After training, you will be matched with a small group of students (three to five) and tutor them for at least two hours each week via distance learning.

Become a volunteer literacy tutor by registering for our 10-hour (five days of two hours each) virtual tutor training course. This opportunity is only for local residents of Essex and Passaic Counties or others than can meet in-person in these counties.

This is a great opportunity to get involved and help your community!

When you help an adult, you help her or his entire family. At Literacy Volunteers of America, Essex & Passaic Counties, we have a long list of U.S. citizens and immigrants, among them refugees and asylum seekers, waiting for help in learning to speak, understand, read, and write in English. We need volunteers to teach them. Here's how you can help: Learn to teach ESOL and Basic Literacy with LVA. After training, you will be matched with a small group of students (three to five) and tutor them for at least two hours each week via distance learning.

Become a volunteer literacy tutor by registering for our 10-hour (five days of two hours each) virtual tutor training course. This opportunity is only for local residents of Essex and Passaic Counties or others than can meet in-person in these counties.

This is a great opportunity to get involved and help your community!

When you help an adult, you help her or his entire family. At Literacy Volunteers of America, Essex & Passaic Counties, we have a long list of U.S. citizens and immigrants, among them refugees and asylum seekers, waiting for help learning to speak, understand, read, and write in English. We need volunteers to teach them! Here's how you can help: Learn to teach ESOL and Basic Literacy with LVA. After training, you will be matched with a small group of students (three to five students) and tutor them for at least two hours each week.

Become a volunteer literacy tutor by registering for our 10-hour (five sessions, two hours each) virtual tutor training course and then teach students in-person or via distance learning. This opportunity is for local residents of Essex and Passaic Counties or others that can meet in-person in these counties.

This is a great opportunity to get involved and help your community!

Please email your completed "Tutor Package" to seckerling@lvaep.org

Every year in New Jersey, 341,000 tons of prepared food goes to waste, while nearly 1 million New Jersey residents don’t have enough food to eat. Share My Meals is closing the gap between food waste and hunger by mobilizing volunteers to recover nutritious surplus meals from commercial kitchens and deliver them to local nonprofits that support individuals in need.

About the opportunity:

Share My Meals is looking for dedicated volunteers to pick up donations from a meal donor in East Orange on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays at 2pm and deliver them to an amazing nonprofit organization (Joi's Angels) in East Orange (~10 minute drive).  

In order to adhere to food safety guidelines, Share My Meals provides all necessary training and equipment (i.e. insulated bags) to transport food donations safely; volunteers track pick-up and delivery route start and end times using our smart phone app.

Volunteer Requirements:

Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age. Parents may volunteer with their children.

Volunteers must have a valid driver’s license.

Volunteers must provide their own transportation and have the necessary auto insurance (minimum of $300,000 Single Limit or $100,000/$300,000 Split Limit auto liability limits).

Volunteers must have a smartphone with the ability to download our food donation tracking app.

Volunteers must complete Share My Meals onboarding and training before volunteering.

Please note: This is not a one-time volunteer opportunity; we are looking for volunteers who will work together to ensure the weekly route is covered. For instance, it could be that they take turns volunteering each week or decide to pair up together weekly to pick up and deliver meals.  

Sources: https://insights-engine.refed.org/food-waste-monitor?break_by=food_type&indicator=tons-waste&state=NJ&view=detail&year=2023; 

https://www-doh.nj.gov/doh-shad/indicator/summary/FoodInsecurity.html#:~:text=The USDA estimates that in,New Jersey were food insecure. 

Travelers Aid at Newark Liberty International Airport is seeking volunteers to welcome passengers and provide information regarding a variety of travel-related services. This is an excellent opportunity to be a welcoming ambassador for travelers from all over the world, improve your communication skills and gain experience assisting and working with people. Travelers Aid volunteers greet passengers with a smile and provide any tips needed to navigate the airport.

Volunteers are placed at key locations throughout the airport. We require a minimum of 5 month service (one 4 hour shift per week or at least 2 shifts per month). Shifts are 10am-2pm or 2pm-6pm, Monday-Friday and free parking is available. Please contact us at (973) 623-5052 or email newarkinfo@travelersaid.org to arrange a tour of our program!

Buddies of NJ is always in need of a list of volunteers (adults 18+) who would be willing to come in on short notice to help assemble packets for our prevention team, outreach projects, and or events.

[Currently in Need of people to help with Flyer Posting]  [Currently in need of a Volunteer Wed. 4-6:30 Hot Food Distribution]

These opportunities are normally during the weekdays M-F,  M&W 5-7p, and rarely on a weekend special event.

Please let us know if we can add your name to this list.

[Currently We Need Safe Sex Packets to Be Made Up for the Prevention Team]

We need your help with our Baby’s Best Start program! Baby's Best Start is a nine week program that works together with parents and family members to ensure baby's get off to the best possible start. Program sessions are on Saturdays from 9:45am-2pm. Childcare is offered during these sessions, and we are in need of volunteers to assist with a variety of tasks while the sessions are taking place. Volunteering activities include: - Spanish translation - Assisting with dinner - Leading themed activities - Reading with one child or a group of children - Assisting the group session facilitator  You can choose to volunteer for one or all of these activities. The children that you will be working with are typically ages 2-8.  This opportunity is perfect for someone who identifies with at least one of the following: -You love working with children,  -You have an interest in early childhood development, -You have an interest in parenting and/or supporting parents be their best selves, -You have a passion for literacy, -You are bilingual (not required), -You want to increase your skills in the areas of social services, parenting, early childhood development, literacy, or family services.

BBBS is a national youth mentoring organization located in all 50 states, over 10 countries around the world, & we're the oldest and premier nationally recognized mentoring organization. Big Brothers Big Sisters has been around for over 100 years.  

Our mission for us is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite and promote the power of youth, and to be a credible social justice organization embedded in our community.

Every child deserves a chance to see their potential realized. By matching children one-to-one with adult mentors (or Bigs), Big Brothers Big Sisters defends that potential. And helps change lives today and forever. All it takes is just a few hours a month. Join us. Become a Big now at BigsAndKids.org.

What is a Mentor?

A mentor is a person who can support, advise and guide you.

What is the commitment?

4 hours a month, minimum of one year commitment

How do I sign up?

Visit us at www.BigsAndKids.org or call us 973-642-BIGS(2447)

Travelers Aid at Newark Liberty International Airport is seeking volunteers to welcome passengers and provide information regarding a variety of travel-related services. This is an excellent opportunity to be a welcoming ambassador for travelers from all over the world, improve your communication skills and gain experience assisting and working with people.

Volunteers are placed at key locations throughout the airport. Shifts are available Monday-Friday. We require one four hour shift per week. Free parking available. Students 16 and up are welcome! Please contact us at (973) 623-5052 or email newarkinfo@travelersaid.org to arrange a tour of our program!

PLACEMENT PURPOSE
To transport blood and blood products from various sites (community blood drives) to the laboratory in Philadelphia for processing. Some plasma donations may be used to treat patients of COVID, emphasizing the critical need to safely transport this product.

OPEN TIME DAYS
Variable; preferred commitment: 2 shifts/month

REQUIRED TRAINING

Medicare can be complex and hard to navigate. The Essex County State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) provides free help to Medicare beneficiaries who have problems with, or questions about, their health insurance. Volunteer SHIP Counselors are trained to assist people with Medicare questions including providing information on Medigap plans, Part D coverage, claims, and benefits. Volunteers also answer questions regarding Medicaid and low-income assistance programs. Our main office is in Florham Park, however, volunteers counsel at community sites such a libraries and community centers throughout the county. In person events are also held throughout the county during Medicare Open Enrollment (Oct 15 - Dec 7). During the pandemic, we are providing services virtually via phone and zoom.

Volunteer counselors do not provide legal advice, sell, recommend, endorse any specific insurance product, agent, insurance company or plan. Volunteers cannot hold an active license to sell insurance.

We are especially in need of volunteers who are fluent in Spanish. A 40 hour virtual training is required and a minimum of 4 hours per week for 1 year of commitment as a volunteer is asked. The next training will be held virtually, with the dates TBD.

Volunteers must be age 55 or older and willing to submit to a background check.

Imagine being awakened by smoke alarms in the middle of the night. You rush to get your family out to safety now that your home is engulfed in flames. You’re now standing outside of your house in your pajamas in the middle of the night with nowhere to go. Who do you call? The American Red Cross! On the other end of the phone is the Regional Disaster Dispatcher ready to help you during one of the worst days of your life.

The Disaster Dispatcher is a lifeline to temporary assistance during a disaster. The Dispatcher is responsible for dispatching Red Cross volunteers called Disaster Action Team (DAT) members to meet with victims of home fires, and other disasters, to provide temporary relief such as funds for a hotel room, food, and clothing.

Details:

Despite the current pandemic, our need to provide shelter to individuals and families affected by disaster is vital! To meet the unique challenges and new guidelines of this hurricane/wildfire season, more volunteers than normal are needed to support shelters if the need arises.

The American Red Cross follows all CDC guidelines during this time including keeping 6 feet apart. You will be provided with gloves, masks and sanitizer.

Volunteers are needed to support the day-to-day activities within a shelter which may include working in reception, registration, feeding, dormitory, information, or other areas within a shelter.

Free online training will be provided

In these challenging times Bilingual Caseworkers are needed to support clients who have been affected by a disaster by providing referrals for assistance, goods and services to help them get back on their feet.

Responsibilities:

Qualifications:

Are you a licensed medical professional?  We need health care workers to provide assistance and healthcare to shelter residents as needed.  Free online training will be provided.  If the need arises, volunteers are asked to commit to local shifts of 4,8 or 12 hours each.  License required: RN, LPN, LVN, EMT, Paramedic, MD, DO, PA, NP, APRN.

If you have supervisory experience, we are also looking for individuals to fill Health Services Supervisor positions.

We will insist on following all local guidelines, do everything possible to limit capacity, enforce social distancing and provide all necessary Personal Protective Equipment. 

Sites will be determined by need.

Vitas Healthcare is looking for people who love to sew and are able to share their skills with hospice patients and families.

A Memory Bear, sewn by a volunteer with compassion and love, is a forever friend who can ease a hurting heart after the death of a VITAS hospice patient.

Volunteers needed to:

SAVE of Essex County is looking to train more volunteer Confidential Sexual Violence Advocates. Advocates work with survivors of sexual assault by accompanying them through medical and legal procedures. 

SAVE will be hosting the next advocate training from September 12 - October 19th. Trainings will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6pm-9pm. 

Qualifications: 

-At least 21 years old

-Complete 40 hour training 

-Have reliable transportation for accompaniments to hospitals, police stations, and court houses throughout Essex County. 

-Possess good communication skills, dependability, and compassion. 

-Ability to understand and maintain confidentiality

If interested contact us at info@familyserviceleague.org or call 973-746-0800.