As various locations start to open, volunteer opportunities are increasing. We have rounded up individual and ongoing opportunities to give back throughout the community in various ways. Read on to learn about all of the ways you can lend a hand in Hoboken and Jersey City.
April 6-10 + April 24: Children’s Hospital Week + StevenSTHON
Throughout the school year, Stevens University students have been raising money toward their annual efforts for Children’s Specialized Hospital. As a culmination of their efforts, the University will be hosting its annual StevensTHON, a 12-hour dance marathon to bring the community together in support of children battling cancer. Leading up to the Dance Marathon, Stevens will recognize Children’s Hospital Week via social media. To follow along and learn more about the work being done at local children’s hospitals, follow @stevensthon. The Dance Marathon will be held on April 24th.
April 10th: Hoboken Happy Hours + Party with Purpose Mac + Cheese Festival
Hoboken Happy Hours and Party with Purpose have partnered, once again, for the Annual Mac + Cheese Festival. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this event will be operated differently than in past years, but promises to be just as fun and filled with Hoboken’s best macaroni and cheese. The event will be held as a crawl this year with participating locations around town. Tickets are currently sold out, but volunteers are needed to help facilitate the event and check tickets at participating locations. Volunteers will receive a free “Send Noods” t-shirt and one beer. To get involved, DM @hobohappyhours on Instagram or email nicole@hobokenhappyhours.com.
April 17-24: National Volunteer Week at The Hoboken Shelter {Virtual}
Join The Hoboken Shelter as it celebrates National Volunteer Week 2021. The week will kick off with a virtual trivia night and lead up to the Annual Back to the 80s Fundraiser. This year, the fundraiser will be held virtually with the entire week promising to be one not to miss. Fundraising efforts all week will benefit The Hoboken Shelter which provides vitally important resources to the homeless in our community including daily meals, showers, and shelter. Throughout the week, The Shelter will be spotlighting organizations and individuals in the community who help make this work possible. To learn more about how to participate, click here.
Hartshorn Portraiture Photo Session for Hoboken Food Pantry
Join the photography company for a session amongst the cherry blossoms in Liberty State Park, where your entire $275 session fee is donated directly to the Hoboken Food Pantry. You get a 20-minute session with Mac Hartshorn, a personal design consultation at our Hoboken studio to reveal and guide you through your artwork selection, one custom 8×10 print, and a social media-sized file for sharing with friends on Instagram, Facebook, etc. from the image you choose. Email jennifer@hartshornportraiture.com, or call the studio 201.610.1199 to book.
Community Emergency Response Team {715 Summit Avenue, Jersey City} — Ongoing Opportunity
Because a disaster can strike at any time, the Community Emergency Response Team in Jersey City wants to be sure that all members of the community are safe and well taken care of. This volunteer-based organization is always in need of support from residents. Volunteers are given hands-on and virtual training on basic first-aid, fire extinguishing, rescue techniques, and more before becoming a member of the team.
Community Lifestyle {311 Harrison Street, Hoboken} — Ongoing Opportunity
{Photo credit: @communitylifestyle}
Community Lifestyle understands the importance of getting children and teens involved in after-school and weekend activities to provide opportunities to socialize, learn and grow in a positive environment. The organization’s values of stability, empathy, diversity, and connectedness can be seen through the programming provided throughout the year. Currently, the organization has opportunities for volunteers to get involved in numerous capacities. Volunteers are needed on an ongoing basis for programs like T.A.L.E which provides teens with an insight look to the business world as well as for the new Flag Football Program.
Computers 4 People {51 Newark Street, Hoboken} — Ongoing Opportunity
{Photo credit: @computers4people}
As digital products continue to take over, what is known as the “digital divide” gets wider. The digital divide is a term used to describe the lack of access to technology such as computers, tablets, smartphones, etc due to decreased access to resources needed to obtain these products. One local organization has a mission to close this gap throughout Hudson County. Computers 4 People, started by teenager Dylan Zajac, is dedicated to collecting and refurbishing technology to distribute to individuals and groups in need. To date, the organization has helped hundreds of students gain better access to technology allowing for an easier time completing homework, learning about technology, accessing digital programs to support learning, and more. Computers 4 People will accept items such as old desktop computers, laptops, hard drives, tablets, keyboards, monitors, and 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.
Hoboken Family Alliance — Ongoing Opportunity
One of the oldest non-profits in Hoboken, the Hoboken Family Alliance is a resource for children and families in the Mile Square. HFA typically puts on various events and provides opportunities for children to learn and play in a safe environment while providing families with various needs necessary resources. HFA has several opportunities for volunteering through its committees and sub-committees such as marketing, special needs, fundraising, and more.
Hoboken Food Pantry {1301 Washington Street, Hoboken} — Ongoing Opportunity
Nearly 25% of the Hoboken Community relies on the help of the Hoboken Food Pantry, which is a part of the Hoboken Community Center. Its pantry is only stocked and distributed through the support of the community. The Food Pantry needs non-perishable food and personal hygiene items such as toothpaste, instant oatmeal, shelf-stable milk, deodorant, shampoo, canned pasta, cereal, and peanut butter—to name a few. To schedule a donation drop-off, bring items to the lobby of 1301 Washington Street. Contactless donations can be made through The Food Pantry’s Amazon Wish List. Items ordered on The Wish List will be sent directly to The Food Pantry. Additionally, The Food Pantry can now host in-person volunteers. Volunteers are needed to help pack, label, and distribute bags of food. Each session can host up to 13 volunteers in order to comply with CDC guidelines and anyone ages 13 and up can help. To volunteer, sign up for shifts through the Charity Quest app. The maximum number of volunteers per shift is not 13. It depends on the assignment, but it’s never more than six.
Hoboken Historical Museum {1301 Hudson Street, Hoboken}—Ongoing Opportunity
The Hoboken Historical Museum was able to open during Phase 2 of the COVID-19 Reopening Plan. With the ability to accept a limited number of guests and to participate safely in city-wide events, the Hoboken Historical Museum is periodically in need of volunteers. To check if a need comes up and slots are available, check the sign-up form here. Volunteers are usually needed to set up information pamphlets, welcome registered guests, organize literature, etc.
Hoboken Shelter {301 Bloomfield Street, Hoboken} — Ongoing Opportunity
The Hoboken Shelter hosts 50 guests nightly and 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 and support to help keep its doors open and welcoming to its guests. To support, take a look at the list of 19 ways to support The Shelter during COVID-19 here https://hobokenshelter.org/volunteers/. This list is inclusive of tasks like donating some of the most needed items like toiletries, coffee, sugar, milk, hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies, and paper products. The Shelter does have opportunities to host volunteers in-person from 11:00AM-2:00PM and 6:00-7:00PM. Please call before arriving as The Shelter can only host 1-2 in-person volunteers at a time due to social distancing guidelines.
Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corps {707 Clinton Street, Hoboken} — Ongoing Opportunity
Getting to and from a healthcare facility in the event of an emergency is not something people think of until the time comes. Thankfully, one non-profit in Hoboken has this covered—but only with the help of volunteers. The Hoboken Ambulance Corps is a 100% volunteer-based, free resource for the community. To keep the organization running, they need volunteers in many capacities. Head to the website to learn more about how to volunteer as an EMT, Driver, or Observer or how to get involved as a part of the Office Team helping to organize necessary paperwork and fundraising efforts.
Hudson County American Red Cross {257 Cornelison Avenue, Jersey City} —Ongoing Opportunity
The American Red Cross has been ready to respond in times of disaster for decades—and the COVID-19 crisis is no different. More than ever, the American Red Cross is in need of volunteers to help us all get through this time together. While they have tons of different opportunities, the opportunity they are naming “most urgent” in the North Jersey area is as a Volunteer Driver. Drivers are needed to safely transport lifesaving blood from local blood drives to hospitals. Volunteers are asked to commit to 2-4 shifts per month with each shift being about 4 hours. All volunteers must have a valid driver’s license, at least 3 years of a clean driving record, and should be able to lift at least 45lbs.
Hudson County Court Appointed Special Advocates {442 Hoboken Avenue, Jersey City} — Ongoing Opportunity
Hudson County Court Appointed Special Advocates {CASA} is consistently in need of volunteers. Once involved, CASA volunteers help to advocate for children in the foster care system by communicating to a judge on behalf of the child’s best interest after evaluating the child’s living environment. To become a volunteer, you must fill out a Volunteer Inquiry Form here. Once that’s completed, you will receive instructions on how to complete a 30-hour mandatory training course. Please keep in mind that this commitment must be upheld for a minimum of one year. Hudson County CASA is run by donations of generous supporters. If a monetary donation is a way you can help, click here to learn more.
Round 2 Resources {Hoboken} — Ongoing Opportunity
Round 2 Resources allows items throughout our community to have a second chance and avoid landfills. The non-profit organization has made a commitment to protect the environment by gathering useable resources throughout the community and re-distributing these items to those who have a need for them. Its mission is not tied to just one cause—as the tagline suggests, “we are not fighting to champion one cause, we are fighting for the world.” To make a donation or volunteer, contact leadership at round2resources@gmail.com.
Wise Animal Rescue {New Jersey} — Ongoing Opportunity
Wise Animal Rescue is a 501c3 organization dedicated to the well-being of all dog breeds. The rescue facility works with veterinary services to rescue and provide services/resources to dogs of all ages and breeds who have previously been in unsafe environments. Volunteer opportunities are available with Wise Animal Rescue in various capacities. Individuals are needed to help with adoption events, administrative tasks, fundraising, social media, and transportation. To submit a volunteer application, click here. Additionally, foster homes are needed for dogs as they wait for their forever homes. To apply to become a foster, click here.
Write on Sports {Jersey City} — Ongoing Opportunity
Started in 2005 by a former sportswriter, Write on Sports is a non-profit organization whose mission is to fill in writing curriculum gaps by giving students the opportunity to learn through sports. Thousands of children, each year, fall behind in writing skills due to a lack of understanding, lack of resources, or simply a lack of interest in the writing topics in a traditional curriculum. Write on Sports allows students to improve literacy skills through a topic that interests many middle schoolers—sports. The organization has expanded over the past 16 years and now has a chapter in Jersey City. The Jersey City Chapter needs a Volunteer Assistant, Partnership Coordinator, and Social Media Intern.
