The Hoboken Shelter has been a pillar in the community since 1982 and continues to be a place of refuge and hope for individuals experiencing homelessness. To house 50 individuals nightly and serve 500 meals daily, the shelter requires the support of the community. To support this need, the shelter is hosting its 18th Annual Winter Auction Fundraiser, virtually, this December. Hoboken Girl had the chance to connect with co-chairs of the auction, Tiffany Kane and Hannah Osterman to learn more about the event and how to get involved. Read on to learn more about the Hoboken Shelter and how the community can support its mission.
(Photo credit: @hoboken_shelter)
About the Shelter
The Hoboken Shelter is “a community partnership that transforms lives by providing meals for the hungry, shelter for the homeless, & services to support people to become housed,” according to its site. While the main purpose of the shelter is to do as its name suggests, provide a safe place for people to stay, what the shelter provides is so much more.
“The Hoboken Shelter is most certainly a shelter as the name implies, but it’s also so much more than that. It’s a place of refuge, a soup kitchen for the hungry, and a source of hope for those who enter their doors,” says Tiffany Kane, a co-chair of the auction. She went on to share more about the programming provided by The Shelter that supports guests long-term.
“Many people are not aware of the daytime workshops offered to the guests of the shelter. Working to provide more than the basic needs of food and shelter, The Hoboken Shelter offers support services, art, and creative writing as well as other group sessions.” Tiffany went on to say, “This is an outlet for guests to socialize to explore new talents and interests. The Hoboken Shelter meets people wherever they are in their journeys, providing nightly shelter and food but also helping to literally put keys to a home in the hands of the guests they serve through the homelessness prevention program.”
Ending Homelessness
The overall goal for The Shelter is to work with its guests to gain a permanent home and end life on the streets. Achieving this goal is made possible by the support and generosity of donors. Tiffany shares how the staff at The Shelter can provide a step toward permanent housing.
“When guests of the shelter can show that they have 1st month’s rent and a plan for the second month, The Hoboken Shelter will provide the security deposit to the landlord. [The Shelter] also provides permanent supportive housing by managing 38 apartments. The Hoboken Shelter is changing lives every day and ending homelessness one person at a time.”
Read More: Inside the St. Matthew Trinity Center, A Hoboken Community Resource
The Auction
To kick off the season of giving, The Hoboken Shelter has hosted its Winter Auction for the past 18 years. The Auction is set to raise money for the various needs of the shelter including meals, workshops, administrative needs, and permanent housing programs. Tiffany tells more about the impact The Auction has. “The funds from the event support the needs of the guests from the time they enter our doors to the time they walk out with keys in hand to their own homes and beyond.”
This event has been a staple in Hoboken for nearly two decades, but 2020 brought a new challenge. “The event was always an in-person event in December to kick off the holiday season. When the pandemic happened, like most people we had to figure out how to hold an event in a virtual world. Auction Co-Chair Hannah Osterman and Executive Director Jaclyn Cherubini along with the team of volunteers did an amazing job moving an in-person event to a virtual auction.”
This year, the event will also be virtual, using the same platform the team used last year. Instead of traditional gift baskets, Tiffany shares what attendees can expect. “Instead of the large baskets that were auctioned off in the past, we used gift cards, experiences, and more to the auction. Videos from staff, volunteers, and board members were featured discussing the shelter’s impact.”
(Photo credit: @hoboken_shelter)
Chairing the Event
Both Tiffany and Hannah have been volunteering with The Shelter for many years now. Chairing the Auction is another way they are giving back. Hannah shared how she got started. “I have volunteered with The Hoboken Shelter since 2017 as part of my congregation’s monthly night in the kitchen. Over time, I’ve been drawn to various committees and events, and even joined the board.” Hannah led last year’s virtual auction taking the challenges caused by the pandemic in-stride and leading a highly successful auction. “In 2019, I had the pleasure of being on the Auction committee, and then in 2020, was honored to be able to co-chair our first-ever digital event. I love this event as it is always a fun, social gathering where we are able to highlight the shelter’s mission while celebrating our community.”
Tiffany’s volunteerism with The Shelter has spanned more than a decade and this year, her role as Auction Co-Chair has allowed her to continue this work. “I have been a volunteer with the shelter for over 10 years now and I just see what an important mission this is. Whether I’m cooking a meal in the kitchen or helping with an event, I believe that together we are making a difference. I helped out on the committee to plan the event last year and it’s just such a great group of people to work with that I was very excited to co-chair the event this year.”
See More: CarePoint Health to Become Non-Profit
Get Involved
The Shelter does not run without the support of community members. Tiffany shares, “The Hoboken Shelter gets a lot of its magic from the volunteers who come to help out. Volunteers are welcome in-person (up to 6 people at a time) to help prepare lunch from 11AM-2PM and dinner from 5PM-8PM daily.” For The Auction, community members are encouraged to review sponsorship options that range from $300-$2,500 for inclusion in promotional materials.
Other options for community involvement include purchasing a ticket to the auction, and of course, bidding on the items. Learning more about the work The Hoboken Shelter does while having a great time goes a long way for the upcoming year and the necessary work being done.
Take Action
To learn more about how to get involved in the auction, visit The Hoboken Shelter’s Auction Page here. If volunteering on a more regular basis is of interest, Tiffany shares the best way to get involved.
“Volunteers should sign-up via Charity Quest by either downloading the Charity Quest app or by visiting charityquest.io to make sure there is space to volunteer. Volunteers can also do everything from donating a meal to helping out with events like this one! For more ways to get involved, please visit the website and click on Volunteer!”
The Hoboken Shelter provides vital resources to the community, made possible by the generous support of local residents. To learn more and get involved, be sure to check out the website and help make The Auction the best one yet.
Things to Do Between January 1-8, 2025 in Hoboken + Jersey City
2025 has officially arrived and we've got you covered with everything to do locally over the next few days in Hoboken and Jersey City by sharing our full events calendar for easy browsing while we're OOO until 1/6. Below is the linked list of Hoboken + Jersey City events happening from January 1st through January 8th, 2025. Don’t forget — you can also submit your events to our community guide HERE (we approve pending events daily).
Disclaimer: This is a community resource. Submit events HERE and view the full calendar HERE.
The Hoboken Girl is not affiliated with hosting unless explicitly stated.
Usually, we put out a weekly events guide showcasing 200+(!!) events happening throughout the current week in Hoboken, Jersey City, Hudson County, and greater New Jersey. Since we're away until 1/6, we're changing things up a bit and linking our full events calendar so you can peruse all of the local events happening at your convenience.
CLICK HERE FOR OUR EVENTS CALENDAR
Don't forget — you can submit your own event at any time to our calendar HERE.
See below for a few other fun things to keep you occupied while we're away.
Best of Hoboken + Jersey City 2024 Winners Announced
We asked, you voted + nominated. The winners for our Best of Hoboken + Jersey City 2024 Guide are here! With over 100+ categories, see the restaurants, shops, hair salons, and other local businesses Hoboken + Jersey City locals favored this year.
Computers 4 People | 321 Newark Street #32, Hoboken
Computers 4 People, started by teenager Dylan Zajac, is dedicated to collecting + refurbishing technology to distribute to individuals + groups in need. Computers 4 People will accept items such as old desktop computers, laptops, hard drives, tablets, keyboards, monitors, + more. The organization also accepts monetary donations. Additionally, if volunteers have experience in refurbishing computers or can store items, help in those areas is needed. Learn more here.
Family Promise of Hudson County | Jersey City
Promise addresses homelessness by using the resources of volunteer congregations in Hoboken + Jersey City by providing space in their buildings to serve as temporary homes for homeless families. Each Family Promise affiliate also has a day center, where families can take showers, receive case management, and look for housing and jobs. Family Promise relies on volunteers to give their time, making meals, sharing hospitality, spending the night, playing with children, and lending their passion and expertise to help families get back on their feet. Learn more here.
The Hoboken Shelter | 300 Bloomfield Street, Hoboken
The Hoboken Shelter hosts 50 guests nightly + serves more than 1,000 meals throughout the week. As a full-service community partner, the Hoboken Shelter is a necessary resource within the neighborhood. The Shelter is always in need of donations + support to help keep its doors open and welcoming to its guests. Learn more here.
Have an event you’d like to include? Submit it to our events calendar here. You can also email [email protected] for more info on featured events.
Follow @thehobokengirl on Instagram and TikTok to stay in the know with all of the Hoboken and Jersey City happenings, and sign up for our newsletter that shares all of our top stories to your inbox here.
Have an amazing weekend! xo.
