The summer is heating up {literally} and so are the opportunities to be involved in our community. Take advantage of the warm weather while you can to get outside, get moving, and give back. We’ve rounded up all of the ways you can make a difference in the next four weeks before the summer comes to an unofficial end. Keep reading for a full list of volunteering opportunities in Hoboken + Jersey City this month.
August 1st — Cocktails Under the Stars {201 Montgomery Street, Jersey City}
Art House Production and Board of Trustees are honoring Matt Servitto with the AHP NJ Performer Award, Robert Policastro with the AHP Most Valuable Volunteer Award, and Morgan Refakis with the AHP Producer Award. Tickets include light food, cocktails, wine, and beer. Click here to purchase tickets.
August 1st — Rotary Club of Jersey City Charter Celebration and Meet N Greet {30 Mall Drive West, Jersey City}
The Rotary Club of Jersey City is celebrating 103 years of service with a networking opportunity and a chance to learn how to get involved in the community at Zinburger. A $10 entry fee will be collected at the door. Food and beverages will be available for purchase with a portion of the proceeds directly benefitting the Rotary Club. The Club is also asking that guests bring school supplies for their September backpack drive in collaboration with BCB Bank.
August 1st — C.H.A.T. For Change Contest {City of Jersey City}
This summer, Jersey City is launching the first-ever C.H.A.T. 4 Change Contest. The Conversations Help Aid Transformation {C.H.A.T.} initiative encourages Jersey City youth to strike up a conversation with a JCPD officer or JCFD firefighter at designated times and locations. After your CHAT, earn a badge. Collect as many badges as you can to earn prizes and be honored at this summer’s National Night Out in your neighborhood. To register, have a parent register with the city by emailing CHAT4Change@gmail.com
August 1st — Hudson County Pride Flag Raising {257 Cornelison Avenue, Jersey City}
The Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise + The Board of Chosen Freeholders will be hosting the Annual Hudson County Flag Raising. Join in as they honor members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
August 1st–Athleta School Supply Drive {316 Washington Street, Hoboken}
Gather school supplies this year and bring them to Athleta in Hoboken. All supplies are welcomed and can be dropped off in store through August 3rd. This project will benefit the children of Hudson County non-profit True Mentors.
August — 3rd Navy SEAL Hudson River Swim {1 Audrey Zapp Drive, Jersey City}
Join 25 United States SEALs as they gather to swim across the Hudson to honor our Veterans, military families, and all who died during 9/11. They will also stop at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island to perform push-ups in support of our nation’s freedoms and diversity. Come cheer on our SEALs during this event. To create a team or donate, follow the link here.
August — 3rd Volunteer Gardening Opportunity {1 Audrey Zapp Drive, Jersey City}
Help beautify the park by participating in the volunteer gardening program co-sponsored by the Friends of Liberty State Park. Individuals and volunteer groups are very welcomed, with no experience required! No pre-registration needed for individuals and volunteer groups. Companies and non-profit groups, as well as those seeking to volunteer outside of Saturdays, should contact our Head Gardener, Maria, for more information at 201-915-3418 or by email at Rosemarie.Cuillerier@dep.nj.gov. Opportunities are open every Saturday morning.
August 3rd — Sponsor a Student with a Backpack {451 Communipaw Avenue, Jersey City}
The Hispanic Republicans of North Jersey are joining forces with the community to gather backpacks for children in need in Jersey City. Contributions can be made through the following PayPal link.
August 6th — Namaste + Rose {100 Hudson Street, Hoboken}
Urban Souls Yoga and TRUE Mentors are joining forces to benefit mentoring programs. Gather for a night of yoga, live music, and drinks. The fun starts at 7:30PM. To join in, head here for tickets.
August 6th–Hudson County CASA Information Session {595 Newark Avenue Rm #400, Jersey City}
Learn how to become a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer and help foster children find safe and permanent homes. Hudson County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is a non-profit organization committed to advocating for the best interests of abused and neglected children. CASA works through trained community volunteers to ensure that needed services and assistance are made available to children while helping to move them toward safe and permanent homes. Hudson County CASA volunteers are everyday people who make a direct impact in foster children’s lives. They are trusted, dedicated adults who seek to improve children’s well-being. CASA volunteers get to know their assigned child and his or her circumstances and provide valuable information to the court. Judges rely on the volunteers’ recommendations to make the best decisions about the children’s futures. For further information, visit their site.
August 6th — Rotary Club of Hoboken Shelter Night {300 Bloomfield Street, Hoboken}
It’s the time of the month for the Rotary Club of Hoboken to serve the homeless at the Hoboken Shelter. If you are able, feel free to come and serve starting at 4:00PM.
August 6th — National Night Out 2019 {387 Marin Boulevard, Jersey City}
The PACO Agency is sharing in this national event by bringing together community partnerships and building neighborhood camaraderie to make neighborhoods safer. The opportunity is free and open to all.
August 6th — Growing in JC + Crystal Letters Open Mic Night-Pride Edition {350 Warren Street, Jersey City}
Join Growing in Jersey City and Crystal Letters for our Monthly Open Mic Night as part of the 19th Annual Jersey City LGBT Pride Festival. Performers for this month will be limited to those in the LGBTQ community. $5 donations are suggested with all proceeds benefitting the Hudson Pride Center. To learn about the last event, visit here.
August 6th — Summer Garden Maintenance-Tuesdays {181 Palisades Avenue, Jersey City}
The Washington Park Association of Hudson County is looking to upkeep and beautify the community. Volunteer opportunities are open to all. Tools and lessons are provided on-site. Head over to the park on Tuesdays starting at 6:30PM
August 7th — Grove Street PATH Summer Blood-Drive {Grove PATH Plaza, Jersey City}
Happening during weekly Groove on Grove Street, the New Jersey Blood Services Bloodmobile will be stationed there too. All donors will receive a $5 Dunkin’ Donuts gift card as a thank you. Consider stopping by.
August 9th — Hoboken Pride Flag Raising Event {94 Washington Street, Hoboken}
Kick off a weeklong of pride events in Hoboken with a flag-raising event. The city is proud to continuously celebrate our LGBTQIA+ community. The event will be held at La Casa from 7:o0PM-9:00PM and is open to the public.
August 10th — Monthly Climate Change Actions {157 1st Street, Hoboken}
The Hoboken Citizens’ Climate Change Lobby is gearing up for its monthly meeting at Choc O’ Pain to discuss this month’s actions to combat climate change. Please bring a laptop or notebook for notes — all are welcome.
August 10th — Out + Up Book Launch and Rooftop Dance Party {262 17th Street, Jersey City}
Arthouse Production and Hudson Pride are teaming up for and official Jersey City Pride Event. The event will start with a Couch Chat with three LGBTQ artists including author and self-mastery guide, Johnson Chong who will be launching his first book, Sage Sapien: From Karma to Dharma. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here.
August 14th — Networking and TD1 Support in Hoboken {1422 Grand Street, Hoboken}
New networking and support opportunities are always welcome in Hoboken. Now, adults living with Type 1 Diabetes are gathering to get to know one another and network with others in the community living out this same experience. Parents of children living with TD1 are welcome as well. To be placed on a list to find out more about this event and others like it, contact Gretchen Van Mater at gvanmater@jdrf.org.
August 14th — 8.14.19 CAN Community + Professional {317 3rd Street, Jersey City}
CAN Human Trafficking 101 community and professional training will educate the city on the six forms of human trafficking and modern-day savings in the U.S. Training is free and appropriate for all. For more information click here.
August 14th–Hudson County CASA Information Session {100 Bloomfield Street, Hoboken}
Learn how to become a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer and help foster children find safe and permanent homes. Hudson County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is a non-profit organization committed to advocating for the best interests of abused and neglected children. CASA works through trained community volunteers to ensure that needed services and assistance are made available to children while helping to move them toward safe and permanent homes. Hudson County CASA volunteers are everyday people who make a direct impact in foster children’s lives. They are trusted, dedicated adults who seek to improve children’s well-being. CASA volunteers get to know their assigned child and his or her circumstances and provide valuable information to the court. Judges rely on the volunteers’ recommendations to make the best decisions about the children’s futures. For further information, visit their site.
August 20th–Hudson County CASA Information Session {530 Jersey Avenue, Jersey City}
Learn how to become a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer and help foster children find safe and permanent homes. Hudson County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is a non-profit organization committed to advocating for the best interests of abused and neglected children. CASA works through trained community volunteers to ensure that needed services and assistance are made available to children while helping to move them toward safe and permanent homes. Hudson County CASA volunteers are everyday people who make a direct impact in foster children’s lives. They are trusted, dedicated adults who seek to improve children’s well-being. CASA volunteers get to know their assigned child and his or her circumstances and provide valuable information to the court. Judges rely on the volunteers’ recommendations to make the best decisions about the children’s futures. For further information, visit their site.
August 21st — Jersey City Pride Flag Raising and Award Ceremony {280 Grove Street, Jersey City}
Jersey City will be celebrating its Pride Week by raising both the gay and trans flags and honoring members of the LGBT+ and ally community. The event is free and open to the public.
August 22nd — Greener JC Community Meeting {749 Bergen Avenue, Jersey City}
Come learn more about Greener JC’s initiatives and ways the community is coming together to create a better environment. In compliance with the Jersey City bag share, reusable bags will be collected at the meeting. The meeting will start at 6:30PM.
August 24th — 19th Annual Jersey City LGBT Pride Festival {119 Newark Avenue, Hoboken}
Jersey City is hosting its annual LGBT Pride Festival with the theme “Honoring Our Past…Creating Our Future” in recognition of Stonewall 50 and WorldPride 2019. Volunteers are needed throughout the day. To find out more, visit the site here.
August 24th — Jersey City Summer Compost Workshop Series {Ogden Avenue, Jersey City}
As part of Jersey City’s compost drop-off pilot, Sustainable Jersey City {SJC} is leading a series of workshops focused on compost – how to make it, how to use it, and how the compost drop-off pilot is closing the loop of food waste recycling in Jersey City. Come with family, friends, and of course your food scraps. This month’s session is from 9:30AM-11:30AM The event is free but registration is encouraged here.
August 24th — Health, Social Services, and Immigration Fair {Washington Park, Jersey City}
Ministerio El Sol Sale Para Todos Internacional will be hosting the Caring Connections Health, Social Service, and Immigration Fair. The goal of this event is to connect with and provide services to the residents of Union City, to promote a healthy community, and provide a means of awareness of the social and immigration services that are available to assist them in their daily lives.
August 25th — HardGrove Annual 5K Run {1 Audrey Zapp Drive, Jersey City}
All are welcomed to join this charity run/walk benefitting the Community Food Bank of New Jersey — the states largest anti-hunger anti-poverty organization. Registration for the run is live now here.
August 31st–For the Greater Hood Flagship Pop-Up Shop
For the Greater Hood, a non-profit organization with roots along the east coast is gathering to help children with Back to School funds. They will be hosting pop-up shops in our area in Newark, NJ and Harlem where guests can help students get backpacks and supplies. For just $25, a student can have all the supplies they need. Follow this link for more information.
Ongoing Opportunities:
TRUEMentors — Join Jersey Cares in Mentoring + Enrichment in Hoboken every Tuesday from 6:00PM-8:00PM. Volunteers are asked to spend time with, mentor and manage children ages seven to 17 on a weekly basis.
Hunger Helpers in Hoboken — Join JerseyCare at the Hoboken Shelter every Thursday to serve dinner. Volunteers are asked to dress casually and come excited to serve and engage in conversation with dinner guests. All volunteers must bring one of the following items for donation: garbage bags, coffee, hot/cold cups, paper/plastic plates, toilet paper, napkins, utensils {especially forks}, and/or laundry detergent. Volunteers are needed from 11:00AM-3:00PM daily.
Big Brothers Big Sisters — If you have interest in fostering an on-going relationship with a local student, Big Brothers Big Sisters has the perfect opportunity. To start, head to their website to fill out an application before the interview process to ensure that you are a good fit. Time commitment is at least one year.
America Needs You — Apply to be a 2019 America Needs You {ANY} Mentor Coach today. ANY Mentors are dynamic leaders in their respective fields willing to help first-generation college students through their higher education and early careers. As a Mentor Coach, you attend Saturday workshops and form a long-term, one-on-one mentoring relationship with a first-generation college student, while becoming part of a vibrant network of industry-diverse professionals. Click here to fill out an application.
Liberty Humane Society {235 Jersey City Boulevard} — Join the exemplary staff at Liberty Humane Society as an LHS Ambassador. Ambassadors are asked to assist in ensuring the shelter facility is organized, clean, and welcoming as this is imperative for placing animals in forever homes. Volunteers are needed morning, afternoon, and evenings. Click here to start the application process. Additionally, every Wednesday, the Liberty Humane Society offers low-cost wellness clinics for pets. Times between 4:00PM-6:00PM can be secured online. Walk-in pets are seen on a first-come, first-serve basis. Review this list for information on available services.
Deliverance Children’s Ministry {3 Armstrong Avenue, Jersey City} — Deliverance Children’s Ministry is looking for volunteers in various capacities including activities coordinator, social media coordinator, carpenter/painter, maintenance/housekeeping assistance, community beautification coordinator, and more. DCM was founded out of the desire to develop leadership and activism in children and youth. For more information click here.
Better Tomorrows {471 Pacific Avenue, Jersey City} — ESL tutors are needed at Better Tomorrow. Better Tomorrow is asking for mostly Spanish-Speaking individuals who are looking to improve their English skills to use published curriculum materials to match students’ reading, speaking, and writing skills. Visit the website for more information and a volunteer application.
Young Cosmetologist Program {70 Pamrapo Avenue, Jersey City} — The Young Cosmetologist Program is free and open to all students who have an interest in cosmetology as a career option. Volunteers are needed on Friday evenings from 4:00PM-6:00PM to facilitate tutor sessions and help with homework.
Jewish Institute for Global Awareness {80 Grand Street, Jersey City} — The JIFGA is looking for a volunteer to enhance the organization’s visibility and its ability to get the mission out to the general public. Position involves writing, editing, marketing, and public relations efforts. Material to be produced may include press releases and other marketing collateral. For more information, visit the website.
Family Promise of Hudson County {324 Communipaw Avenue, Jersey City} — Family Promise of Hudson County provides temporary homes for Hudson County families experiencing homelessness. Day volunteers are needed from 7:00AM-6:00PM and evening volunteers are needed from 6:00PM-6:00AM. Day tasks include assisting in the office and managing the needs of the families while evening tasks include spending time with the families, cooking or bringing dinner, and even sleeping over. Background checks for volunteers are provided by Family Promise. Visit the website for more information.
Jersey City + Harsimus Cemetery — Volunteers are needed at the Jersey City + Harsimus Cemetery to assist with grounds beautification. Tasks include pulling weeds, assisting with the ANGELS Garden, and caring for the goats on the grounds. Visit the site for more information.
Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corp {707 Clinton Street, Hoboken} — As the only all-volunteer ambulance corp in Hudson County, the Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corp truly values support from the community. Get involved with this great organization that helps to save lives daily. Check out their site here for more opportunities to volunteer as an EMT or in the administrative office or to donate monetarily.
Have a volunteer opportunity you’d like shared? Want to get involved? Email hobokengirlhelps@gmail.com. xo
